SANTA MONICA IS AT A CROSSROADS. The next two years could see lots more development unless the city takes steps to contain it.
A large number of projects are in the pipeline including the massive “Village” to be located at the Civic Center with 325 units of housing jammed onto 3.3 acres. Other projects include: 623 units of single room apartments (SROs) on four floors proposed for 3025 Olympic Blvd.; 129 more units of affordable SROs in a four-story building planned for 819- 829 Broadway; and another four-story, 124 unit SRO next door at 1447 Lincoln (at Broadway) are all undergoing an Environmental Impact Review (EIR).
Community Corporation of Santa Monica has projects in the Pico Neighborhood on High Street and Virginia Avenue. Both buildings are to be three-floors. This 92-unit development replaces a neighborhood of single-family bungalows.
There are four, older,Victorian/farmhouse houses on adjoining parcels at 1238-1254 Fourteenth St. that are in danger. The present property owner planned to develop 25 upscale townhouses, but just put the properties on the market. When sold, the charming old homes will still probably by demolished and replaced by market-rate condominiums.
A proposed four-story office building at 1427 Fourth St. (replacing Michael’s’ Art Store) is awaiting environmental review. A four-story, 45-foot-tall hotel (replacing the existing Travelodge) with 164 guest rooms is slated for 1515-25 Ocean Ave. A two-story hotel with 19 rooms and a rooftop pool at 1419 19th St. is among the larger commercial projects coming soon.
A controversial six-story, mixed-use building with 125 condominiums at 525 Broadway will be before Planning Commission (for a second time) for approval in the weeks ahead. A three-story, 48 unit, artists live/work studio is planned for 2834 Colorado Ave. A 91 unit, three-story artist live/work building at 1610 Colorado is awaiting environmental review as is another three-story building with 66 units of artists lofts proposed for 1639 11th St.
At Olympic and 20th Street, a 100 room SRO is under construction and another 65 units of affordable housing is planned behind it at 2029 Olympic. A 32-unit market rate condo project is slated for 15th Street and Broadway.
The historic Horizon’s West Surf/Skate Shop was saved, but behind it a proposed three-story mixed use building with 14 residential units is awaiting an EIR as is a three-story, mixed-use building with 48 residential units at 2300-2320 Wilshire Blvd. — presently a car wash.
A development agreement is on hold for Fairmont-Miramar Hotel’s property fronting on the 100 block of Wilshire. Six floors with retail and a 10-story residential tower were proposed in the past. A development agreement is in the works for 3.85 acres at 2930 Colorado (presently the Village Trailer Park) for 240 market rate condominiums, 109 units of affordable apartments and SROs, 229,860 square feet of retail space and parking for 503 cars.
Many projects are approved administratively, without public input, such as the remodel of the NuWilshire Theater on Wilshire Boulevard into retail stores. Nevertheless, Planning Commissioner, Jay Johnson, (whose name I omitted in error from last week’s column) was concerned enough about losing the movie theaters,that he requested a staff presentation on the project.
More than two dozen small condo projects citywide — ranging from three to 29 units — are also on Planning’s case list. Most will replace single family homes, smaller neighborhood businesses or older apartment buildings and displace long time Santa Monica residents.
All of these projects plus dozens more not mentioned will have a dramatic “no turning back” impact on the future of Santa Monica. Therefore, City Council must do three things: 1.) With the Planning Commission unable to decide on a building freeze, it’s now vital for City Council to act by placing a moratorium on all future construction in the city until the update to the two decade old general plan is completed. 2.) Appoint resident-friendly, common-sense, practical applicants to the Planning Commission. Social engineers, pro-development Smart Growthers and Utopian “cars are evil — more bus and bikeways” types are not needed. 3.) Reestablish discretionary review of projects by the Planning Commission — including smaller neighborhood condo projects recently now administratively approved.
In the meantime, every project approved and built eats away at the creation of a consistent, all-encompassing plan for Santa Monica’s future and makes updating the general plan more futile and irrelevant.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 23, 2007. Read the original PDF.