ACTION Apartment Association

Council Opens Application Process to Fill Morena's Seat

06/24/2020 9:24 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council on Tuesday paved the way to replace Greg Morana by appointing a new member to serve for approximately three and a half months before facing reelection.

The Council -- which will begin accepting applications at noon tomorrow -- is expected to vote to fill the vacancy on July 14 and, if an appointment is not made, try again on July 21.

The new member would need to win the November 3 general election in order to finish serving the final two years of Morena's term.

Council to Decide Fate of 'The Plaza' Project - UPDATED

06/24/2020 9:22 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

(UPDATED) The City Council postponed until July 14 a decision on whether to continue negotiations on The Plaza mixed-use project Downtown after opponents submitted legal arguments to stop the proposed development on City owned land.

The Los Angeles City Council approves a $100 million renters relief program.

06/23/2020 5:49 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Once approved, funds would be paid directly to their landlords.

The city estimates the program could help 50,000 households through two months of assistance, with up to $2,000 being awarded per home.

Letter to the Editor – Abandon the Plaza

06/23/2020 10:09 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

TONIGHT the Council must reject the construction of a huge, 11-story hotel, retail, office, housing complex at 4th, 5th and Arizona ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, and work to create an urban oasis of true, ground-level park space in the HEART of Downtown.

Last Thursday, at a Special Meeting of the Recreation and Parks Commission, our first since the pandemic, the Commission voted unanimously for the third time in four years to urge the Council to:

1) Abandon negotiations with the developer,

2) Build a true public park on public land at the site, and

3) Direct staff to explore ways a public-private partnership might raise the money for a park and the underground parking garage that could help pay for it.

Here’s why:

Council to consider restarting Plaza negotiations

06/22/2020 11:13 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Council will consider restarting negotiations to develop the city owned property at 4th and Arizona following a delay caused by questions over the land’s status.
Staff are asking the council to provide direction on the property at their June 23 meeting. Their options include restarting negotiations as they were earlier this year, abandoning current plans for the site or restarting talks with an altered set of priorities.
According to the staff report, the current project is up to 11 stories (129 feet in height) with up to 240 hotel rooms, no more than 106,800 square feet (SF) of creative workspace, 42,000 SF of ground-floor retail space, and 820 parking spaces within a three-level subterranean garage.

Community Corp Partners with Molcajete Dominguero to Develop Small Business Incubator

06/22/2020 11:10 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Community Corporation of Santa Monica will partner with Molcajete Dominguero to bring the first small-business incubator to the city of Santa Monica. Hosted on the ground floor of Community Corp.’s upcoming affordable housing development in Santa Monica’s Pico neighborhood, the incubator will help develop, inspire, and cultivate small businesses at a time when local industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

California to send every voter mail-in ballot for November

06/20/2020 8:58 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Thursday to require county officials to mail a ballot to every registered voter for the November election, cementing into law the Democratic governor’s earlier order to mail out ballots statewide in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Newsom, citing health risks from large groups gathering at polling places, announced in early May that the state will send every voter a mail-in ballot for the fall contest, but his plan has been challenged in court.

San Vicente View Apartments Reopens After Extensive Renovations

06/20/2020 8:55 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Fun fact: Up until 1961, railroad tracks ran down San Vicente's center divider. SVV Apartments is located right where San Vicente curves toward Palisades Park. When it was built in 1949, you could hop on the Trolley and head in to work. No car needed.

"Newly renovated and updated furnished or unfurnished 1 and 2 bedroom apartments are available with floor plans ranging from 670 Sq. Ft to 1,250 Sq. Ft. Monthly pricing for unfurnished units start at $3,100 and $5,400 respectively," reads a press release for 130 San Vicente.

COVID-19 Impacts, Homelessness Top List of Voter Funding Priorities

06/20/2020 8:52 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Along with reducing homelessness, helping the City cope with the economic and health impacts of COVID-19 are the top funding priorities for local voters, according to a poll for the City taken last month.

The poll of 562 Santa Monica voters was conducted by Goodwin Simon Strategic Research between May 26 and May 31 to gauge support for a luxury real estate transfer tax the City Council voted to place on the November ballot at its meeting June 9.

Pilot program looks to create zero emissions delivery zone

06/19/2020 8:08 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In an effort to reduce congestion and pollution on local streets, the city of Santa Monica and the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator have partnered to try to create a zero emissions delivery zone, and officials are looking to enlist the help of nonprofits, businesses and anybody else who may have an idea on how to help.

LACI CEO Matt Petersen said the organization put out a Request for Information this week because it’s looking to identify low-impact delivery solutions that will eliminate dangerous emissions, reduce noise, and improve community safety.