> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Commission rejects condo project - URL: https://www.smdp.com/commission-rejects-condo-project/ - Published: 2008-04-12T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T23:53:08.000Z - Author: Melody Hanatani - Tags: Real Estate & Housing, Santa Monica, #archive-import *Developer upset by decision* A proposal to build a series of townhouse-style condominiums in the heart of a beachside neighborhood where development has become a growing concern won’t be seeing the light of day any time soon. At least not for a year after the Planning Commission on Wednesday denied a design permit application, forcing the property owner/developer to wait until next year before he can take another crack at the project. James Thielen presented a plan to tear down an existing two-story apartment complex at 2721 Third St. — a block comprised of mainly multi-familly residential development — in favor of erecting five townhouse-style condominiums, one of which would be sold as an affordable unit. The commission acted on the recommendation of city planners who concluded that while the density of the proposed structure would be in compliance, it is still out of line with several standards set forth in the Zoning Ordinance, raising issues with its tight parking layout, perceived mass and scale as a result of design, and the distinctively small size and lack of amenities in the affordable unit as compared to the market rate condos. The project will have to wait a year because it has already received the maximum number of extensions as allowed under city code. Development has long been a concern in the Ocean Park neighborhood where new projects have been popping up sporadically along Main Street and in residential neighborhood for years, causing residents to be alarmed that the character of their laid-back surf community is in jeopardy of losing its identity. There are several development issues currently brewing in the neighborhood, including just one block north of the proposed project, home of the Third Street Historic District where neighbors are arguing over plans to build an addition to the rear of a bungalow. Among the concerns for the project at 2721 Third St. is the scale of the structure and holes in its architectural style — designed by Beverly Hills architect Homay Naraghi in the Spanish Mediterranean manner, which is one of three approaches often found in the Ocean Park neighborhood, according to associate planner Grace Cho. City planners found that while the architecture of the proposed project does borrow from design features found in the surrounding homes, there are atypical elements, including the multiple gabled roof line, the awkward location of windows and doors and lack of detail that is characteristic of Spanish Colonial and Mediterranean homes, Cho said. 403,“The eight gabled roof accentuates the massing and emphasizes the upsloping condition of the property,” she told commissioners. Cho added there was also concern with the saw-tooth roofline design. Thielen said the roofline was jagged to give it the look of individual units. The size of the building was the central concern for the neighbors, who argued that the condos would be out of scale with the surrounding apartments, obscuring the view for some residents. Erin Nico, who lives next door to the south, complained that the development as proposed would block her view of the Santa Monica Bay and Santa Monica Mountains. “For all of the people in my building, the view will be blocked because of the size,” she said. “The building is now close, but it will be coming a lot closer to us and will be higher than our building.” Commission Chairman Gwynn Pugh pointed out that the building is going to be further setback compared to the original building so there will actually be more light and air for the neighbors. Karen Blechman, who lives in the Third Street Historic District, said she was concerned about the loss of affordable housing in building this project, feeling there aren’t enough inexpensive options in the city. “If this project were developed, some of my neighbors would probably have to move out of the city and would probably start commuting into the city as a result,” Blechman said. While the building does offer one affordable unit, it actually does not comply with the city’s affordable housing law, which dictates that the unit could be reduced in size or interior amenities as long as there isn’t a significant difference between the affordable unit and market units from the outside. The project’s lone affordable unit is proposed to be half in size as the market unit and does not include the bulk of the same amenities, lacking a fireplace, laundry room, family room and walk-in closets. Thielen said he was under the impression from his attorney, Rosario Perry, that it was in compliance. “I was told the unit had to be basically a two bedroom, one bath and 850 square feet and didn’t require a parking space at the beginning of this process, but obviously the rules have changed,” he said. Both Thielen and the architect also argued that they had no prior knowledge of there being issues with the project until they saw the staff report shortly before the hearing. “This was never even faxed or e-mailed or \[nobody\] even called,” Naraghi said, waving the staff report. “We just got this from the desk 10 minutes ago.” Commissioners defended the staff report, saying they had never heard of an associate planner not making themselves available for the developer. Julie Lopez-Dad noted that the staff report had been available on the Internet for two weeks and that there were community members who were well aware of its existence. “The responsibility is on the developer, not on the staff and not on the public,” she said. Jump hedline: Developer alleges they didn’t know of issues beforehand Suggested pullquote: “If this project were developed, some of my neighbors would probably have to move out of the city and would probably start commuting into the city as a result.” *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 12, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/041208.pdf?ref=smdp.com)