June 22, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Poll Shows Santa Monica Residents Don’t Favor Dense, Tall Buildings:

To build or not to build: it is a question that always seems to be asked in Santa Monica, what with multiple projects proposed or already under construction in the City’s urban core.

A poll was recently published where Santa Monica residents challenged the notion of “build it and they will come.”

Respondents were asked three questions about development, density, and height. Lake Research Partners conducted the poll among likely Santa Monica voters.

The poll’s results indicated a majority of Santa Monica residents felt there was too much development in the suburban beach city.

Those who participated in the poll also indicated they did not want to see taller or denser buildings in Santa Monica. Nearly four in seven respondents were not supportive of the Fairmont Miramar’s plans to expand its hotel property, which included a proposal to build a 21-story condominium tower.

Survey participants were asked whether they favored, in general, more or less development in Santa Monica. According to the poll results, 52 percent answered less development while 15 percent said more development. Participants were also asked if the level of current Santa Monica development was just right.

The second question asked by surveyors was whether residents either favored or opposed changing density and height requirements to allow for denser or taller buildings. According to the published poll results, 69 percent opposed changing density and height requirements while 26 percent thought such changes were acceptable.

Finally, poll participants were asked whether they favored the Miramar’s expansion plans.

The question was specifically phrased as such:

“As you may know, the Fairmont Miramar Hotel on Ocean Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard has proposed a redevelopment of the current property that would turn the current hotel into a mixed-use hotel and condominium residence, 320 feet high with 21 stories, with up to 120 market-rate condominiums and between 12 and 40 affordable housing units, 280 hotel guest rooms, underground parking, food and beverage facilities, retail space, spa, meeting and event facilities, and open space areas on site. From what you’ve heard, would you favor or oppose this redevelopment?”

According to the poll, 57 percent of participants opposed the Miramar’s plans.

Bob Meadow of Lake Research Partners explained to The Mirror in a phone interview how the poll was conducted. He said it was a survey of likely Santa Monica voters who have a history of voting and were most likely to vote in 2014. Those who vote only in presidential elections, for example, were not factored into the survey.

In all, 404 people were interviewed. The caller heading into each survey knew the age, gender, and party affiliation of each respondent.

Calls were made three nights between 5 pm and 9 pm, both via cell phone and landline. Calls were made Sept. 10, 11, and 12. A few calls were made during the day of Sept. 14.

The calls were made by professional polling organizations of five or six phone banks, Meadow said.

“There is no predetermining outcome for surveys like this,” Meadow told The Mirror. “They (the caller) have no idea who the client is. One day they could be calling Santa Monica, another day South Dakota.”

However, MSD Capital’s Alan Epstein released a statement saying there were more than three questions asked and the researchers have not released all of the responses. Further, he implied the Huntley Hotel was behind the survey and hoped to elicit with the results negative viewpoints of the Miramar’s expansion.

“We know that they only released three questions from a 20 minute survey,” Epstein said. “We know the deliberately misleading questions that were asked and we know that the Huntley’s paid telephone operators pushed people toward certain responses, without giving them honest options.”

Calling the poll a “typical P.R. ploy” by the Huntley, Epstein further said the hotel across the street from the Miramar had a specific agenda to “stop all competition,” “fight unions,” and “stop the affordable housing on Second Street.”

“The Huntley will do anything to divert attention away from their own building, which is one of the tallest and most dense in the city,” Epstein said.

Alin Wall, a CPA and partner with Family Wealth Group, said the Miramar is off base in questioning the poll results.

“The Miramar’s ‘issues’ with the poll are predictable,” Wall told The Mirror in an email. “They have absolutely no knowledge of how residents feel about their proposed development in particular and height in general nor do they want to know. Residents do not want any taller buildings in downtown and they do not want the Miramar as presently designed.”

Wall added she believed the “questions were straightforward and unbiased.”

Meanwhile, Recreation and Parks Commission chair Phil Brock told The Mirror in a phone interview polls can always be slanted, but many Santa Monica residents he spoke with were not happy with the density and height issues.

“They need to scrap the condos,” Brock said. “Santa Monica is overdeveloped. They (the Miramar) are a lightning rod for density and height. I think they should pull back the plans, hire an architect, and give the City and residents what they want. They can make it a beautiful 10 to 12 story hotel.”

in News
<>Related Posts

Malibu Traffic Delays Expected: REPORT

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

The warning applies to the first weekend of summer Transportation officials are warning travelers on the Pacific Coast Highway through...

Strongman to Pull 34,680-Pound Bus at Santa Monica Pier

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

Licis, also the 2022 “Arnold Strongman Classic” champion, will undertake the feat to showcase his strength  Strongman Martins Licis, the...

All Aboard to LAX: Metro Opens Game-Changing Transit Hub Ahead of Global Events

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

 New LAX/Metro Transit Center Comes Closer to Connecting Metro Directly to LAX The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)...

New Leadership at Samohi: Jane Han Named House Principal

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Equity-Focused Educator Joins Samohi Leadership Team By Diana Bouchaaya, SMMUSD Communications Specialist The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) Board...

Food Fight on the Venice Boardwalk: Chefs Stand Up for Immigrants with Food

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Turk’s Pizza Party Rallies Top Local Eateries for an Immigrant Rights Fundraiser In a bold display of culinary activism, Turk’s...

Weekend Lane Closures on PCH in Malibu Could Snarl Summer Beach Traffic

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Army Corps Work Triggers Weekend Closure on Pacific Coast Highway Motorists traveling along Pacific Coast Highway this weekend should prepare...

SMC Gallery to Showcase Faculty Art in Virtual Exhibition

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

The online event will feature works by seven Emeritus faculty artists. The Santa Monica College Emeritus Art Gallery will host...

(Video) Where great minds grow at The Willows Community School

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

The Willows, a DK-8 co-educational school, enrolls 474 students from 57+ zip codes annually. As a balanced, progressive educational leader, experiential learning,...

Film Review: The Life of Chuck

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

FILM REVIEWTHE LIFE OF CHUCKRated R110 MinutesReleased June 6th A  heartfelt movie of lie, love, friendship and loss, delivered in...

THIS WEEKEND: Five Outdoor Concerts for Make Music Day Comes to Santa Monica

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

The global event, inspired by France’s Fête de la Musique, unites communities through music and is observed in over 800...

(Video) The Guest List Collab Dinner with Chef Raphael Lunetta and Chef Alan Wong

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Held at Marelle Restaurant at The Sandbourne Hotel in Santa Monica. An Incredible mix of Hawaiian and Santa Monica’s flavors...

Jeni’s Drops Goose-Inspired Ice Cream Flavor to Kick Off Summer of Sweetness

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Goose Tracks Is a Nod to the Jam-Band’s Live Magic + Super Fun Times Flavors Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is...

Santa Monica’s ‘Summer Soulstice’ Festival Returns with Music, Classic Cars, and Family Fun

June 18, 2025

June 18, 2025

The event, featuring music, a PRIDE-themed bingo, a car show and a beer garden, spans Main Street from Strand Street...

(Video) A Plus Tree: A Steward of Urban Forest Management Across Los Angeles

June 18, 2025

June 18, 2025

For More Information, Go to Aplustree.com For More Information, Go to https://t.co/oL7U8M4k7B pic.twitter.com/fCAYMCsLXU — Santa Monica Mirror (@SMMirror) June 19,...

(Video) See Inside Voodoo Doughnuts’ New Venice Beach Shop

June 18, 2025

June 18, 2025

The Creative Portland Franchise Has Opened Up at Windward Circle The Creative Portland Franchise Has Opened Up at Windward Circle....