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News, City Council, Development, Santa Monica
Santa Monica City Council Divided Over Process For Proposed Developments
Posted Jun. 15, 2013, 9:21 am
Lengthy discussions on the dais and public debates at Santa Monica’s bi-weekly City Council meetings are generally saved for ordinances or study sessions. By the time City Council meetings reach the number 13 on the agenda, it would be safe to presume adjournment is just around the corner.
News, Development, Santa Monica, Miramar
Santa Monica Doesn’t Need Monster Luxury High Rises: Letter To The Editor
Posted Jun. 2, 2013, 9:23 am
Dear Editor, We are asked to "give" public input to the Monster Miramar project for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), before June 3, 2013. Without an approved plan, project detail, or negotiation details between the City and the developers, we do not know what happened behind closed doors, and what was promised and to whom, which we as city residents have EVERY right to know.
News, City Council, Downtown, Development, Santa Monica
Phase 1 Of Colorado Esplanade’s Final Design Moves Forward
Posted May. 17, 2013, 9:10 am
Amidst all the recent talk of proposed high rises that are too tall and a healthy dose of development agreements populating the City Council agenda, the final design plans for what is effectively Santa Monica’s welcome center – the Colorado Esplanade – were formally approved Tuesday.
News, City Council, Downtown, Development, Santa Monica
Second Street Development Narrowly Approved At Santa Monica City Council
Posted May. 17, 2013, 8:43 am
A proposed 53-unit development in downtown Santa Monica narrowly earned the City Council’s approval Tuesday night. In a 4 to 3 vote, a development agreement (DA) proposed by Century West Partners will move forward.
Development, Letters To The Editor, Santa Monica
Eight Downtown Opportunity Sites Should Not Receive Case-By-Case Consideration
Posted May. 15, 2013, 9:36 am
Last week more than 350 residents weighed in on the Downtown Specific Plan, and the message came through loud and clear: The overwhelming majority oppose the tidal wave of proposed developments in the down town area.
City Council, Development, Opinion, Letters To The Editor, Santa Monica
An Open Letter To The Santa Monica City Council Regarding Walkability
Posted May. 13, 2013, 11:56 am
Dear Council, Tomorrow night, you are being asked to approve a Development Agreement which in a negligible way addresses the planning staff’s emphasis on “WALKABILITY” or LUCE’s buzzword phrases “GREEN CONNECTIONS” and “GROUND LEVEL OPEN SPACE” reached with over three years of public participation.
Development, Letters To The Editor, Santa Monica
Enormous High-Rise Projects Are Out Of Line For Santa Monica
Posted May. 11, 2013, 9:05 am
The message from Monday night’s Downtown Specific Plan meeting was clear: The enormous high-rise projects are out of line with the city — and clearly not supported by the residents who will have to deal with the traffic, noise, and shadows caused by their massive towers.
News, Planning Commission, Development, Santa Monica
Crossroads Development Agreement May Set New Standards For Santa Monica
Posted May. 10, 2013, 9:10 am
Crossroads School may soon be adding new classrooms as part of a proposed science learning center, but Planning Commissioners hoped the Development Agreement (DA) that would make the upgraded high school a reality would be part of an evolving standard requiring certain environmental concessions from developers who want to build in Santa Monica.
News, City Council, Downtown, Development, Santa Monica
Town Hall Forum Discusses Santa Monica's Downtown Specific Plan
Posted May. 10, 2013, 8:35 am
Santa Monica may have a skyline spotted with a few more high-rises, though some residents would like to have a say in whether the City’s skyline is altered in the first place. More than 300 people – at least 325 people had formally signed-in – filled a community room at the Civic Auditorium on Monday evening to give their two cents about the Downtown Specific Plan.
News, City Council, Environment, Development, Santa Monica
Santa Monica City Council Wants Future Developments To Be More Solar Friendly
Posted Apr. 26, 2013, 9:08 am
If Santa Monica hopes to be taken seriously for its goals to reduce greenhouse emissions, then it may behoove City Hall to ensure all future developments are at least making an effort to comply with the spirit of the Climate Action Plan.
City Council, Development, Opinion, Letters To The Editor, Santa Monica
Santa Monica Development Trade Off Process A Sick Joke: Letter To The Editor
Posted Apr. 13, 2013, 8:50 am
Regarding yet another development agreement (the Village Trailer Park), the city’s planning director states “we are asking developers to provide roads and connections we’re seeking, and it doesn’t make sense to also penalize them for ceding their property” and adding “that the calculation was a common one used in previous development agreements.”
News, City Council, Development, Santa Monica
Village Trailer Park Project Survives City Council Second Reading
Posted Apr. 12, 2013, 9:33 am
The Village Trailer Park (VTP) continues to be a tenuous issue for the Santa Monica City Council. Yet, a planned development that would be built in place of the VTP seems to finally have enough momentum to move forward, albeit with the support of a bare majority of council members.
