This past week, Q-line asked: “Do you support the idea of the Santa Monica Place mall being replaced with three 21-story luxury apartment towers? Why or why not?” Here are your responses: ✆ Developers who would not be caught dead living in Santa Monica build these elevated rectangular eyesores with investors’ money, and then after completion, take their profit and sail off to the luxury resort areas of the world, leaving the residents of the community to endure the horrors of traffic congestion and overcrowding. The worst reason in the world to do anything is for monetary profit only. The best reason is to improve the photosynthesis and the aesthetics of the community. If any project is approved, I would hope it to be for apartment structures only, with beautiful garden-like park lands surrounding the project.” ✆ “I’m certainly not in favor of Macerich’s company going ahead and building those bloody tall buildings, because many years ago, my husband tried to build a complex on Ocean Park, and it was denied because it was too high. And we’re not talking, many, many stories, we’re talking about a huge behemoth 21 stories! So I think it’s outrageous in the city of ‘Samolicious.’” ✆ “The Macerich proposed plan is ludicrous, dangerous and ugly. The affordable housing clause is just to make the creepy developers look like good guys, which they are not. The parks are thrown in for the same reason. And these would just be more flop space for the bums anyway. But as for a few well-chosen pawns, (which) are sufficiently greased, you can be sure they will get their way. Let’s not forget, the glutton of people, vehicles and unimaginable traffic congestion that will ensue. It’s horrible now. How can anyone in their right mind want to add to this mess?” ✆ “I was reading about the plans to raise the Santa Monica Place Mall. I don’t know, that was pretty neat when it went in, actually I did think that the Third Street Promenade was sufficient for many, many years. I don’t like the idea that it’s going to be luxury apartment towers in there, where the Santa Monica (Place) mall is now. I prefer it to be affordable housing, and of course we need parking spaces. But I just don’t like any more retail stores, and I think we got plenty of office spaces around. I’d like to see a survey of how much of the office space all over town now, such as at Colorado Center, showing how much of those office buildings are vacant and how much are being rented. But I just cringe at the thought of more luxury apartment towers. I just cringe.” ✆ “I do not support the idea, and nev-ermind that it will ruin the Santa Monica skyline. Does anyone understand that it will throw like 4,000 to 5,000 cars into the traffic that already doesn’t move anywhere? I don’t get it, but I do get it because it’s going to generate millions of dollars. That’s the key word for the greedy town of Santa Monica.” ✆ “I think the idea of the 21-story towers, or whatever they are, is just ridiculous. It’s not going to look like Long Beach, I hope. I like Santa Monica as small, nice. It’s worth many more millions of dollars to have Santa Monica a nice, small, wonderful beach community. Also, what about the traffic? Herb Katz promised better traffic. I don’t think that’s going to mitigate any traffic. And it’s just too many people, too much garbage, and too much money for the developers, no doubt.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 4, 2004. Read the original PDF.