ACTION Apartment Association

Struggling Rent Control Seniors Can Register for Cash Assistance Next Month

11/06/2019 7:55 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Rent-burdened Santa Monica seniors can begin registering for financial assistance next month under an expanded City funded program that helps cover their basic needs.

Starting November 4, the City will accept registrations for the Preserving Our Diversity (POD) pilot program that helps impoverished seniors who after decades living in rent-controlled apartments can no longer afford to pay the rent.

Earlier this year, the City Council boosted funding for the program from an initial $200,000 a year in 2017 that assisted some two dozen seniors to $2 million that will help between 250 and 400 seniors, City officials said.

AND: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2019/10/29/low-income-senior-renters-can-register-for-preserving-our-diversity-pilot-program-starting-november-4

Audit Subcommittee to No Longer Take Ethics Complaints

11/06/2019 7:53 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica's audit subcommittee -- created four years ago to increase financial transparency -- will no longer directly receive and respond to ethics complaints.

On Tuesday, the City Council voted to revise the subcommittee's role to instead "clearly support" the City's confidential 24-hour ethics hotline "as the primary method to report suspected illegal or improper activity."

City Council Approves Changes to Development Standards for Single-Unit Dwellings

10/23/2019 3:39 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

After a year and a half of public engagement, the Santa Monica City Council approved changes to the development standards for Santa Monica’s single-unit residential (R1) neighborhoods. Early last year, City Council directed staff to prioritize the review of R1 standards after neighborhood groups shared concerns over the size and scale of new single-family home construction. On January 24, 2018, Council approved temporary standards through an Interim Zoning Ordinance.

The goals of the new standards are to address the size of new home construction in the context of neighborhood scale, to incentivize the retention of existing homes, and to make the standards more user-friendly.

Los Angeles City Council approves moratorium on evictions

10/22/2019 2:46 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Los Angeles City Council approved an emergency moratorium on evictions Tuesday that aims to stop landlords from quickly booting tenants before new statewide rental rules take effect in January.

Santa Monica Wins State's First Court Order Enforcing Low-Income Housing Restriction

10/22/2019 8:34 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica is likely the first California city to win a judgment against a property owner for renting a low-income unit to a tenant who doesn't meet the income qualifications.

Under a court settlement, Marble One, LLC will pay the City $120,000 and hire a third-party property manager after renting a deed restricted unit for twice the eligible rent.

AND: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2019/10/21/owner-of-income-restricted-rental-unit-in-santa-monica-to-pay-120-000-after-alleged-violations-of-deed-restriction

HOUSING COMMISSION UNSCHEDULED VACANCY

10/21/2019 7:21 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Housing Commission: One seat available for a partial term ending June 30, 2021. Applicants must be a Santa Monica resident.

Read More on page 3: http://backissues.smdp.com/101919.pdf

Santa Monica may have to build almost 5,000 units by 2029

10/21/2019 7:15 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The city of Santa Monica’s Planning Commission says it’s time for Santa Monica to reopen the conversation around upzoning in the wake of new state efforts to address California’s housing shortage and lack of affordable housing.

Santa Monica will likely have to support taller and denser development in response to recent legislation aimed at boosting housing construction and an upcoming mandate that cities across California build thousands of new housing units, commissioners said at a meeting Wednesday. The city will likely be required to build 4,800 affordable and market-rate units from 2021 to 2029.

City Files Opening Brief in Voting Rights Appeal

10/21/2019 7:07 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

An opening appellate brief filed Friday by the City argues that upholding the trial court's decision in the voting rights case would dilute, instead of enhance, Latino voting strength.

By ordering the City to hold district elections, the lower court contradicted the purpose of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) and invalidated the at-large election system chosen by Santa Monica voters in 1946, the City argued.

Downtown has a new “Park”

10/18/2019 3:49 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A large development at 500 Broadway that has been in the works for five years officially has a name and an opening date.

The 249 apartments in The Park will be ready for leasing by late 2021, developer The Witkoff Group announced Thursday ahead of a groundbreaking ceremony that evening. The seven-story project at Fred Segal’s former Downtown Santa Monica location will also contain 55,000 square feet of retail space and a four-level, 200-car underground parking structure.

SMa.r.t. Column: The Plaza at Santa Monica’s Groundhog Day (Part 1)

10/18/2019 3:44 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

SMa.r.t. group’s note: The proposed Plaza at Santa Monica, a massive project at 5th and Arizona, is coming up for approval after generating controversy and opposition by many residents for four years. This article, by our colleague Thane Roberts, was originally written some four years ago and its main critique–that the project is too big, too unfriendly to the environment, and located in the wrong place–remains on point.