November 2024 Update

The Project is in the Design phase. Construction is expected to begin in late Summer 2025.

If you have questions or would like to learn more about the project, you may email our project specific email scouthouse@manhattanbeach.gov or the project manager listed in the contact section.

The project is Categorically Exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15332, for in-fill development. There are no features that distinguish this project from others in the exempt class; therefore, there are no unusual circumstances. A Parking Study was also conducted at the City’s request, which is not part of the Class 32 Report, but is also available here for viewing.

CEQA Class 32 Categorical Exemption Report (PDF)

Other Technical Studies - See Links Below

Parking Study (PDF)

Arborist Report - Moreton Bay Fig Tree (PDF)

Arborist Report - Italian Stone Pine Tree (PDF)

The Senior and Scout Project is located at the current Scout House property adjacent to the Josyln Community Center at 1617 N Valley Drive.  

The original Scout House was built in 1952 by scouting families and volunteers.  It is about 2,500 square foot single-story building located on City-owned property that has been used by Scout troops and seniors in the community for nearly seven decades.   The Scout House have provided many treasured memories across the 71 years in service from scout meetings and service projects to Ping Pong and art classes for seniors.  It is the place of more than 550 gatherings each year.

The 71 year old structure now has outdated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, does not comply with accessibility regulations, and lacks the physical capacity to accommodate current and future Scout and senior programming. In collaboration with the City, the applicant proposes to demolish the existing Scout House and construct a 6,711 square-foot, 28.5-foot tall modern facility that will better serve the needs of the Scouts, seniors, and the community at large.  The new building will have dedicated areas for both the seniors and the scouts, and facilitate expanded intergenerational programming that the City of Manhattan Beach wants to continue to grow for our community.  It will facilitate older adult activities majority of the week prior to 3:00pm and scouts thereafter. In addition 1,000 square feet of the 6,711 total will be reserved exclusively for older adult use.

The proposed project requires a Use Permit, Coastal Development Permit, and associated environmental review, for which the City has selected a consultant through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process.  The consultant is to prepare parking, historic, other technical studies as necessary to prepare a legally-defensible California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document, as well as implement a branded public outreach effort that engages a variety of community stakeholders and effectively communicates ideas in various forums and platforms.

The new Senior and Scout House is anticipated to be completed in summer 2026.

Friends of the Senior & Scout Community Center (Friends) Information:

Friends of the Senior & Scout Community Center is a Manhattan Beach community organization dedicated to moving the project forward and raising funds to re-build the structure known as “The Scout House” adjacent to Josyln Center in Live Oak Park. As representatives of the Manhattan Beach Property Owners Association, Seniors, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, this community based organization is working together to build a first rate facility that will benefit our whole community. If you would like to learn more about this community effort – please visit their website.

https://www.thescouthouse.org/

In the News:

May 24, 2022 MB News article “Manhattan Beach Scout House Gets Boost From City”

https://www.thembnews.com/2022/05/24/400760/manhattan-beach-scout-house-gets-boost-from-city

The Friends of the Senior and Scout Community Center (Friends) have been fundraising for a new Center for several years, with a goal of constructing a new facility. In 2014, the City, Friends, and the Manhattan Beach Property Owners Association entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that developed a path to replace the existing Scout House.

On October 2, 2018, staff presented to City Council a summary of financing opportunities that would help offset costs for construction of the Center, and FSSCC presented the updated budget projection and schematics of the building. At that meeting, after reviewing various funding opportunities, the City’s infrastructure budget, and the variety of projects already identified in the 5-Year CIP, City Council allocated $1 million toward construction of a new Center.

Subsequently FSSCC raised more than $2.5 million in donations and pledges toward the project.  However, due to construction costs rising and COVID-19 delays the group learned that additional funds in the amount of about $1.899 million was now needed.  That is when FSSCC and City went into discussion on updating the original MOU and original City contribution toward the project.

On May 17, 2022, staff presented to City Council the updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and Friends of Senior & Scout Community Center.  The MOU states that FSSCC funding commitment is at least $2,290,000 and the City funding up to $2,899,540 to pay for future project costs.

On March 7, 2023, City Council allocated an additional $1,691,548 toward the new center. This brought the City’s contribution to a total of $4,591,088 toward construction of the center.

City Project Manager:

Marzena Laskowska 
Phone: (310) 802-5325
E-mail: mlaskowska@manhattanbeach.gov