By Sean Jennings Santa Monica
The Feb. 5 article, “Redevelopment raises concerns,” sums up exactly what is wrong with the city and its incessant need for development. Recent years have seen Santa Monica grow into a destination for the wealthy, leaving many of us who have lived here for decades with no place to live. Tearing down an affordable apartment building to make way for “environmentally friendly” luxury condominium development does not make any sense with the city’s ever increasing rents. What working class citizen will really be able to afford the so-called “affordable” housing units the developer plans to included? Is it green to tear down a perfectly good residence to build a LEED certified dwelling in its place? Seems like another way to greenwash their way into another overpriced development that this city no longer needs. If the City Council will not put a stop to this nonsense, then the residents of this city will.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 7, 2008. Read the original PDF.