City documents multiple violations at 413 Ocean Ave., prompting orders to vacate, relocate residents, and halt operations amid broader scrutiny of the halted county housing plan
Santa Monica officials say a troubled Ocean Avenue property at the center of a now-terminated county housing proposal was found to be unsafe and operating without proper permits, according to a recent social post by Mayor Lana Negrete.
City inspectors from Building & Safety, Code Enforcement, Fire, and Housing conducted a full review of 413 Ocean Ave. on Friday after community complaints about the site’s condition and use. The inspection revealed that the building “is not in good shape and not ready for residential use,” Negrete said in a statement posted to Facebook.
City officials documented multiple violations supporting an existing Notice to Vacate. Staff on site told inspectors they were unaware the facility was unpermitted and operating without required approvals. While some residents had been relocated to Sherman Oaks, more than 30 people remained inside as of the inspection, Negrete said.
According to Negrete, the operator planned to house roughly 58 people — two per room — and described the site as a sober-living program. Inspectors also learned the operator appeared to manage the property through multiple legal entities and suggested a similar setup may have been intended for a second building at 825 Ocean Ave.
The City of Santa Monica plans to issue follow-up letters Monday to the property owner, developer, and operator outlining required compliance with the Notice to Vacate, relocation obligations, updated citations, and full identification of the site’s actual use. The letters will also direct the operator to halt all activity until permits, licensing, and a Certificate of Occupancy are complete.
“These are not allegations — these are the City’s documented findings,” Negrete said, adding that her priority is ensuring vulnerable people are not “shuffled into unsafe, unlicensed spaces.”
The update comes weeks after Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath ordered the termination of two proposed interim housing projects at 413 and 825 Ocean Ave., citing a breakdown in community trust and a lack of transparency in planning. The projects, intended to provide beds for people experiencing homelessness and behavioral-health challenges, faced mounting criticism from residents and city leaders — including Negrete — over limited public outreach.
Horvath has directed county agencies and the city to identify new, compliant locations for the services originally planned for Ocean Avenue.
“People deserve dignity, stability, and real oversight,” Negrete said. “Policy reforms are already in motion to prevent this from happening again.”
