ACTION Apartment Association

What’s It All About…Santa Monica? [SMa.r.t.]

05/17/2016 8:55 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

We see such fear sold in Santa Monica fanned by developer interests in the form of large-scale commercial projects that mix in small micro apartment units, or a token number of what are presented as ‘affordable’ units. Of course the question is, affordable to whom? The developers and their advocates seek required development agreements and present their projects, most of which exceed current base line zoning regulations, with negotiated “public benefits”.

Council tweaks anti-corruption rules

05/16/2016 8:01 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Step by step, City Hall is working toward a clearer, stronger, more robust set of anti-corruption laws.

Council approved clarifications and guidelines for its rules as their May 10 meeting and previewed some of the more substantial changes that will likely become a ballot initiative this November.

Council Approves Downtown Santa Monica Mixed-Use Project Near Rail Station

05/16/2016 7:57 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

May 16, 2016 -- Downtown Santa Monica will soon feature a seven-story, mixed-use development with 249 residential units in a range of sizes and ground-floor commercial space that includes a grocery store.

The City Council voted 6-0 in favor of the project at 500 Broadway that will replace a Fred Segal complex just a block from the Expo Light Rail station set to open next week.

Council greenlights exploration of new rent subsidies

05/14/2016 9:14 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council wants new locally funded rent subsidies to be an option when considering affordable housing protections.

At their May 10 meeting, the council approved a request from Mayor Pro Tem Ted Winterer and Councilmembers Sue Himmelrich and Kevin McKeown that staff explore expanding affordable housing policies to include a local rent-subsidy program that would target severely rent burdened low-income renters currently living in rent-controlled apartments.

500 Broadway Edges Forward

05/13/2016 2:54 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

he hotly-contested 500 Broadway mixed-use development was back before Santa Monica City Council Tuesday evening, with the project set to soon be on its way to the Architectural Review Board (ARB).

In addition to market-rate housing at 500 Broadway, the project would include the development of 64 deed restricted affordable housing units to be provided off-site at 1626 Lincoln Boulevard.

Consultant Recommends Half-Cent Sales Tax Measure for Santa Monica Ballot

05/13/2016 8:44 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

May 13, 2016 -- A consultant hired by the Santa Monica City Council says poll results show voters would pass a half-cent sales tax in November to fund affordable housing programs and support schools.

Updated Santa Monica Ellis & Eviction Map Illustrates Gentrification

05/12/2016 7:44 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Since the Ellis Act was enacted in 1986 in Sacramento, giving property owners the right to exit the rental business, thousands of rent controlled units have been lost ...

See map for 1896-2016: http://www.antievictionmappingproject.net/santamonica.html

and for the last 3 years: http://antievictionmap.squarespace.com/santa-monica-3

Proposed Changes to Santa Monica Anti-Corruption Law Possibly Headed to Ballot

05/12/2016 7:23 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

May 12, 2016 -- The Santa Monica City Council took the first steps on Tuesday toward the possible amending of an anti-corruption law.

Residents will have the final say on this because any changes to what’s known as the Oaks Initiative would need to be approved in an election to go into effect.

City of Santa Monica Launches Ethics Hotline

05/10/2016 4:09 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

May 10, 2015 -- Santa Monica officials announced this week that the City has launched a hotline to share information about possible ethics violations by City officials and staff.

When can a landlord enter a tenant’s unit?

05/10/2016 8:30 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Even if landlords have a valid reason to enter, they still need to give the tenant advance written notice – usually at least 24 hours. The notice needs to say the date, approximate time, and purpose of the entry. (No notice is required if the landlord enters due to an emergency.)