S A N TA M O N I C A
REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY smmirror.com
July 29 – August 4, 2022 Volume CLI, Issue 155
INSIDE
Santa Monica Girls Softball Team Fundraising for USA Softball National Championships PAGE 4
Ocean Avenue Project Designed by Frank Gehry Is Approved Santa Monica City Council Development will bring hotel, retail and museum to Santa Monica’s Ocean Avenue BY DOLORES QUINTANA Santa Monica City Council has approved a development designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry that is set to bring a hotel, retail and a museum to Ocean Avenue. During a special meeting of the City Council on July 14, project architect Frank Gehry spoke to the Council. He said that the developer first offered the museum to him conceptually as a Frank Gehry museum, but that he turned it down. He wanted to make it a museum that he feels that the Westside doesn’t have and create access between young architects and people at the architectural schools with developers. He said that he has spent most of his life among the artists of Santa Monica and that the sense of place and the scale and humanity that he wishes to bring to his architectural plans and their relationship with other buildings already within the environment. Gehry said that he was very proud of the project and that he worked very hard to make it fit the scale of the city and the city that used to be. He stated that he wants to do both, contribute [with the design of]
Rendering: Courtesy City of Santa Monica
buildings with feelings in good spaces as an architect rather than just building units. During the meeting, Gehry’s time ran out, but members of the council asked him to continue but he demurred. A number of community members and leaders made comments about the project. All were in favor of the project. Elizabeth Hartwell, on behalf of the Los Angeles Federation of Labor, spoke in favor of the project because it will provide many good jobs and supplement job creation with strong environmental protections and affordable housing. Tom Cleys, President of The Santa Monica Conservancy, spoke in “enthusiastic support” of the project on behalf of The Conservancy. He said that the Frank Gehry-designed buildings will immediately
become architectural icons immediately, but that they are especially gratified that the two designated historic landmarks on Ocean Avenue are incorporated into the project in a very meaningful way. The vote was six to zero, with only one City Council member, Oscar de la Torre, who was excused from the vote. City Manager David White said, “The Frank Gehry Project is unique, brings new amenities like a cultural institution to the Downtown, and will provide one-time funds to deliver City services including transportation infrastructure, parks, recreation programs, early childhood initiatives, affordable housing, economic opportunity initiatives, and more.” Santa Monica Mayor Sue Himmelrich said, “This project has it all! A new museum,
a full-service hotel, an observation deck with views of the Pacific, onsite affordable housing, and new places to eat, shop, and enjoy Santa Monica. This project brings together historic and new architecture to create a very special place on Ocean Avenue.” The Project now heads to The California Coastal Commission for review and potential approval and submission for design review by the City’s Architectural Review Board and Landmarks Commission. Submittal for building permit issuance will follow and once all approvals are complete and construction begins, it is estimated that the project will take about three years to complete.
Suspects Unsuccessful in Attempt to Steal ATM From Santa Monica Bank July 22 incident remains under investigation BY SAM CATANZARO Two suspects ultimately were unsuccessful in an attempt to tow an ATM from a Santa Monica bank using a stolen pickup truck last week. According to the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD), on July 22, around 1:40 a.m., officers responded to the Chase Bank located at 2701 Wilshire Boulevard regarding a theft in-progress. The reporting party stated that two suspects had used a pickup truck to try to steal an ATM. “The call text stated the pickup truck was still at the location however the subjects had fled the area,” the SMPD said. When SMPD officers arrived on the scene,
they found a black Ford pickup truck still running with its doors open. “It had a chain attached to the rear tow hitch which had pulled the bank ATM off a center island median and it was left lying face down in the middle of the parking lot,” the SMPD said. A records check revealed the truck had been stolen from Santa Monica the previous day. A resident said he heard what he described as a loud crashing noise from outside. He saw two subjects exit the pickup truck and flee east through the alley, possibly getting into another vehicle. SMPD officers towed the vehicle and held it for processing. This incident remains under investigation by the SMPD. Chase declined to comment on the incident, citing the active investigation.
Photo: Bob Rosebrock An ATM that two suspects attempted to steal from a Santa Monica Chase bank last Friday.