Change is in the air, in the ground in SM
By Special to the Daily Press
Here’s a rundown of the other construction projects visited during a city-wide tour this past weekend: ONGOING PROJECTS Reed Park improvements. This includes replacement of the tennis court lights and installment of permeable pavers between courts to allow for better maintenance. Additionally, Capital Investment Program (CIP) funds will be used to expand the tot lot, build a kids basketball court in the horseshoe/croquet area and re-landscape the park perimeter. For more information, call 458-8974.
Performing Arts Center and Music Academy (PACMA). Formerly called The Madison Project, Santa Monica College’s performing and visual arts program is past the midpoint in construction of a 504-seat theater. The tentative fiscal estimate is $38.9, of which $3 million came from voter-approved ballot Measure U in 2002; $24 million from Measure S passed in 2004; and $1 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The opening season is slated for fall 2007. For more information, call 434-3430.
Not to get bogged down in what needs to be done, here’s a look at what Santa Monica has recently accomplished.
Euclid Park. On Euclid Street between Colorado Avenue and Broadway, the back-yard-themed park includes a children’s swing and playset, a garden plot, circular seating areas, green lawns, a trellis and meeting rooms. Budgeted at $622,000, the park opening is expected in spring 2007. For more information, call 458-8310.
Pico neighborhood improvements. Neighborhood assessments in the Pico neighborhood are resulting in safe walking paths and added lighting for alleys. About $200,000 is going towards graffiti removal services for areas like the Pico neighborhood that are most impacted by graffiti. For more information, call 458-8301.
Pedestrian safety improvements. A portion of a project started in 1998, City Hall is improving the functionality, visibility and ease of crosswalk use on Colorado Avenue, between 20th Street and Centinela Avenue. The segment of the project will cost $1.4 million and should be completed by early 2007. For more information, call 458-8721. OPCC Cloverfield Service Center. The Ocean Park Community Center broke ground in 2005 to build the Daybreak and Safe Haven shelters for the homeless and mentally ill at Michigan Avenue and Cloverfield Boulevard. Construction is expected to finish fall 2006. For more information, call 264-6646, ext. 229 for more information.
Pier structural rehabilitation and new restrooms. To secure the Pier, the city is replacing 326 pilings and other wooden substructures, which costs $6.5 million. The public restrooms on the Pier will be rebuilt in this fiscal year, which is budgeted at $2.6 million. For more information, call 458-8721.
Palisades Bluffs improvements. According to the assessments from geo-technical consultants, City Hall will do the following to improve stability of the bluffs: install de-watering subsurface drainage systems; surface grouting; filling of erosion pockets, ground cracks and deep gullies; and micro piles to support areas at risk of falling. The project is estimated to cost City Hall $11.6 million, with additional funding coming from the federal government. 415 PCH beach club. The former five-acre Sand and Sea Club is being rehabilitated for use as a public beach club and recreational facility. The project has a $27.4 million budget, $21 million of which was donated by the Annenberg Foundation. The rest will be paid for by City Hall, as well as future operational costs. For more information, visit the project’s e-workshop at 415pch.smgov.net. Exposition Right of Way. A light rail connection between Santa Monica and the rest of the Westside. About $640 million is allocated for design and construction of phase one — from downtown Los Angeles to Culver City — by 2010. About $750 million in funding will be needed for phase two — from Culver City to Santa Monica. The Sears site at Fourth Street and Colorado Avenue was purchased by City Hall in June 2006, most likely for a light rail terminus, parking, affordable housing and supportive retail. A bike path and adjacent pedestrian walkway will be built from Centinela Avenue to 17th Street in early 2007. For more information, call 458-2275.
The Big Blue Bus has expanded its transportation yard, adding a liquefied natural gas fueling facility for the 200-plus bus fleet and a compressed natural gas fueling facility for other city vehicles. A new bus wash uses 50 percent less water. The process will continue by expanding the administration building and constructing a new maintenance facility. This project is budgeted at $80 million. For more information, call 458-5831.
