SMa.r.t.-A Driverless Santa Monica?
By Thane Roberts While there are several new technologies that will affect our small city, one that is sure to have a profound impact will be the advent of self-driving cars. Automobiles that have always […]
SMa.r.t.-Population Overload: Part 2
In this second article SM.a.r.t. (Santa Monica architects for a responsible tomorrow) continues discussing the thorny issue of the optimum Santa Monica population. Before deciding an optimum population for our city, which is the […]
SMa.r.t.-Simply Too Many People? (Part 1/2)
In this two part article SM.a.r.t. (Santa Monica architects for a responsible tomorrow) takes on the thorny issue of the optimum Santa Monica population. When we look ahead at the population of Santa Monica, there […]
SMa.r.t.-Mansionization Redux
Bob Taylor, AIA for SMa.r.t. Recently our City Manager, Rick Cole, was quoted regarding the imminent threat of larger single-family homes negatively impacting adjacent homes and commercial properties in our beach town. The threat is […]
SMa.r.t.-Homeless Crisis: Toward Solutions
By Samuel Tolkin for SMa.r.t. (Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow) Although we all know that the issue of homelessness is a national crisis, we here in Santa Monica and in all of Southern […]
SMa.r.t.-Sacramento Tries to Nuke Santa Monica (again)
By Mario Fonda-Bonardi AIA Legislation would see 95 percent of Santa Monica bypass zoning codes. When it first appeared it was almost a joke, some kind of bizarre nightmare; a State senator from San Francisco […]
SMa.r.t.-Dangers of Wishing Upon a “Star-chitect”
This coming Thursday, January 11, there is a community meeting regarding a project that could have a major impact on Santa Monica’s future. As an involved group of architects, planners, and city commissioners, we feel […]
SMa.r.t.-Santa Monica’s Early Adoption of Solar Ordinance is a “Shady Deal” for Residents
By Thane Roberts If you are considering a major remodel, or building a new home this year, you should prepare yourself for additional costs. Although the State has mandated that all new residences in California […]
SMa.r.t.-So What’s New?
Before SMa.r.t. there were Letters to the Editor. Here are letters from 2013 by Ron Goldman, FAIA, and Bob Taylor, AIA, predicting the coming failure of the planning direction the City was actually implementing, as […]
SMa.r.t.-Refugees in Our Midst
The music could be heard from blocks away. A man holding a large boombox on his shoulder, striding down Santa Monica Boulevard toward the Promenade, followed by a couple dancing happily to the loud rhythm. […]