By Donald Brand Santa Monica
There is more than irony involved in the letter to the editor of June 19th from Ron Goldman commenting on Melody Hanatani’s front page article on Wednesday, June 18, concerning the planned senior housing project at 17th [Street] and Montana Avenue. • Mr. Goldman has been the chief opponent and catalyst for numerous delays of this project development during the last 18 months. • Mr. Goldman voiced his concern over the original project at a February 2007 meeting that I attended with neighbors and the owners, and announced his frustration with the fact that he had attempted to purchase the same property to develop as condos but was unsuccessful and very unhappy that his bid was rejected. • Mr. Goldman, who lives directly east and adjacent to the property on Montana Avenue, backs out of his own garage/driveway onto Montana Avenue and turns into his garage/driveway every day. His complaints about a perceived safety issue and danger is not supported by reality and certainly not supported by a detailed traffic/environmental study that was completed for the original project. • Mr. Goldman’s concerns over the project’s loading space on 17th Street is misplaced and an opinion not shared by those of us who are adjacent neighbors most affected to the north. Would Mr. Goldman prefer that this loading space be next to his property on Montana Avenue? • Mr. Goldman’s attack on senior group housing is a sham. It is obvious that he would either like to develop his own condo project on that site or insure that nothing is built in his back yard.
It is unfortunate that good projects which help the senior community are made so difficult to construct.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 24, 2008. Read the original PDF.