March 28, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica’s Democracy Of Gratification: Letter To The Editor:

Dear Editor,

We live in a democracy of gratification. Our can-do optimism along with our head-in-the-sand approach leads to a mindset of profit rather than quality of life. And after witnessing years of polarization in Washington our own Santa Monica community and culture has also managed to become divided.

The planning commission should  consider a win-win compromise for both the developers and the community with regard to height and density in the downtown – a compromise that would retain the beachfront scale and character of Santa Monica while also providing developers with some “upside.”

Give developers an increase to 135 ft for the eight “specified” sites to go along with the additional density which is available in the remaining zoned areas given the fact they are somewhat underdeveloped. 

This is in exchange for reducing tier 3 zoning to a more realistic 35-75 ft allowing 3-7 stories with FAR’s from 2.25-5.0. 

Height and density would terrace up from Lincoln (35 ft, 2.25 FAR) to 4th (75 ft, 5.0 FAR) and down from 2nd (55 ft, 3.5 FAR) to Ocean (35 ft, 2.25 FAR).

If the development community won’t compromise, then just proceed with the existing 85 ft maximum allowed under LUCE at the eight sites and reduce existing zones to 35-75 ft with required affordable housing being part of the community benefit package and not an increase in FAR.

Additionally, changes to height and density in downtown should not proceed without also including provisions in the zoning code currently being revised to:

1) widen sidewalks with required front yard setbacks open to the sky

2) create mid-block pedestrian walkways as part of a community benefit package

3) require offsets above 1st or 2nd floors at front and sideyards

4) reduce FARs further where projects cover multiple lots

5) require open space to be visible from the public r.o.w.

6) incentives to retain some low-rise buildings to provide needed variation. 

This is all possible within the “open space envelope” of the FAR. And there’s no reason these basics can’t be agreed upon before any more of these dreadful building blocks get approved!

Regarding the “iconic” conversation and the necessity of greater building heights, San Francisco is “iconic” because of its topography, water, bridges and cable cars – not because of its hi-rise buildings. 

Downtown LA’s nod to “iconic” is Disney Hall, or possibly the proposed LACMA and Peterson Museums in the future – none of which are hi-rise. 

What is “iconic” about Santa Monica is the ocean, Palisades park, the pier, and it’s beachfront character – let’s not lose it!

And with regard to condos above hotel rooms, they could also be assessed a yearly room tax – equivalent in area occupied by the number of hotel rooms below and the elevated views they enjoy.

There’s just no reason this can’t be an environmental and economic win-win.

Ron Goldman

Santa Monica resident & architect

in Opinion
Related Posts

ARB Courage (Part 1 of 2)

March 24, 2024

March 24, 2024

On March 4, 2024, your ARB (Architectural Review Board) ruled in favor of the 521-unit Gelson’s Project at Ocean Park...

SM.a.r.t Column: Can California ARBs Balance Affordable Housing with Community Character in the Face of New Housing Laws?

March 17, 2024

March 17, 2024

By suggestion, I attended the March 4th ARB (Architectural Review Board) meeting that addressed the Gelson Lincoln Boulevard Project.  After...

S.M.a.r.t Column: On the Need for Safety

March 10, 2024

March 10, 2024

Earlier this week, in the dark pre-dawn hours, a pair of thugs covered in masks and hoodies burst into the...

Film Review: The Oscar Landscape 2024

March 7, 2024

March 7, 2024

FILM REVIEWTHE OSCAR LANDSCAPE 2024A Look at the Choices – Academy Awards – March 10, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. on...

S.M.a.r.t Column: Five Saving Historic Santa Monica

March 3, 2024

March 3, 2024

Our beloved City is surrounded by many threats, from sea level rise to homelessness, to housing affordability, to cancerous overdevelopment,...

S.M.a.r.t Column: Gelson’s Looms Large

February 22, 2024

February 22, 2024

Our guest column this week is by SMCLC (the Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City). SMCLC is a well-established...

S.M.a.r.t Column: Top Toady Town

February 18, 2024

February 18, 2024

Throughout history, from the ancient Romans and Assyrians to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, siege warfare has served as an...

S.M.a.r.t Column: The Sunset of Home Ownership

February 11, 2024

February 11, 2024

We are watching the sunset of our historical and cultural American dream of home ownership as we now are crossing...

SMa.r.t. Column: B(U)Y RIGHT

February 4, 2024

February 4, 2024

“By Right” state housing laws that give developers, in certain projects, the ability to ignore codes ‘by right.’ Well, that...

S.M.a.r.t  Column: Serf City

January 28, 2024

January 28, 2024

Homelessness is a problem in California, and nowhere is this more evident than in our fair city, where the unhoused...

S.M.a.r.t  Column: Bond Fatigue

January 22, 2024

January 22, 2024

Last week’s SMart article,  described two critical problems faced by our Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD): the declining...

S.M.a.r.t Column: Peace on Earth

December 27, 2023

December 27, 2023

We are all, by now, saturated with jingles, holiday cards, “ho ho ho’s,” countless commercial advertisements, and exhortations to feel...

S.M.a.r.t Column: On the Clock with Mayor Brock

December 17, 2023

December 17, 2023

I became Santa Monica’s Mayor on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, following a simple “switch of the chairs” transition with outgoing...

S.M.a.r.t Column: SANTA MONICA CITY COUNCIL 2024

December 10, 2023

December 10, 2023

Position:Seeking Santa Monica City Council Candidate(s) Introduction:Exciting opportunity for the right candidate(s) to work with like-minded Council members committed to...

S.M.a.r.t Column: ARB (NOT Ready to Build!)

December 3, 2023

December 3, 2023

Santa Monica City’s Architectural Review Board (ARB), established in 1974, acts “…to preserve existing areas of natural beauty, cultural importance...