A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME THE CITY will reconfigure traffic flow on Ocean Park Boulevard from Lincoln Boulevard to 25th Street in a few weeks by repainting single traffic lanes in each direction Left turn pockets and bike paths will be included in the new reconfiguration.
According to Transportation Planning Manager, Lucy Dyke, the City is responding to traffic concerns voiced by OPB neighbors. "The City has removed a crosswalk at 16th, installed flashing crosswalks and curb extensions at 16th and 18th, upgraded school zone signs and markings, installed speed feedback signs, deployed crossing guards, targeted the area for speed and pedestrian enforcement. Although average speed is lower and the accident history has improved, many people think more should be done."
Don’tcha just love it? The City makes improvements and a handful of people still complain. So, Traffic Management responds by reducing vehicular capacity on 17 blocks of a major arterial affecting 23,000 motorists (2006 Transportation Management internal document) who drive the thoroughfare, daily.
Dyke says, “We are planning to implement it as a trial and conduct a post-reconfiguration review, incorporating feedback from motorists and residents and parents before asking the Council to make a determination about whether to retain the (new) reconfigu-ration.” Lots of luck. With our City Council, this will be permanent before the paint hits the pavement.
City Hall continues to ignore increasing congestion and gridlock by reducing yet another major boulevard’s ability to handle traffic and adds impediments such as bike paths that would be safer and more sensible on quieter streets such as Oak or Pearl streets.
Step Up on Second’s latest project, Daniel’s Village, is scheduled to open in Fall, 2008 at 2624 Santa Monica Blvd. near 26th Street. The Village Motel will be converted into eight transitional housing units for members of Daniel’s Place who are young adults, ages 18 to 28, in early stages of mental illness (“On second thought,” SMDP, Oct. 4, Page 3). Step Up assists housed or homeless persons with severe depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or dual-diagnosed with mental illness and an alcohol and/or drug dependency.
According to the City’s Acting Housing Administrator, Jim Kemper, “The City financing to that project — just over $2 million — is structured as a loan.” Since 1996, Step Up has received $10.5 million in loans from the City for three housing/treatment projects.
Just a year ago, Step Up tried to purchase a multifamily property on Pearl Street across from Santa Monica College, but a city loan was denied because the property didn’t meet the loan criteria and was vigorously opposed by neighbors.
When it comes to doling out money for affordable housing, the city’s Housing and Redevelopment staff can approve spending tens of millions of dollars without City Council approval or public input or oversight.
According to a City Council (June 18, 2007) staff report, “Under the proposed Trust Fund Guidelines, the maximum funding that the staff could administratively approve (for projects of 50 units or less) would be $19,300,000 for new construction... and $24,050,000 for acquisition and rehabilitation projects...” Projects bigger than 50 units require City Council/Redevelopment Agency approval.
Replacing tax-generating businesses with "nonprofit” housing removes property from the tax rolls. It’s also on a retail oriented street that’s becoming even less viable commercially due to this and two public housing projects built on nearby key intersections in the last two years.
Neighbors are becoming aware of the demise of the motel. It’ll be interesting to see what, if any, reaction will develop. This project is one more in a growing list of dozens of tax-exempt social service and mental health facilities in the City; most located south of Santa Monica Boulevard.
Lastly, a development agreement to develop the Village Trailer Park property at 2930 Colorado Ave. is before City Council for review, tomorrow night. In addition to concerns about the 99 mostly elderly, infirmed or financially challenged residents facing eviction, is the size of the project — 349 housing units, 40,030 square-feet of studio/office space, 8,030 square-feet of retail space and parking for 503 cars.
City Council can order staff to continue negotiation of the development agreement with the developer or discuss his proposal and provide direction for the redevelopment of the site or consider alternatives such as purchasing the site and continue operation of the 109 pad facility as affordable mobile home housing. As always, public comment is encouraged.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 8, 2007. Read the original PDF.