The battle comes as the City Council Tuesday night considers a conceptual plan that more than triples total development at the five-acre, City-owned site ("Santa Monica Council to Take Next Step in Bergamot Arts Center Development," June 8, 2017).

The plan includes the proposed 120-room, 82,600-square-foot hotel that split the Bergamot Station Advisory Committee tasked with evaluating the entire 220,000-square-foot project near a new Expo light rail line.

Also under consideration is allowing the project’s developer, the Worthe Group, to become the master leaseholder for up to five years. The proposed lease agreement with the City would limit rent hikes to only the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Read More:  https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2017/June-2017/06_13_2017_Santa_Monica_Arts_Community_Torn_Over_Bergamot_Plan.html

by Michael Millman

ANNUAL RENTAL INCREASE - 2% [or $40, whichever is smaller]

ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE - $198

Read the details: SM REPORT RENT AND REG FEES 6.10.17.pdf

However, the board was able to decide whether to pass a dollar-figure cap (also calculated by a formula) or not have one at all.

The $40 maximum increase is the highest since it was $52 in 2011. Other recent maximum increases have been $25 last year, $7 in 2015, $14 in 2014, $17 in 2013 and $26 in 2012.

Read More:  https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2017/June-2017/06_09_2017_Santa_Monica_Board_Sets_Maximum_40_Monthly_Rent_Increase.html

One month after an underground electrical fire, the 1447 Lincoln Building remains without electrical power. All the stores on the ground level of the building remain closed--including Starbucks, Jersey Mike's and Chase Bank.

Around 80 tenants of the 1447 Lincoln Building are still living in hotels at Landlord expense. They receive weekly stipends of $1500 a week. Dogs and cats get $350 a week. It's unclear how the dogs and cats cash their checks. All this according to a security guard and a tenant in front of the building.

Read More: http://www.smobserved.com/story/2017/06/08/news/they-live-in-hotels-tear-out-the-walls-landlords-accountants-pay-for-it-all/2955.html

Rent control, one of the most divisive and emotional issues sweeping the Bay Area, lost a round in Santa Rosa Tuesday.

In a special election, 52.5 percent of voters rejected Measure C, which would have implemented a rent- and eviction-control ordinance that Santa Rosa’s City Council passed 4-2 in August. The California Apartment Association and its allies collected enough signatures to force the City Council to rescind the ordinance or put it to voters. The council put it on the ballot.

Rehttp://www.sfchronicle.com/business/networth/article/Rent-control-loses-a-battle-in-Santa-Rosa-but-11203882.phpad More: 

Tuesday’s City Council discussion could have big repercussion for homeowners hoping to cash in on a state law that encourages them to build extra housing on their property.

Next week the Council will decide whether homeowners in Santa Monica can list those accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on home-sharing websites like Airbnb. City staff is recommending the Council authorize language that would limit the new ADU’s occupants to long-term renters rather than tourists and vacationers.

Read More: http://smdp.com/city-council-to-consider-rules-to-further-restrict-airbnbs-in-santa-monica/161263

AND

https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2017/June-2017/06_09_2017_Santa_Monica_Council_Could_Further_Restrict_Short_Term_Rentals.html

This Monday, June 12, a three decade process will come to a significant milestone. The Landmarks Commission will be hearing, at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, whether to start the process of creating Santa Monica’s 4th Historic District.

Read More: http://smmirror.com/2017/06/sma-r-t-our-next-historic-district/

Rent control increases in Santa Monica could be limited to a fixed maximum, regardless of the percentage calculation, if the Rent Control Board passes a cap at their July 8 meeting. [NOTE: Actual date is June 8]

At tonight’s public meeting, the Santa Monica Rent Control Board will consider whether to set a $40 ceiling on 2017 and 2018 rent increases. Back in May, the Board set the 2017 General Adjustment at two percent.

Read More: http://smdp.com/rent-control-cap-could-be-limited-to-40/161246

“I just wanted something to be safe for my kids,” Katz said, explaining her decision to update the electronic doorbell she had installed with a single screw on the front of her door with a Ring, the doorbell camera that is leading the market in home security systems. Attached with the same single screw, the Ring sends a live video feed to Katz’s cell phone whenever someone approaches her front door. She can instantly see who is outside and communicate with them – even if she is upstairs or even out of the house.

“Your written rental agreement provides that there shall be no alterations to the Premises. You have installed a doorbell on your front door. This is strictly prohibited,” reads the May 31 letter from attorney Duane Hall, who represents the landlord American Career Investments.

Read More: http://smdp.com/rent-control-tenant-faces-eviction-threat-over-ring-doorbell/161229

June 7, 2017 -- Legislation co-authored by Santa Monica Assemblyman Richard Bloom that would restore the authority of local governments to require affordable rental units took another step closer to becoming law Tuesday.

The bill, AB 1505, which is one of a number of proposed laws to address California's affordable housing crisis, was approved by a 7-4 vote by the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing. The bill now heads to the Senate Floor.

Under the bill, "inclusionary housing remains a local decision, with input from local stakeholders, to determine what mix of policies, if any, make sense for their community."

Read More:  https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2017/June-2017/06_07_2017_Santa_Monica_Legislators_Affordable_Housing_Bill_Clears_Key_Senate_Committee.html