Battle Brewing Over Future of Jim Bell’s House on Voltaire in Ocean Beach

Front of building.

There’s literally a battle brewing over the future of Jim Bell’s house on Voltaire Street in North Ocean Beach. Locals have mounted a campaign to save the old building (that does have some history) – and they have some good reasons.

Jim Bell – a well-known local ecologist – was taken severely ill a while ago and had to move out of his house and into a care facility. In the meantime, he turned over Power of Attorney to his daughter, Heather, from Seattle.

With all good intentions, Heather then moved to get the property ready for sale -as she needed funds to pay for her dad’s expensive care; the tenants were evicted and a broker hired. Meanwhile, the Dover property right next door to Jim’s was also up for sale.

And then something happened. Something occurred that appeared to be a sale of Jim’s property, along with the Dover property. But questions linger. Was it a valid sale?

And more, the new “owner” has plans to demolish the building and construct a large, 3-story mixed-use complex on the site.

This has led to deep consternation on Bell’s part; he has improved enough to have in the meantime moved back to his house. And with the help of friends, part of the back of the house has been renovated. He is currently living there and is not at all happy his property may have been sold. He wants the sale – if valid – to be nullified.

Here’s the problem: Jim never signed over to anyone the power to make the sale; he he has never signed anything about the property recently.

So the sale may have been in error. Or have other legal problems and issues to be valid.

The so-called buyer, Mark Brencick, has been negotiating with Jim’s advisor, Dustin Johnston – who now has his Power of Attorney – for some kind of resolution. Last we heard Brencick was offering to give the property back for $70,000.

Jim Bell

In the meantime, Jim needs care – and there is a professional caregiver who comes in daily for 8 hours. Friends have volunteered to take shifts around the rest of the clock.

It’s unclear how this will all play out.

For background, here is part of our report from May:

Twenty years ago, Jim Bell – OB’s well-known ecology consultant – bought an old building on Voltaire Street in Ocean Beach, which once housed a variety of businesses over the years, including Seedless, one of the incarnations of Hodads and Effie’s Cafe. And for 2 decades Bell rented out the numerous interior rooms while he worked out of his office, “the cave”, deep inside the building.

For a “tour” of the old building, go here.

Here is the construction notice: