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# CITY HALL A compromise at last
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/city-hall-a-compromise-at-last/
- Published: 2007-04-11T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T00:29:54.000Z
- Author: Melody Hanatani
- Tags: Government & Politics, Main St, #archive-import

*Dogtown skates by destruction*

Six months after neighbors erupted in outrage over plans to tear down a culturally historic skate and surf shop on Main Street in favor of mixed-use development, the architect overseeing the project presented a design that could satisfy all parties.

What was once a plan to demolish the entire structure at 2001-2011 Main St., home to several artist studios and Horizons West Surf Shop, has been reworked into a new proposal that would keep the strip of retail along Main Street and build 14 units in the back.

Once the home of the old Zephyr and Jeff Ho Productions, it was in the Horizons West Surf Shop structure that a group of street kids from the “Dogtown” area of Santa Monica and Venice helped revolutionize the world of skateboarding in the 1970s, introducing the aggressive style that has come to define the sport.

Standing before the Landmarks Commission on Monday, architect Howard Laks unveiled the revised outline for the mixed-use development, drawing nods and smiling faces from clearly pleased commissioners who had the task of considering the entire structure for landmarks designation.

Based on comments heard from community meetings and previous Landmarks Commission meetings, Laks advised building owner Juli Doar that it would be in the best interest of everyone if the project incorporated the surf shop building.

The new plans would tear down about 66 percent of the U-shaped structure, keeping the Horizons West Surf Shop structure in the front, and removing the parking lot and artist studios in the back.

Keeping the existing building would speak to its past use and history, and provide a recognizable identifier of place for the new development, Laks said.

In designating the site as a historic landmark, which Laks said he supported, the Landmarks Commission should distinguish the so-called “contributing” and “non-contributing” historic features of the site. The contributing features of the site would be the Horizons West Surf Shop structure, and the non-contributing portion of the property would be the parking lot and the artist studios. Distinguishing the two would allow the developer to build behind Horizons, the non-landmark portion.

The new proposal seems to have the support of the neighborhood, with approximately 95 residents of Santa Monica recently signing a petition that they are in favor.

The Landmarks Commission unanimously voted Monday to nominate the building for landmarks designation and will consider the matter for a final vote, along with the terms of the historic designation, at its meeting on May 14.

“I think that we have a win-win-win-win situation here,” said Commissioner Roger Genser. “I just look at all that’s transpired in a very short period of time... I think it was wise the commission continued this and referred it to the neighborhood and community, because I think they came up with the consensus.”

If the building is approved for historic preservation next month, it would perhaps be the building with the most cultural significance in the city’s landmark registry.

“Most of the cultural phenomenon that we record on our landmarks \[registry\] has to do with developers in hotels,” said Chairwoman Nina Fresco. “It’s really exciting to talk about filing this application.”

At least one person — probably the most famous person in the room — was still skeptical of the revised plan, which seemed to come as a surprise to Jeff Ho, the former shop owner and skateboarding mentor to the Z-Boys skaters.

“I’m apprehensive about what’s really going to happen,” Ho said following the meeting.

On Friday and Saturday, Ho and Horizons West supporters held a petition-signing party at the bar 14 Below, where rock bands JFA, Soccer Mom, Dr. No and The Scuffs all performed free for the cause. About 150 people signed Ho’s petition, which sought to save the entire Main Street structure.

Following Monday’s meeting, Ho said he understands the need for a compromise and seemed glad that at least Horizons West Surf Shop would be saved.

Construction would not begin for at least 18 months, Doar said. In the mean-time, Horizons West Surf Shop will remain open for business.

“I think what we are trying to achieve will reflect the community’s desire to keep the Jeff Ho shop as a landmark,” Doar said.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/041107-01_01.jpg)

LANDMARK IN WAITING: Jeff Ho’s shop, Horizons West Surf Shop, should survive the wrecking ball. (Photo: Photo courtesy)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 11, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/041107.pdf?ref=smdp.com)