joe hu/town crier The Neutra cottage, now on Los Altos city-owned land, was designed by Richard J. Neutra, considered an influential architect.

A small structure known as the Neutra cottage, named for its famed architect Richard Neutra, may find its days on city property numbered because of a missed deadline brought to light by Los Altos Mayor Ron Packard.

An agreement made last year between the city and the Los Altos Community Foundation (LACF) allowed for the cottage relocation from a private residence in Los Altos to city-owned land next to Hillview Community Center.

According to Packard, an attorney by trade, the city did not receive a bill of sale by June 1, which renders the agreement void. The issue of the cottage must come before the council for reconsideration, he said.

The structure’s move came at the urging of former Councilman King Lear. Packard noted in a June 16 letter to the foundation, “The new council may fully share King’s enthusiasm for the cottage and his confidence that he can raise the required additional funds needed to complete the renovations in a timely manner. Or maybe they will not.”

Lear, who noted considerable progress with the cottage renovation, said LACF members could have signed the bill of sale as early as January, “but we just forgot about that admin(istrative) milestone. The city could have reminded us any time prior to June 1 if it were important to them.” Following Packard’s letter, LACF members delivered the bill of sale June 20.

Los Altos City Councilmembers are slated to discuss the 980-square-foot building at Tuesday’s meeting. The meeting occurred after the Town Crier’s press deadline.

Supporters of Neutra cottage want to preserve the architect’s legacy, while detractors dismiss the structure as an eyesore with little practical use.

Foundation members have envisioned using the cottage as a museum and community meeting space.

Supporters have raised approximately $215,000 of the $329,000 budgeted for relocation and renovation, which includes landscaping and extensive work to the building’s interior.

“Why the mayor would suggest destroying $177,000 of completed work ($38,000 is in the budget but unspent) by charitable persons and organizations, not including a lot of uncharged time, is not clear to me,” Lear said last week. “I have heard no discussion of the project goals being changed or rethought, nor should they be.”

Packard met June 22 with Lear, foundation executive director Roy Lave and chairman George Limbach to discuss the cottage.

“I suggested that LACF may not want to spend additional funds on the renovation if it is not allowed to retain the structure on city land,” Packard said.

“My final concern is to do what is best for our greater Los

Altos community given the city’s limited resources. Is allocating rent-free Los Altos

city land with a value well over $500,000 to LACF the correct thing to do? The Hillview Community Center desperately needs renovations, and if the Neutra land is excess, then maybe its value should instead be used for the center.”