By Matt Schwabe Santa Monica
(Editor’s note: This letter was originally addressed to the Santa Monica City Council).
Being long-time residents of Santa Monica, my family and I are writing to object to any development of the downtown Third Street area regarding towers of any size. The area is already overcrowded and hard enough to transit. Further development of any size will only burden the city even worse with congestion, not to mention destroy the skyline. We, as residents, enjoy and are entitled to view freely without bulbous obstructions. It, quite frankly, surprises us that the city would even consider such a project given the city’s current condition in this particular area.
A couple years back, the city turned away Target based upon the impact that it would have created for the area although it would have benefited the residents who now have to shop Targets outside the city. Think about it a moment.
This latest consideration is a no-brainer. Don’t do it, please. If the city wants to take on a redevelopment project, take on Lincoln Boulevard, which is an eyesore. Being Sunset Park residents, we have to deal with its unsightly, unkempt businesses lining the street, not to mention all of the massage parlors, motels, transients and prostitutes walking the street on our urine stained sidewalks around the clock.
Nicely planted center medians such as the ones on Wilshire Boulevard would look nice on the street in addition to mandating that area businesses be kept to certain standards, within reason. It might even bring in an anchor business or two that would benefit residents as well as existing businesses. Drive the street from Rose Avenue north and be the judge for yourself.
But please, no towers of any sort. The city has enough issues and doesn’t need this high rise burden.
Your consideration is appreciated.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 2, 2005. Read the original PDF.