July 2, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Colorado Esplanade’s Final Design Discussion Put On Hold:

The Colorado Esplanade was supposed to take one step closer in taking shape earlier this month, but City staff withdrew the item from the agenda prior to the start of Santa Monica’s council meeting on Tuesday, July 10.

One month earlier, the Santa Monica Planning Commission discussed scaling back elements of an otherwise ambitious Colorado Esplanade. When the matter was in front of planning commissioners in early June, they discussed altering the types of trees that are included in the project.

Other concerns included Holiday Inn’s possible renovation plans, visibility of Pier signage, and wayward finding.

Despite the developments in June, the Colorado Esplanade’s final designs remained on schedule to be considered by the council Tuesday evening. With the final design plans taken off calendar, it remains to be seen how the Colorado Esplanade will ultimately take form, especially considering the Planning Commission’s tentative discussion about the project.

Ultimately, the Colorado Esplanade may be scaled back and carry a smaller price tag and potentially save City Hall millions of dollars.

While City Hall had ambitious plans for the Colorado Esplanade, the project was initially approved when Redevelopment Agency (RDA) funds were still available. However, since Gov. Jerry Brown won a legislative and legal battle to rescind RDA funds, Santa Monica was left holding the bag in finding a way to fund the Colorado Esplanade.

A project that was once expected to cost $13.3 million to build has since been reduced.

Colorado Esplanade now has a price tag of about $11 million, with about half the funding coming from City Hall’s Capital Improvement Projects budget. Another $3.3 million is funded in the form of a grant by Metro; the remaining $2 million was sourced from the Palisades Garden Walk budget.

Whether or not the project’s budget dwindles even more remains to be seen.

The project is expected to be complete by 2014.

Considered a priority redevelopment project to coincide with the arrival of the Metro Expo Light Rail line into Santa Monica in 2016, the Colorado Esplanade is a “unique streetscape and circulation infrastructure project located at one of the City’s most prominent sites.”

To be located near the intersections of the Civic Center, Santa Monica Place, and the Santa Monica Pier, the Colorado Esplanade is expected to “become a signature gateway to the City’s Downtown, Civic Center, Pier/Beach and Oceanfront Districts, resolving the complex circulation needs adjacent to the new Expo Light Rail station.”

“The project would address the community vision for an integrated light rail system with connections between travel modes and transitions to key destinations, created through street, station and landscape design,” a City staff report stated. “Sustainability, iconic design quality and universal access respond to core community values.”

As part of the project, pedestrian sidewalks in the area would be reconfigured, realigned, and redesigned to “reflect the uniqueness of Santa Monica.”

Other highlights of the proposed project include “signature lighting, … bold framing trees, … (and) gateway designs at the major intersections of 4th Street, Main Street and Ocean Avenue to mark significant crossroads.”

City Hall had selected Peter Walker Partners to assist with the design process.

“The design challenge was to meet the needs of a growing number of pedestrians and bicyclists, and to connect them to the Downtown, Oceanfront and Civic Center, while maintaining an optimal flow for vehicular traffic – all in time to be ready for the opening of the station,” staff reported.

In light of the project’s delicate funding situation, City Hall has not ruled out the possibility of building Colorado Esplanade – a redevelopment project Santa Monica officials believe is essential to the city’s future – piecemeal.

“It is possible to fund the project in phases, expanding boundaries of construction with each phase,” staff said. “The Esplanade improves critical southern entrance intersections and provides access improvements for all downtown projects, and provides specific benefits to projects located on Colorado Avenue, Fourth Street, Second Street and Ocean Avenue.”

As the item was withdrawn from the agenda, council members did not consider the Colorado Esplanade’s final designs July 11.

in News
<>Related Posts

People are Using Palisades for “Disaster Tours.” Local Officials Are Trying to Stop Them

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

A new motion introduced to City Council requests a coordinated strategy from LADOT, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the...

Santa Monica Favorite Esters Rebrands as Esters Wine Shop & Oyster Bar

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

New Concept Launches With French-Spanish Flair and Free Bubbles Esters Wine Shop, the fave Parisian-style wine bar in downtown Santa...

Letter to the Editor: Santa Monica’s Great Park: It’s Time to Deliver on 100 Years of Promise

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Santa Monica stands at the edge of history. For nearly a century, residents have consistently supported turning the airport land...

Why Nordstrom Says It’s Closing Its Santa Monica Place Location

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

A Nordstrom spokesperson explained the closure as a strategic realignment Nordstrom confirmed its decision to close its Santa Monica store...

Three-Bed Palisades Highlands Townhouse Hits Market for $1.7M

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

The Mediterranean-style property, located at 1529 Michael Lane, is part of a 71-unit community A remodeled 1,919-square-foot townhouse in the...

Six-Bed Mar Vista Hilltop Home Under Construction Lists for $5.3M

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

The private backyard is complete with a pool, spa, fire pit, built-in BBQ, and areas for outdoor dining A stunning...

(Video) Getty Villa Reopens Six Months After Dodging Destruction of Palisades Wildfires

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

With the reopening also comes a new exhibit, “The Kingdom of Pylos” Getty Villa Reopens Six Months After Dodging Destruction...

Free Virtual Planetarium Shows Coming to SMC in July

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

The virtual format is in place as construction of the new SMC Planetarium and Observatory nears completion The Santa Monica...

Santa Monica Adopts $793.3M Budget for FY25-27, Prioritizing Housing and Safety

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

The budget preserves core services and invests in major projects, including over $1 billion in hotel investments The Santa Monica...

Iranian Pastor in West L.A. Speaks as Church Rocked by Immigration Raids 

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Five Detained as Fear Spreads Through Persian Christian Faith Community  Fear has spread through a West Los Angeles congregation after...

California Doubles Down on Hollywood: $750M in Tax Credits Approved for Film and TV Industry

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

State Lawmakers Back Major Expansion of Production Incentives, Raising Job Projections Los Angeles’ film and television industry is poised to...

Park: “Our Water Infrastructure Must Be Emergency-Ready Every Day”

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Councilwoman expressed cautious relief at the news but emphasized the need for robust infrastructure The Los Angeles Department of Water...

Washington Square Pizza Opens to the Public

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

New York Style Pizza “By-The-Slice” Now at the Beach By Nick Antonicello  Washington Square Pizza formally opened its doors today...

California Allocates $5B for Road Repairs, Transit Expansion

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

The funding aims to improve road safety, reduce traffic congestion, and promote cleaner transportation California is investing nearly $5 billion...

THIS SUNDAY: Palisades Symphony Presents “Best of Broadway”

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

The performance will feature a full orchestra playing iconic selections, from John Philip Sousa’s *El Capitan* and George Gershwin’s *The...