It has taken an act of Congress for Santa Monica to procure another $298,230 to put toward its renovation plans for the Marion Davies estate at 415 Pacific Coast Highway. City staff suggest that the City Council accept grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Development, which was approved by Congress. The fund recognizes the potential of the historic structures on the site to serve as a visitor’s center, specifically in what’s known as the estate’s “North House.”
Since City Hall began pursuing grant funding in 1999, it has received $350,000 in state Proposition 12 funding; $673,616 in federal funding from 2002, 2003 and 2006, and $21 million from the Annenberg Foundation.
City Hall plans to renovate the estate into a public beach and recreation venue.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 14, 2006. Read the original PDF.