Once the meeting finally started, much of the questioning revolved around both housing and transportation issues, including Brock being asked if he was “happy” with the City needing to be compliant with its 2021-2029 Housing Element, which aims for 8,874 new housing units (69% of which must be at various affordable income levels). Brock noted that the City has “doubled” the amount of market-rate units they’ve been required to build already, and the Mayor attempted to temper his displeasure with the process.

Brock stated that rapid construction is “going to lose the character of our neighborhoods” and make Santa Monica “a different city,” likening it to Santa Monica High School tearing down its History Building to modernize campus, where students “will have a new experience.” Regardless if he likes the changes, he added, it wasn’t necessarily up to him.

Read More:  https://smdp.com/2024/07/19/housing-element-becomes-hot-topic-at-local-leader-gathering/