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# SM due for a change
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/sm-due-for-a-change-editor/
- Published: 2004-12-14T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T05:48:13.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Downtown, #archive-import, Homeless

Regarding: “Moratorium on new development in Santa Monica proposed” by John Wood, (SMDP, Dec. 10, page 1). A lot of Santa Monica’s residents don’t want the town to change much, they say they like things as they are and that is understandable. People don’t like change much, but things always change whether you like it or not. They want Santa Monica to be for their use and really don’t want share it much with outsiders. These are the same people who miss the run-down look of the Promenade from 10 or 12 years ago. They miss all the greasy restaurants, smoky head-shops, over-priced vintage clothing stores, etc. They say they don’t like change, but they can’t live without the Borders or Barnes & Noble.

So maybe change isn’t all that bad. These are the same folks who also don’t want to see their various city taxes go up, but go up they will if the city does not draw enough tourists and shoppers to the area stores and hotels. They want all responsibility for paying for Santa Monica’s many and constant improvements placed on the shoulders of the wealthy apartment owners because as they see it they are still being overcharged on rent-controlled rent that is a small fraction of what the market would bear. I was over at the Grove at Farmers Market on Friday night several weeks ago, and the heavy crowd of shoppers remind me of the Promenade of the old days.

Perhaps the Macerich Company will have to close Santa Monica Place and let it remain closed for five or 10 years. It seems so empty most of the time, how can they make any money on their investment?

It might end up like the old Hawthorne Mall which was closed up for years, if anyone remembers that shopping center. In other words, it can happen. I would hate to see that happen since I eat lunch there at least three times a week because I am in downtown Santa Monica at least five days a week. I personally love the place, but I can see that it has lost its edge, seems very dated, and I can imagine it as it might be if it were redeveloped with some style and grace. And a wealthy crowd of new residents downtown might make up for the homeless thugs who lay in every doorway drinking and smoking, who I guess those not wanting change can easily make apologies for, or maybe never really see that often because they are actually else-

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 14, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/121404.pdf?ref=smdp.com)