Commissions back plans for completely revitalized Civic Center
KEN EDWARDS CENTER Developers moved one step closer Thursday to creating a diverse new community near City Hall.
While there were some minor concerns about the scale of the development, the Housing and Recreation and Parks commissions gave the thumbs-up to the design concept for “The Village,” which will include at least 325 units of affordable family housing, mixed-use and live-work space, public and private open space and a new plaza that will connect with the future Palisades Garden Walk, a large park with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean.
The plan calls for a complete remodel of the Civic Center — home to government buildings, the Civic Center Auditorium and parking lot, the county courthouse and the headquarters of RAND Corp.
“Our vision is to build a new neighborhood,” said Bob Moncrief, housing manager for City Hall. “The area now is very desolate with very little activity at night. We want to make it active, a place where people live and shop.
“We want to bring life to this area.” City officials are particularly pleased with the current design because it offers a mixture of affordable and market rate housing, plus neighborhood-serving retail. There will also be public art and plenty of sustainable design features, including the possible installation of solar panels.
Plans to extend Olympic Drive from Fourth Street to Ocean Avenue are also included.
“The most important thing to remember is this will really be a diverse community,” Moncrief told commissioners. “Under our business plan, we hope that the sale of market rate housing will be able to subsidize the affordable housing.”
Still, at least two Recreation and Parks commissioners felt the design was not welcoming enough, resembling a mall or big box store. There were also comments made about accessibility to open space and if there would be enough for families with young children.
Resident Greg Brogger, who lives near the proposed development, had issues with the increased traffic expected to result from the project, urging the commissioners to reconsider supporting it until more studies are done on traffic impacts.
“This seems to be out of step with the character of this community,” Brogger said.
In the end, commissioners approved the design concept and included their comments for consideration by the Planning Commission and the City Council. The Planning Commission is expected to take up the design proposal in June.
Related Companies, the developers of the project, said they are ready to submit a development agreement application and begin negotiations with the staff once the council gives approval.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 19, 2007. Read the original PDF.