A proposal by two Los Angeles city councilmen to set up temporary camps or “tiny homes” for homeless people in beach parking lots is drawing opposition.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/bonin-proposes-encampments-on-local-beaches/203591

A split City Council voted last week to approve a plan that paves the way for building more than 6,000 new affordable housing units, including in exclusive single family neighborhoods.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/April-2021/04_06_2021_Divided_Council_Approves_Plan_to_Meet_States_Affordable_Housing_Mandate.html

HOUSING

Seems all you ever hear, for decades. Housing, housing, housing..“Affordable” housing. To preserve our diversity (what’s left of it). First of all, we don’t have a housing crisis here. We have an affordability crisis. And the Council/staff solution? Build our way to affordability. Ask any local real estate agent if that will work. 

https://s3.amazonaws.com/smdp_backissues/040721.pdf

L.A. Councilmember Mike Bonin proposed several new shelters for unhoused people, including Will Rogers State Beach and Fisherman's Village.

Read More: https://patch.com/california/santamonica/s/hi78g/homeless-shelters-proposed-marina-del-rey-pacific-palisades

The 62-stall recharging facility that would flank the alley near 14th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard had been put on hold before the Council took steps last Tuesday to exempt it from a moratorium on commercial development.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/April-2021/04_05_2021_Council_Paves_Way_for_Tesla_Supercharger_Station.html

Santa Monica must pass a housing element update that accounts for mandates to increase the city’s housing stock by about 9,000 units. The discussion last week centered on options for densifying existing neighborhoods as a way to acknowledge the impact past discriminatory practices have had on housing development.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/city-council-continues-housing-element-process/203532

There has been significant confusion and debate surrounding the financial performance of the many SMMUSD facilities projects.  The absence of clear and accessible financial performance reporting is the cause.  

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2021/04/time-for-the-school-district-to-adopt-20th-century-capital-project-financial-reporting/

As reported by UrbanizeLA, an apartment building at 1427 Lincoln Boulevard will now include a new property at 1431 Lincoln Boulevard. This makes the project five stories instead of four with thirty apartments instead of fifteen. The new plans will also feature an underground parking structure with enough room for thirty vehicles. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2021/04/plans-for-downtown-santa-monica-mixed-use-project-double-in-size/

Lawmakers recently revived legislation that would severely curtail when property owners can invoke the Ellis Act, which gives them a path to exit the rental market by evicting tenants if they plan to move themselves or family members in, sell the units or demolish the building. Tenant rights groups argue that the law has morphed into a tool for speculators to flip a dwindling supply of affordable rental housing in the state.

Read More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/new-bill-in-legislature-would-sharply-limit-ellis-act-evictions/ar-BB1faaA1

Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed legislation to extend the eviction moratorium through June 30, 2021.

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2021/04/02/news/california-eviction-moratorium-extended-to-june-3-2021/5497.html