ACTION Apartment Association

New Map Turns Supervisor District More Conservative

12/19/2021 9:29 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A map for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved Wednesday by a citizens redistricting commission turns the 3rd District that includes Santa Monica more conservative.

The new map, which went into effect today, adds Porter Ranch, Chatsworth and Granada Hilles and removes Mar Vista, the Southeast Valley and the Cahuenga Pass from the District, which includes the Westside and the San Fernando Valley.

State’s Housing Solution Starts Happening

12/15/2021 10:06 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

That solution: Convert or repurpose the vast amount of square footage in office buildings and towers that has become vacant over the 20 months since the coronavirus pandemic set in and changed the work habits and environments of millions of white collar employees and their bosses.

UCLA study probes SMPD budget

12/15/2021 9:49 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The report shows 63% of the department’s budget is spent on salaries, with more than $10 million going to overtime pay in 2019.

A UCLA School of Law Criminal Justice Program report claims SMPD overtime calculations are out of step with broader trends but city officials have said the expenses are necessary to provide the quality of service expected by Santa Monica residents.

New York Developer Poised to Buy 8 Prime Downtown Properties

12/15/2021 9:42 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The eight properties -- which total more than 600 units -- are part of a portfolio of 23 closely knit parcels, most of them Downtown, bought by prominent Westside developer Neil Shekhter over the past decade.

California proposes reducing incentives for rooftop solar

12/14/2021 11:58 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The state’s three major utilities — Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Southern California Edison — say the savings solar customers get now are so great that those customers no longer pay their fair share for the operation of the overall energy grid.

Council to Debate Term Limits for Regional Boards

12/14/2021 11:46 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

On Tuesday night, the City Council is expected to decide whether to impose term limits on two regional boards that have been represented by the same appointees for more than two decades.

As part of the recommended policy changes to boards and commissions, the Council will consider limiting terms on the boards of the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California and the Los Angeles County West Vector Control.

City to conservatively implement controversial housing bill SB 9

12/09/2021 10:05 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

While the bill applies to all Single-Unit Residential (R1) Districts, the City has discretion in how it handles applications to split lots or build duplexes.

Staff is in the process of developing an ordinance outlining how Santa Monica will manage development applications in R1 areas, which will be presented to Council no later than March 2022. In the meantime, staff will publish an information memorandum on the City’s approach to implementing SB 9 until an ordinance is approved.

Councilmembers Want Answers to "Simple" Questions About Homeless Efforts

12/06/2021 1:22 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Last December, Phil Brock was sworn in after finishing first in the race for City Council by promising to tackle Santa Monica's entrenched homeless problem.

A year later, he and his two fellow Change slate Councilmembers have placed an item on next Tuesday's agenda seekig answers to basic questions Brock says they have been asking all year.

Building Conversion in Today’s Market Environment. SMa.r.t.

12/06/2021 1:20 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Currently, businesses both large and small are reformulating their requirements for their space and working environments. More management, staff, and employees are working remotely, which will require less square footage commitments or, in some circumstances, to locate in smaller satellite locations. Eventually, there will most likely be a more significant return to the workplace, and occupancy levels will increase for the current existing built-out space. That said, it appears that the absorption factor will not re turn to pre-pandemic occupancy levels. Many companies have already permanently changed their employment strategies and no longer require full-time office occupancy for their employees.

Santa Monica Rents Drop for First Time This Year

12/02/2021 9:13 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Rents in Santa Monica dipped by 1.8 percent last month, marking the first decrease since last December, according to Apartment List's latest monthly report.

The drop comes as rents nationwide grew by 0.1 percent, the lowest month-to-month increase this year, according to the report released Monday.