It should be good news for the nearly 45 percent of residents who have said homelessness should be the city’s top priority. But those expecting sweeping action will be sorely disappointed.

Instead of offering a new way forward, the staff report recommends doubling down on the city’s current homelessness prevention plan -- the plan responsible, in part, for the terrible status quo.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/letters/Letters-2021/02_22_2021_OPINION_Meet_the_New_Boss.html

At its annual study session on homelessness last night, the Santa Monica City Council provided input and prioritized strategies to build on Santa Monica’s four pillars to address homelessness with the goal to ensure public spaces are safe, clean, and healthy for all in the community to enjoy by delivering impactful services to people in need. Council continued the work of Santa Monica’s multi-disciplinary street outreach teams and Reed Park Ambassadors, and prioritized the expansion of rental assistance to prevent Santa Monicans from becoming homeless.

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2021/02/24/city-council-prioritizes-strategies-to-address-homelessness

Will Santa Monica Cave to Big-Bucks Developer with a Massive and Wacky Building Design Seeking to Replace the Crime Vons on Lincoln?

Only 30 percent of the residential units will be affordable when Santa Monica is required to provide 69 percent

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2021/02/24/news/will-santa-monica-cave-to-big-bucks-developer-with-a-massive-and-wacky-building-design-seeking-to-replace-the-crime-vons-on-lincoln/5339.html

A pending staff presentation to the Santa Monica Architectural Review Board offers a first look at plans to redevelop a Vons supermarket at the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Broadway with housing and retail.

Read More: https://urbanize.city/la/post/first-look-296-apartments-slated-replace-downtown-santa-monica-vons?utm_source=Urbanize%2BNewsletter&utm_campaign=c1802a78a1-URBANIZE_WEEKLY_2018_04_16_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f2c8779a36-c1802a78a1-199428569

If you are wondering how your tax dollars are spent on addressing the homeless crisis in Santa Monica, do not ask the City as they would likely not be able to answer.

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2021/02/23/opinion/is-it-time-for-a-taxpayer-lawsuit-regarding-homeless-services-in-santa-monica/5337.html

Prior relaunches of the Promenade (nee Santa Monica Mall) were easy compared to the challenge today, with novel open air formats from around the country as a guide, and little local competition.  Heavy residential patronage was a built-in business base as the heavily marketed tourist segment had not launched.  The retail business models were steady with ample growth opportunities.  Parking was ample, convenient and safe in a clean environment.  Today, we have critical sanitation and safety issues.  

What is clear is that any revitalization has to be as innovative as the challenge is unprecedented.    

Strategic Focus and Management Challenges

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2021/02/promenade-now-back-to-the-future/

Join us at the February 23 City Council meeting to hear a comprehensive update and be part of finding new solutions to address homelessness in our community to ensure safe and clean public spaces for all.

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/blog/comprehensive-update-on-addressing-homelessness-in-santa-monica-planned-for-february-23-city-council-meeting

AND: City Council readies for homelessness, affordable housing discussions - Santa Monica Daily Press (smdp.com)

City of Santa Monica launched the application period for a five-member advisory board focused on the We Are Santa Monica Fund, a donor advised fund (DAF) managed by California Community Foundation (CCF). 

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2021/02/19/city-of-santa-monica-seeking-applicants-for-new-we-are-santa-monica-advisory-board

It’s true those lawmakers still insist on pushing bills to make California cities of all sizes and shapes far denser than ever. But some at last appear willing to admit that things have changed in the last year.

No legislator will say a housing solution is at hand, but one new bill’s very presence in the Legislature shows an awareness that was missing last year.

That bill is for the moment called Senate Bill 6, part of a housing package introduced in the state Senate within moments of the current session’s opening. Specific terms of SB6 are not yet spelled out; the measure for the moment is basically a blank, but with a stated purpose.

That is to make it mandatory for cities and counties to allow rezoning when office buildings are converted to residential or mixed-use.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2021/02/housing-backers-start-facing-post-pandemic-reality/

The departure of Bloomingdales will expand the current 11% floorspace vacancy rate to over 30%. 

But this is a movie we have seen before. We are in the second decline cycle for The Promenade (originally known as the Santa Monica Mall). Primarily due to the City’s reactionary downtown business strategy, the business cycles of SM Place and The Promenade have been fortuitously counter-cyclical since 1965. Now, for the first time, downtown Santa Monica is experiencing simultaneous declines at both the Promenade and SM Place.  However, this problem creates new opportunities.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2021/02/sma-r-t-column-the-promenade-leaving-the-past-to-reimagine-its-future/