ACTION Apartment Association

Developer to Propose Five Story Mixed-Use Project Across Metro Terminus

09/18/2023 8:46 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Local real estate developer Worthe Real Estate Group is set to propose a five-story, 60 residential unit mixed-use development at the north-east corner of Colorado Avenue and 4th Street at the Santa Monica Architectural Review Board’s next meeting.

Rent Control Board wants landlords who evict tenants with the Ellis Act to go out of business, voluntarily

09/13/2023 12:23 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The proposal before RCB this week adds additional definitions to the rules clarifying the Ellis Act has a “good faith” intent qualification.

“These amendments clarify the definition of good faith and require owners to attest to their intent to leave the rental business in the Notice of Intent that is filed with the agency. They also include some factors for determining good faith, which will assist both landlords and tenants as well as provide a resource for hearing officers and judges in adjudicating cases where the landlord’s intent is in question,” said the report.

In addition to the clarifying language, the proposal also reiterates the existing repercussions for violations of the rules including rejecting Ellis applications.

California housing policy takes two steps forward and one back

09/12/2023 8:50 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The final days of the 2023 legislative session are producing new pro-housing laws that close legal loopholes often used to block or delay projects.

On one day last week, the Legislature sent two major pro-housing bills to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Lobbying Efforts Pick Up Steam in Voting Rights Case

09/12/2023 8:42 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Proponents of both fighting and settling the voting rights lawsuit against the City are stepping up their lobbying efforts as the City Council prepares to discuss the issue in closed session Tuesday.

The item was placed on the agenda some three weeks after the California Supreme Court sent the case back to an Appellate Court that had ruled in favor of the City in July 2020 ("Supreme Court Reverses Voting Rights Ruling," August 24, 2023).

It's Time to End City's Voting Rights Fight

09/12/2023 8:40 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

We appreciate the City Council's recent stated dedication to issues of racial justice and equity. Yet, the City's expenditure of millions of dollars to maintain its fight against the California Voting Rights Act and the voting rights it protects, stands in stark contrast.

S.M.a.r.t Column: The Battle for the Planning Commission: A Circus of Political Maneuvers

09/11/2023 8:54 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

But hold your horses! It’s not just individuals who are vying for a spot on the Planning Commission. Oh no, political groups have their paws in this game too. As soon as the commission openings are announced (and usually even before), these organizations kick into high gear behind the scenes. They’re like frenzied paparazzi, desperately seeking a Commissioner who will represent their interests. People are approached left and right, like talent scouts on the prowl. Suitable candidates’ names are passed around like hot potatoes to gather responses from the faithful. It’s a mad, mad world of influence and leverage, where politically connected candidates rub shoulders with unaffiliated freelancers.

Council to Vote on Downtown Affordable Housing Development

09/11/2023 8:52 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Project Calls for 570 Housing Units

The Santa Monica City Council is set to vote on authorizing a downtown development at the block bounded by Olympic and Colorado and 4th and 5th Streets.

The project, in agreement with California-based AMCAL Multi-Housing, Inc. and Texas-based Gen-Land LLC, calls for approximately 570 housing units. AMCAL also proposed to acquire the adjacent 27,176 square foot office/commercial building at 1640 5th Street, known as the “Comma Building”, from Lincoln Properties, for more housing units. Because the proposal relies on the Comma Building sale, a tri-party agreement between the City, AMCAL and Lincoln properties is required.

Sale of downtown properties could result in 570 new housing units

09/07/2023 10:37 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At their Tuesday meeting, Council will consider an exclusive negotiating agreement with a group of housing providers for a bundle of lots on 5th Street between Olympic and Colorado as part of a Surplus Land Act sale. If approved, the deal would replace two commercial office buildings and one parking lot with a large housing development that would include affordable and market rate units.

The 2023 Assessment Roll, Santa Monica

09/05/2023 11:08 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Locally,Santa Monica for 2023 came in at $48.95 billion for taxable values, which is a 5.3% increase over last year’s numbers. That includes 16,821 single-family homes, 4,068 apartment complexes, 2,672 commercial-industrial parcels for a grand total of 23,561 taxable properties. Yes, it’s a solid growth at $48.95 billion.

Some basics: The Roll, as it is known, contains the assessed value of all real estate and business personal property in the County’s 88 cities along with the unincorporated areas. It also breaks down the number of single-family residential homes, apartments and commercial-industrial parcels.

A Report Shows How Much Local Residents’ Household Income Is Sacrificed

09/01/2023 9:38 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The report showed Santa Monica bills are $15,705 higher per year than the U.S. average, with the average Santa Monica home paying $3,355 per month on bills. This makes Santa Monica the 116th most expensive city in California and its households 64% more expensive than the U.S. average.