January 4, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Remaining Two Palihouse Residents File Lawsuit Against City Of Santa Monica:

The two remaining residents at Palihouse, formerly Embassy Apartments, Santa Monica, have filed a lawsuit against the City of Santa Monica and the Rent Control Board of the City of Santa Monica in the lead up to the residents’ impending eviction this month.

Long-term residents Charles Fine and Barry Sherman have called their apartments home for the past 38 and 19 years respectfully, and standing on the brink of eviction, made the decision to take the City to court after months of arduous thought.

“I just don’t think there is any other way,” commented Sherman. Residing with his wife and young daughter at Palihouse, Sherman said that the whole process has been incredibly unsettling for him and his family.

The rezoning of the former-apartment building to a hotel has raised heated debate and questions in the community about Santa Monica City’s ability to make arbitrary decisions regarding zoning laws.

A slew of cited evidence states that the property, in a residential neighborhood, was, for the longest time, zoned multi-family residential. Several attempts by previous owners to dodge rent control conditions claiming that the property was a hotel were denied by the City, stating that the apartments must behave as such.

A letter from the City on May 21, 1980, informed residents at the Embassy that then-owner Elis Nourafchan’s request for exemption claiming hotel/motel status was denied. “The units in the Embassy Hotel Apartments are controlled rental units covered by the Rent Control Charter Amendment,” the letter stated.

However, in recent times, this all changed.

A Settlement Agreement in 2000 between the property owners and Santa Monica City determined that “19 units were operating as hotel units and 19 units were rent controlled apartments,” the City stated. “Subsequently, in another Settlement Agreement entered into on May 10, 2011, the remaining 19 rent controlled units were authorized for conversion into hotel units, with certain rent control conditions, thereby enabling the full conversion of the building to a hotel use.”

Many are concerned that similar methods will be employed across the community.

The City of Santa Monica said that they, “received the complaint filed by the Palihouse tenants late last week and it is currently being reviewed by the City Attorney’s Office.”

For background information and more details on the issues surrounding Palihouse, click here.

in News
<>Related Posts

Farm Hall: The US Premiere of a Tense Historical Drama

January 2, 2025

January 2, 2025

Coming January 2025 at the Promenade Playhouse The development of the atomic bomb by J. Robert Oppenheimer and his team...

Speed Limit Adjustments Finalize Across Santa Monica, More Streets Scheduled in Coming Weeks

January 2, 2025

January 2, 2025

The Santa Monica City Council Unanimously Approved the Speed Limit Recommendations in August 2024, and the Department of Transportation Has...

Film Review: Nickel Boys

January 2, 2025

January 2, 2025

FILM/ REVIEWNICKEL BOYSRated PG-13140 MinutesReleased August 30th at Telluride Film Fest, Limited Release December 13th for Oscar Consideration Nickel Boys...

French-Inspired Palisades Restaurant to Close After Six Years

January 2, 2025

January 2, 2025

The Menu Featured Dishes That Ranged From French Onion Soup to Locally Inspired Creations Like Radiatore With Lamb Bolognese The...

Suspect in Downtown Target Shooting Apprehended After Hourslong Standoff

January 2, 2025

January 2, 2025

The Arrest Came Less Than 24 Hours After a Shooting at the figat7th Shopping Mall That Left Two Target Employees...

Jennifer Smith Re-Elected as SMMUSD Board President, Laurie Lieberman Named Vice President

January 2, 2025

January 2, 2025

The Board Also Extended a Thank-You to Outgoing Vice President Jon Kean for His Service At its annual organizational meeting,...

Brentwood Beat: Maria’s Italian Kitchen to Move from Brentwood After 52 Years

January 1, 2025

January 1, 2025

I’m ill.   Maria’s Italian Kitchen is leaving Brentwood Village and will be gone by the end of 2024. Like many...

Chef Nobu Debuts Luxurious Gold Standard Roll for Golden Globes® Celebration

January 1, 2025

January 1, 2025

Indulge in a Limited-Time King Crab Roll Adorned With Gold Flakes and Caviar In honor of Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s return...

110 Years Ago, Charlie Chaplin Debuted The Iconic “Tramp” Character From Venice Beach

December 30, 2024

December 30, 2024

The 1914 short Kid Auto Races at Venice introduced the iconic character that would become synonymous with silent film, sparking an international...

Gov. Newsom Touts New 2025 Laws to Strengthen Civil Rights and Inclusivity

December 30, 2024

December 30, 2024

The Laws Cover Various Aspects of Society, From Education to Property California Governor Gavin Newsom, in a recent news release,...

LAPD Seeks Additional Victims in West Los Angeles Sexual Assault Case

December 30, 2024

December 30, 2024

Hajhosseini Reportedly Pressured One Victim Into Consuming Alcohol, After Which She Lost Consciousness and Was Assaulted Detectives with the Los...

Santa Monica Gets Temporary Community Development Director

December 30, 2024

December 30, 2024

Yeo Has Been With the City of Santa Monica Since 2006, Starting as a Senior Planner and Eventually Leading the...

$75M Malibu Estate Hits Market on Coveted “Billionaire’s Beach”

December 29, 2024

December 29, 2024

The Home Offers Sweeping Views of the Queen’s Necklace, Palos Verdes, and Catalina Island A sprawling estate on Malibu’s exclusive...

UCLA Police Investigate Off-Campus Assault as Hate Crime

December 29, 2024

December 29, 2024

The Suspects Are Described as Four White or Middle Eastern Males in Their Early 20s The UCLA Police Department is...

(Video) At Vistamar School – Discover the way high school should be

December 29, 2024

December 29, 2024

Students achieve remarkable outcomes with our strong academics, small classes, andpersonalized approach. Our graduates don’t just attend college—they excel. Vistamar’sunique...