ACTION Apartment Association

While Fiscally Strong, Santa Monica Must Continue to Prepare for the Recession That’s Coming

11/12/2019 5:23 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

For now, fears of an imminent recession have receded. But things that can’t go on forever, don’t. After ten years of economic growth, most California cities are still vulnerable to crisis when the next recession hits.

Santa Monica is not one of them. Overall, we were classified at “low risk.” Yet despite our AAA bond rating, our risk level was higher than nearly 30% of California cities, according to the State Auditor. Why?

One word: pensions.

Santa Monica Water Rates Set to Jump

11/12/2019 5:18 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica homeowners could see their bimonthly water bills increase by $36 over the next five years under a plan the City Council will consider early next year.

The rate hikes would help bridge an projected gap of $5.5 million a year in the City's water fund, which pays for maintaining the City's water and waste water systems, staff said in a report released last week.

Under the proposed rates, water customers would see a 20 percent increase the first year, a 18 percent increase the second year and 14 percent increases the following three years.

Can Major Overhaul Revive Third Street Promenade?

11/12/2019 5:16 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Looking to revive one of its primary tourist attractions, the City of Santa Monica took steps last week to develop a new master plan for the 30-year-old Third Street Promenade.

On Tuesday, November 5 Santa Monica City Council directed staff to develop a master plan and financing strategy for the redevelopment of the Third Street Promenade as part of a project to define the next thirty years for the shopping center.

State may require Santa Monica to build 9,000 units

11/11/2019 8:13 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica and other Southern California cities with abundant jobs and transit may be required to build more housing than ever before.

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) voted Thursday to recommend that the state require Los Angeles and Orange counties to facilitate the construction of more than 1 million new homes, departing from an earlier plan that would have allocated more housing to Riverside and San Bernardino counties. If the state approves SCAG’s recommendation, Santa Monica would be asked to build 9,000 new units between 2021 and 2029, almost double what it would have been required to accommodate under the previous plan.

Santa Monica water rates could double by 2024

11/09/2019 2:34 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Water rates are projected to increase across the board in the next five years as the City looks for ways to maintain its water system while trying to reduce its reliance on imported water.

Rates are adjusted every five years and a recently released study for 2020-2024 recommends a 20 percent increase for the first year followed by an 18 percent increase the second year and a 14 percent increase per year the following three.

The rates would equate to an estimated $36 increase for an average single-family home every two months, an estimated $48 increase for an average 8-unit multifamily residential building (approximate increase of $6 per unit) and an estimated $87 increase for the average commercial bill.

Water and Wastewater Rates

11/08/2019 8:05 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City of Santa Monica will host two open house events for residents and local businesses to learn about proposed adjustments to water and wastewater rates.

'Bold' Plan to Transform the Promenade Gets Go-Ahead from Council

11/08/2019 8:01 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica should embark on a "bold" plan to transform its iconic Promenade, the City Council said Tuesday, but it will take much more than money to make it work.

After three decades of coasting on its success with virtually no changes, the street needs to be torn up and "reimagined" under a conceptual plan the Council unanimously backed.

City council supports Third Street Promenade redesign

11/07/2019 7:18 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica City Council members said Tuesday they support a plan to overhaul the physical design of the Third Street Promenade and allow more nightlife and entertainment.

Tuesday was the first time the city council has reviewed Promenade 3.0, which calls for a two-year redesign of the street that could cost between $45 and $60 million and would be funded by Promenade property owners and the city. Construction would not be able to begin until 2023 or 2024 and would take one to two years, said Alan Loomis, an urban designer with the city.

Tenant initiates lawsuit against landlord after losing rent-controlled apartment

11/07/2019 7:14 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A longtime Santa Monica resident filed a complaint last month that alleges his landlords unlawfully evicted him from his rent-controlled apartment so they could raise the rent.

Frank Strick moved into his apartment at 1836 10th St. in 1989 and lived there with his son until January 2018, when the owners of the property, Assaf and Natalie Tarnopolsky, evicted him so Natalie Tarnopolsky’s sister, Denise Poon, could move in.

Proposed Downtown Development Could Reinvigorate Slow Growth Movement

11/07/2019 7:08 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Leaders of Santa Monica's slow-growth movement are taking on a major Downtown development this week after being largely inactive since a defeat at the polls three years ago.

On Thursday, the North of Montana Neighborhood Association (NOMA) will devote its monthly meeting to the "Plaza at Santa Monica," a 357,000-square-foot mixed-use hotel development proposed on City owned land.

An email invitation to the meeting promises that leaders of the slow-growth groups Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (SMCLC) and SMa.r.t. (Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow) will go "head to head" with the developer.