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# A 20-year renter has had enough
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/a-20-year-renter-has-had-enough-editor/
- Published: 2007-10-13T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T03:21:49.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Niels Hansen*

After 20 years, an old-school rent-controlled apartment will be vacated in Santa Monica. The rent for this one bedroom a block south of Wilshire will double. Whoever moves in will have the opportunity to complain about the handful of truly rent-controlled apartments that remain. Is this gratifying for anyone?

Originally built as a motel in the 1940s and ‘50s, this complex has changed much over the 20 years I’ve lived here. The new Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center has been chronically under construction, across the street, for the past seven years, with no end in sight. In addition, the main entrance has recently been moved to about 40 yards from our front door and the new ER is now about 75 yards away. Sirens on ambulances go zipping past construction trucks and people pour across the street into our courtyard to make it their smoking zone. At some point, the existing hospital will be demolished, piece by piece, while people try to live here.

Cracks in the walls tell stories of past earthquakes. Possibly noxious fumes seep from behind our kitchen sink while we only get rudimentary fixes. We close the kitchen door trying to keep the fumes from our toddler. Neighbors dump garbage in their own courtyard. People use our carport as a bathroom and tag the alley behind our complex. We see this every day and night when we go to the car.

I could go on, but that’s enough complaining for one letter. If you don’t believe me, visit sometime. Maybe you can live here if you hurry.

We stayed here all these years because we enjoyed the beautiful location and wonderful community. All in all, this apartment is worth just about what I’ve paid for it all these years. The shady gray fringes of rent control leave renters bickering among themselves. The only true gratification goes to the landlords, such as AIMCO of Denver (SMDP, Oct. 5) when their finance-packed long-term strategies finally pay off. I know one local landlord who now gets to double the rent for this tired old apartment.

Finally, let’s not forget the impending day when they decide to go Ellis and quit business here. They’ll sell the land for development, and put long-term Santa Monicans on the street.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 13, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/101307.pdf?ref=smdp.com)