Elected leaders on Tuesday authorized a developer to create at least 298 housing units downtown as part of Santa Monica’s new Civic Center complex.
Meanwhile, residents will have a chance to express in coming months whether 9 feet in additional building heights — and 27 more market rate units that would result in the downtown project because of it — is worth the $7.4 million the city stands to gain from taller buildings. The money would likely be added to the city’s affordable housing fund, officials said.
The Santa Monica City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the Related Companies of California to develop the Village, the residential component of the city’s $120 million-plus Civic Center complex. The council also authorized staff to allow Related to engage a public process to determine which of its two proposals to create the Village’s housing would be preferred by Santa Monicans.
The decision comes on the heels of controversy from a Dec. 13 council meeting regarding three finalists selected by city staff to develop the Village. Due to a lack of financial information provided at that time, the council said it couldn’t make an informed decision which developer to choose. Subsequently, representatives from City Hall indicated the issue wouldn’t return to the council until February, but a chance to choose a developer was scheduled in time for Tuesday’s council meeting.
The council was more satisfied with the financial information it received in the meantime. On Tuesday, the council agreed with city staff Related’s proposals were the best and it awarded the company the Village development contract.
Of the proposals, only Related was able to agree to acquire the site under the terms of a long-term lease. In addition, Related would pay City Hall between $14.4 million and $21.8 million to develop the Village, depending on whether building heights would be 56 or 65 feet, respectively. That was far more than the other developers could offer, which under best case scenarios said they could pay City Hall $11.63 million and $3.25 million, respectively, as long as they could attain property rights to the site.
According to staff reports, Related showed it could achieve the desired 325 total units, in part, by increasing building height by nine feet; spreading the building bulk across sites; and placing parking below ground.
The council authorized Related and city staff to develop a public engagement process to help develop the Village design plan, including alternative proposals that would allow building heights of 65 feet, if Related would like the public to consider an adjustment.
Many officials and nearly a dozen residents speaking on Tuesday said Related would be better off focusing on the 56-foot height standard already zoned for the site, due to strong opposition to create taller buildings in Santa Monica.
Proponents for the 56-foot height limit included Councilman Bobby Shriver. He made it clear in his remarks that Related would have a hard time convincing him that City Hall should authorize buildings with a 65-foot height limit.
Shriver mentioned that in his day-to-day experience talking to residents, they were strongly against tall building heights.
He also questioned the nature of the public engagement process.
“What will be assessed about what the community said?” Shriver asked. “What can the council expect to see? In my experience, public engagement can elongate the process, and the longer it goes on the more likely (those participating) will have extreme views. It’s also possible to muck the process so it yields certain results.
“If Related wants to invest in it, let them go ahead. But talking to people around town and at 7-11, (taller buildings) is definitely something that they don’t want.”
Others attending the meeting were more optimistic that a taller building height for the Village may not be the worst-case scenario for the city. Jason Perry, a proponent for affordable housing who’s participated in the Village development process, argued that the $7.4 million the city would gain from the 9-foot height difference was “7.4 million reasons” the council should consider the notion.
Councilman Ken Genser also pointed out that the Village is set to be developed between the RAND Corp. building, believed to be 72 feet high, and the Viceroy Hotel, believed to be in the 100-foot range.
Considering the large park spaces that will surround the Civic Center complex, a Village building of 65 feet high may not seem obtrusive in terms of the relative scale of other buildings and open space.
Genser also indicated that he and Shriver might be able to discuss building heights at 7-11.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 13, 2006. Read the original PDF.