By Dorothy Thatcher Santa Monica
What kind of city lets a three-story house be built in an R2 zone? What kind of city gives a permit for a subterranean garage to be dug in pure sand on a 25-foot lot? Subsequent damage to adjacent houses has been considerable. The demolished public sidewalk had been replaced with broken plyboard. How can this be permitted? What kind of city allows a wall to be built on the property line with 24 inches between house and wall? How does the fire department get firefighting equipment onto the properties?
These questions have been submitted to the Santa Monica building and safety department, but “everything is up to code” is the answer. Something is not right here. Just who does this code protect? Certainly not the citizens.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 3, 2006. Read the original PDF.