Downtown parking structures. Part of a 10-year phased program, parking structures No. 2, 4 and 5 will be seismically retrofitted. Parking structures No. 1, 3 and 6 will be completely rebuilt, and up to two new structures may be added. The total estimated cost is $123 million. For more information, call 458-2275. The Cove Skatepark opened in June 2005 as a playground for skaters and bikers only. A membership fee is required. This fiscal year, the Cove will see extended hours and new lights for night skating, budgeted at $130,000. Registration information is at the-cove.smgov.net and at 458-8228.
Fisher Lumber. Purchased by City Hall in 2005 and currently the location of open space management division’s operations unit, it may be used to expand Memorial Park.
City Yards expansion. Renovations to meet environmental safety and other demands will begin before the end of 2006. For more information, call 458-8221.
Streetscape improvements. Improvements on Cloverfield Boulevard and 20th Street, between Pico Boulevard and the I-10 freeway will be done following a community input process and review by the City Council. For more information, call 458-8721.
Santa Monica Airport. An EPA-funded, Southern California AQMD air quality monitoring study currently underway at Van Nuys Airport will be used to implement new practices at the Santa Monica Airport for three months in late 2006 to early 2007. For more information, call 458-8531.
Traffic study and improvements. At Ocean Park Boulevard and 16th, 17th and 18th streets, City Hall is paying $75,000 to assess parking and street-crossing issues. For more information, call 458-8291.
Woodlawn Cemetery. Landscaping services will be increased in 2006-2007. For more information, call 458-8230.
Lincoln Boulevard improvements. City Hall is negotiating with Caltrans to relinquish Lincoln Boulevard. City officials envision concrete bus and bike lanes, enhanced street design, traffic and pedestrian improvements, and installation of trees and landscaping. The project will need up to $20 million in grant and other funding. So far, $1 million in grant funds have been awarded to City Hall for design and construction assistance. For more information, call 458-8721.
Santa Monica Place. The owners of the mall, the Macerich Company, plan to remodel the mall without changing the footprint and not adding housing or office uses to the site. More information should soon be available at www.macerich.com.
Santa Monica Pier access improvements. City Hall plans to create wider sidewalks and lower curbs, as well as the addition of a vehicle ramp leading into the 1550 parking lot. Construction is expected to start in 2007. For more information, call 458-8906.
California Incline rebuild. To meet current seismic standards, construction of a new bridge will require reconstruction of the upper and lower approaches to the bridge. The California Incline will remain a three-lane signalized roadway. Alternatives are being developed to minimize impacts to the historic resource. Construction is expected to last 10 months. The proposed project would require closure of the bridge to traffic during construction. The environmental impact review phase of the project got underway in May. For more information, call 434-2641.
Second and Fourth streets pedestrian improvements. Eight blocks of pedestrian and streetscape improvements between Wilshire Boulevard and Colorado Avenue. Part of the Downtown Urban Design Plan adopted in 1997,the project includes closely-spaced lighting and replacement of every-other tree. Construction will start in January 2007 and be completed in September 2007. Business access will be maintained during construction. For more information, call 458-8721.
Virginia Avenue Park opened in December 2005 with a 2.9-acre open lawn, picnic tables and barbecues, two full-size basketball courts, two playgrounds with space-style equipment, Wi-Fi Internet access, a SMPD substation, a fitness gym, activity rooms, a mural, expanded parking, among other amenities. The park renovation and expansion cost $13 million. For more information, call 458-8688.
Garden/Garden is a grant-funded public demonstration which opened in May 2004. Located at 1718 and 1724 Pearl St., two adjacent front yards display the difference in using native versus imported plants. The native garden uses seven times less water and costs 50 percent less to maintain than the traditional garden. For more information, contact 458-2213.
Refurbished downtown restrooms with attendants from 9 a.m. to midnight are improving the Third Street Promenade shopping experience. Parking Structure No. 3 houses the men’s restroom and Parking Structure No. 4 houses the women’s rest-room. The cost for the three-month pilot program is estimated to be about $100,000. Construction for an expanded central rest-room in Parking Structure No. 4 begins early 2007 as part of the seismic retrofit project. The SMC Bundy campus opened its doors in summer 2005 to house programs including health science, education, continuing education and community education. The price tag was $56.5 million, funded by Measure U. For more information, call 434-4287.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 13, 2006. Read the original PDF.