March 22, 2023 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Future Of Santa Monica’s Redevelopment Projects Unclear: Gov. Brown’s Budget Cuts Too Deep for City Officials

In early January, California’s new Governor, Jerry Brown, revealed his list of proposed budget cuts and among them was the elimination of all the redevelopment agencies in the state.

When Brown delivered his State Of The State address on Jan. 31 he elaborated further on his redevelopment proposal; “Redevelopment funds come directly from local property taxes that would otherwise pay for core city and county services such as police, fire protection, and care for the most vulnerable people in our society. It’s a matter of hard choices and I come down on the side of those who believe that core functions of government must be funded first. But be clear my plan protects the current redevelopment projects and supports all bond indebtedness of those redevelopment agencies.”

Locally, eight projects, with a total expected cost of $283 million, which are part of Santa Monica’s redevelopment agency’s fiscal year 2009-2010 through fiscal year 2013-2014 five-year implementation plan, have been moving forward.

In many cases the City has already received public input on these projects, the design process has been completed, or construction bids have gone out. But what constitutes “current projects” as Gov. Brown described them, is somewhat vague and a point of some debate among officials.

Phil Brock, chair person of Santa Monica’s recreation and parks commission, said from what he’s heard “if a project is already funded it will go forward,” so if the Governor abolishes the redevelopment agencies it will only effect future projects.

The eight local projects are:

• More than 300 affordable residences slated to be built or rehabilitated

• Improvements to Santa Monica High School’s recreational facilities, including facilities and pedestrian areas that could be jointly used by the public

• Development of Palisades Garden Walk, a six-acre public park planned to be built across from the Santa Monica Pier.

• Construction of the Pico Neighborhood Library, being developed in Virginia Avenue Park

• Creation of the Civic Center Early Childhood Development Center, a partnership with Santa Monica College designed to serve infants and toddlers

• Improvements related to the Exposition Light Rail line that is coming to Santa Monica, including station area improvements, pathway improvements, and pedestrian and bicycle connections,

• Renovation and seismic retrofitting of the landmark Santa Monica Civic Auditorium for performing arts and concerts

• Creation of a six-acre public park and cultural hub adjacent to the Civic Auditorium Park

Andy Agle, the City’s director of housing and economic development, said Santa Monica’s redevelopment agency and the City entered into a “cooperation agreement in August 2010 so that the City can do the projects.” On Jan. 17, the City Council voted on some reimbursement clean up actions that pertained to the agreement. These actions were similar in nature to actions taken by other cities throughout the state in order to try to keep local redevelopment funds from being taken by the state.

Santa Monica has four redevelopment areas – earthquake recovery, Downtown, Ocean Park 1A, and Ocean Park 1B – that generate property tax revenues to help fund projects in their areas.

Agle stressed these redevelopment cuts are “just a proposal.” Richard Bloom, Santa Monica’s mayor, has sent letters to Gov. Brown and our local legislators expressing the City’s opposition to the cuts. “Hopefully, the Governor will recognize how severe the cuts will be.”

in News
Related Posts

Emerging Artist Jesse Liu Opens First-Ever Exhibition in Venice Gallery

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

“Spring Fever” currently on display at Yiwei Gallery By Keemia Zhang Local artist Jesse Liu has opened her first solo...

Santa Monica Place Invites LGBTQIA+ Artisans to Apply for Made With PRIDE Marketplace

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

Partnering with Streetlet, the marketplace will take place each weekend in June and showcase local goods made in Southern California....

Santa Monica Councilmember Phil Brock Appointed to National League of Cities Council on Youth, Education, and Families

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

Brock to collaborate with group of local leaders to develop and guide programs for communities across the country Santa Monica...

Santa Monica Receives $70,000 Donation From Kiwanis Charities for Scoreboards in Two Parks

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

Donation will fund the installation of new scoreboards at Historic Belmar Park and Los Amigos Park The Santa Monica City...

Should Santa Monica Close the Airport?

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

Santa Monica City Council recently voted to begin the process of closing Santa Monica Municipal Airport. The decision was kick-started...

City Council Puts Plan for Use of Parking Lots for Affordable Housing in Motion

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

Sites are located at 1217 Euclid Street, 1211-1217 14th Street and 1146 16th Street By Dolores Quintana ​​During the Santa...

Santa Monica Warns Residents of Crypto Ponzi Scheme

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

City says 30 + households in Santa Monica have reported being victimized by CryptoFX, LLC Over 30 households in Santa...

Man Arrested for Sexual Assaults Targeting Homeless Victims

March 20, 2023

March 20, 2023

Anthony Pittman faces rape charges in connection to series of sexual assaults A West Hollywood man has been arrested in...

SMa.r.t. Column: Going Bare

March 20, 2023

March 20, 2023

(part 3 of 3 articles) Every City faces periodic interruptions to its normal life. Some interruptions in our City are...

Santa Monica Mall Owner, Macerich, Finds Way Out of Retail Property Crisis

March 19, 2023

March 19, 2023

Move comes amidst a crisis for retail property owners, with loans coming due for refinancing with much higher interest rates...

Historic Santa Monica Property “The Witbeck House” Listed for Sale at $22.5M

March 19, 2023

March 19, 2023

Greene & Greene-designed home features 26,000+ square foot lot with five bedroom home A historic property known as The Witbeck...

New Affordable Housing Complex Completed in Santa Monica’s Pico Neighborhood

March 18, 2023

March 18, 2023

Las Flores offers 73 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments at 1834-1848 14th Street By Sam Catanzaro Community Corp. of Santa...

Are You Staying in Santa Monica Over the Summer?

March 17, 2023

March 17, 2023

Spring is officially here, which means summer is just around the corner. Santa Monica residents, what are your travel plans...

Suspect Arrested in Palisades Park Stabbing of City of Santa Monica Employee

March 17, 2023

March 17, 2023

Barna Allen Cranford arrested in connection to March 15 stabbing By Sam Catanzaro Santa Monica police have identified and arrested...

Negotiations for Independent Malibu School District Progressing

March 17, 2023

March 17, 2023

City of Malibu  and Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Complete draft of key deliverables By Sam Catanzaro Negotiations between Santa...