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# Deceit in the Historic District
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/deceit-in-the-historic-district-editor/
- Published: 2007-11-23T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T04:04:19.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

At (the Nov. 12) Landmarks Hearing, speaker after speaker pleaded with Landmarks Commissioners to deny a proposed project for 2617 Third St. on the grounds that it was not compliant with Historic District guidelines and that approval would lead to the eventual demise of the district (“Does Santa Monica’s past have a future?” Nov. 17-18). A petition with nearly 500 signatures in support of the district was presented to the commissioners. Not one person spoke in favor of the project, a large Modernist structure that would stick out like an attention-grabbing sore thumb amidst the historic and supposedly protected California bungalows. And yet, the commissioners would not even discuss the item themselves. This is the third time this project has come before the Landmarks Commission. Why are the commissioners not supporting the Historic District?

In a most manipulative manner, the applicant’s team had sought to derail the hearing by withdrawing the item at the 11th hour from the agenda on the grounds that their materials were not ready. This late notice, only minutes before the Landmarks Commission met, was a totally unnecessary hardball tactic designed to inconvenience those opposed to the project. Fortunately, it backfired and residents were allowed to speak.

However, the discussion of the project will have to be continued to the Dec. 10 Landmarks Commission hearing since commissioners were unwilling to take a vote in the absence of the applicant and his team at (this month’s) hearing. The applicant’s team seems to hope that by dragging the project through hearing after hearing, the opposition will tire and fall away. In fact, the reverse is true. Their rudeness only strengthens our resolve.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 23, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/112307.pdf?ref=smdp.com)