News, City Council, Planning Commission, Development, Santa Monica
Trammell Crow Sells Ocean Avenue Development Site For $21 Million
Posted Apr. 12, 2013, 8:54 am
Malibu-based Marquis Property Company Ltd has acquired the one-acre development site at the south corner of Ocean Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard in Santa Monica to build 20 “ultra-luxurious” villa homes and penthouses.
News, City Council, Planning Commission, Downtown, Development, Santa Monica
Second Street Development Agreement Moves Forward To Santa Monica City Council
Posted Apr. 5, 2013, 9:19 am
The Santa Monica Planning Commission recommended on Wednesday night a 53-unit development in the downtown core move forward and be considered by the City Council.
News, Planning Commission, Downtown, Development, Santa Monica
Second Street Development Proposes 53 Units For Downtown Santa Monica
Posted Mar. 29, 2013, 8:10 am
By one commissioner’s count, the Santa Monica Planning Commission has only considered three development agreements (DAs) this year. When commissioners met March 20, they considered their first DA in “weeks.” As if seeking to establish a trend of slowing down the DA approval process, commissioners last week took a time out from deliberating a mixed-use development at 1318 Second Street, tabling the remainder of their discussion until April 3.
Development, Opinion, Santa Monica
Santa Monica Is Bursting At The Seams With Development: Letter To The Editor
Posted Mar. 23, 2013, 9:21 am
I've lived in Santa Monica since 1951. It was a wonderful city, and my children look back with happy memories of the '50s and '60s here. Now, with so much "development," Santa Monica is bursting at the seams
News, City Council, Development, Santa Monica
Village Trailer Park Is Back On Again: Council Votes 4-3 For Project To Move Forward
Posted Mar. 22, 2013, 9:33 am
When 2012 ended, Village Trailer Park (VTP) was on the ropes as a split City Council narrowly voted to put the project on hold following several questions surrounding affordable housing.
Development, Opinion, Letters To The Editor, Santa Monica
Public Meeting For New Hotel A Token Compromise: Letter To The Editor
Posted Mar. 21, 2013, 8:29 am
Dear editor, The public meeting hosted by the Worthe Real Estate Group, to sell their proposal for a 22-story hotel designed by Frank Gehry, on Ocean Avenue, will go the same way as the Miramar... Token compromise by the City Council, no matter who shows up to protest. Expect the council to also solicit input from residents and do what they're going to do anyway.
News, Development, Bergamot Station, Santa Monica
Bergamot Area Plan Pushes Forward At Santa Monica City Council
Posted Mar. 21, 2013, 8:24 am
After extended deliberation by planning commissioners, the Bergamot Area Plan – an extensive document that may greatly alter Santa Monica’s traffic circulation, air quality, and land use – was finally in front of Council members for discussion March 12.
News, Development, Santa Monica
Community Meeting To Be Held Thursday For Ocean Avenue Project
Posted Mar. 20, 2013, 9:22 am
Residents will have a chance to have their say this Thursday night about the recently announced Ocean Avenue Project, a proposed 22-story hotel on the north corner of Ocean Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard.
News, Development, Santa Monica, Lincoln Middle School
$16M Lincoln Middle School Development Moves Forward
Posted Mar. 16, 2013, 6:00 am
Lincoln Middle School held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for its new two-story library and classroom. The $16 million project began in December 2012 and is anticipated to be complete in September 2014.
Development, Opinion, Letters To The Editor, Santa Monica
The High And The Mighty In Santa Monica: Letter To The Editor
Posted Mar. 12, 2013, 9:18 am
Our city landscape could be about to rise with the developers of two buildings submitting plans -- one for a 22 story tower designed by Frank Gehry in downtown Santa Monica, and the Miramar proposing a 21 floor tower. These are the high parts of this story.
News, Planning Commission, Development, Santa Monica
Santa Monica Development Agreements To Be Deliberated For Longer
Posted Mar. 11, 2013, 9:08 am
Santa Monica’s planning commissioners will have an extra 60 days to deliberate development agreements (DAs), thanks to a modified ordinance that cleared both first and second readings at City Council in February.
News, Downtown, Development, Santa Monica
Design Plans Lodged For New Santa Monica 22-Story Hotel On Ocean Avenue
Posted Mar. 2, 2013, 9:26 am
Design plans for a new 22-story Ocean Avenue hotel with museum has been lodged with the City of Santa Monica. The Frank Gehry designed “Ocean Avenue Project” will be located on the north corner of Ocean Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard.
Downtown, Development, Opinion, Santa Monica, Columnist
The Bond – 525 Santa Monica Boulevard
Posted Feb. 26, 2013, 9:58 am
Moving from New Haven Connecticut to Santa Monica in 1964 to attend the USC Masters in Cinema program, I was fortunate to find an apartment at 359 Sycamore Road in Santa Monica Canyon. Venturing into downtown Santa Monica for the first time in August 1964, I remember seeing real estate company signs everywhere. Third Street was a street far from its transformation into Third Street Promenade.
