ACTION Apartment Association

Height and density limits would prevent developers from including more affordable housing

11/19/2019 8:55 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Requiring developers to deed-restrict a larger share of new housing for low- and moderate-income households would bring development to a halt unless the city of Santa Monica allowed taller and denser buildings along commercial boulevards and around Bergamot Station, according to a recent report.

On Wednesday, the Planning Commission will discuss a study the city commissioned from HR&A Advisors, Inc. on the feasibility of changing the city’s affordable housing requirements to incorporate a wider range of income levels. The study found that it would be cost-prohibitive for developers to set aside 20% of new units for a mix of low- and moderate-income households — as the city council proposed in March — under the city’s current development regulations.

Santa Monica 3rd Most Expensive Place to Buy a Home in U.S.

11/19/2019 8:49 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

It is no secret that real estate in Santa Monica is pricey and according to a recent survey Santa Monica’s 90402 zip code is the third most expensive place to buy a home in the United States.

On Monday, November 18 PropertyShark released a survey of the 100 priciest zip codes in the United States. Los Angeles County contained 21 zip codes to make the top-100 with one zip in Santa Monica being ranked the most expensive in the county. According to the list, Santa Monica’s 90402 zip code has a median home sale price of $4.15 million, behind Atherton, CA ($7.05) and Sagaponack, NY ($4.3 million) and ahead of Beverly Hills ($4.08 millon). In addition, Santa Monica’s 90405 zip code was ranked the 77th most expensive place to buy a house with a median sale price of $1.55 million.

Santa Monica's Slow-Growth Movement Is Energized to Defeat the “Plaza”

11/19/2019 8:40 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Last week, a standing room only crowd of residents came to a North of Montana Association (NOMA) monthly meeting at the Montana Library to hear about the “Plaza” project being proposed on public land at 4th and 5th Streets and Arizona in downtown Santa Monica.

The presentation pitted DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners and Clarett West developers’ partner and senior managing director Frank Stephan against community activists Diana Gordon of Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (“SMCLC”) and Ron Goldman of Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Future (“SMa.r.t.).

Council Extends Emergency Ordinances for Fast Food Restaurants, Landmark Demolitions

11/18/2019 8:20 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council on Tuesday extended emergency ordinances that ban fast food restaurants on the Promenade and set standards for the demolition of potential landmarks.

The Promenade ordinance is the third such ban granted while the City explores ways to transform the popular strip ("'Bold' Plan to Transform the Promenade Gets Go-Ahead from Council," November 7, 2019).

New City Administration Building: Sustainable Design or Vanity Project?

11/15/2019 1:29 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica’s residents may have noticed a new office structure that is nearing completion adjacent to our historic City Hall. If you were wondering what it is, it’s the City’s new Administration wing. The project’s design is in response to the Living Building Challenge whose goal is to promote the adoption of the latest in sustainable technology for large public projects.

To quote from their challenge statement: “When we look at the people, planet, and place, it’s great to be environmentally sustainable but we also have to be financially sustainable”.

City Council Extends Shared Mobility Pilot

11/13/2019 2:55 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At its meeting last night, the Santa Monica City Council voted to extend Santa Monica’s Shared Mobility Pilot Program, which has enabled 2,673,819 trips on e-scooters and e-bikes over the last year, half of which replaced car trips. The extension through May 2020 will pave the way for a second pilot program with intensified regulations that facilitates greater customer reliability and affordability, and more effectively achieves safety and public outcomes.

$3M Rent Relief Program To Help Low-Income LA Tenants

11/13/2019 2:50 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Los Angeles officials Wednesday provided more details regarding an emergency rent relief subsidy to help low-income city residents who may have seen a spike in their rents ahead of a new state rent cap which takes effect in 2020.

Corporate landlord cited for tenant harassment in New York may be using the same tactics in Santa Monica

11/13/2019 8:48 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

When Coastline bought the building, it paid several tenants lump sums to vacate their apartments so it could charge new tenants much higher rents. Tracy Condon, executive director of the Santa Monica Rent Control Board, said property owners are required to notify the board of buyout agreements, but Coastline never did. Today, 12 of the 20 units are occupied, two by Coastline employees.

Long-term tenants who did not accept buyout offers said Coastline is still trying to get them to leave the building — but through more creative means.

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.