Santa Monica Daily Press, August 24, 2010

Page 1

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Volume 9 Issue 245

Santa Monica Daily Press

WARMING UP SEE PAGE 3

We have you covered

THE SO CLOSE ISSUE

Broad jilts Santa Monica, chooses L.A. for museum

Preservationists fight condo project BY KEVIN HERRERA Editor in Chief

OCEAN AVE Concerned the SpanishColonial revival design of a proposed condominium project here would detract from the neighborhood’s historic character, preservationists said they are prepared to fight a Dallas-based developer’s plan, which won approval from the Planning Commission last week. The condominium complex, which consists of three separate buildings surrounding a 5,000 square-foot central courtyard at the corner of Ocean Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard, will replace the former home of Santa Monica’s first female mayor, Clo Hoover, who led the fight against the demolition of the Santa Monica and Newcomb piers and the construction of an island in the Santa Monica Bay. Preservationists lobbied for the building to be landmarked based on its association with Hoover, who built a 47-unit apartment complex during the 1950s with her husband, Chester, when the two moved out west from Kentucky. It served as the couple’s primary residence and a source of income. The Landmarks Commission, on a 4-3 vote, approved landmark status, however, it was appealed to the City Council by the property owner, TrammellCrow Co., one of the nation’s largest developers. The council, on a 4-2 vote, overturned the designation, paving the way for demolition. John Berley, an architectural historian and member of the Santa Monica Landmarks commission, said the condo project, which includes 20 units, five of which for moderate-income households, incorporates elements of the garden courtyard style that dominates San Vicente from Ocean to Seventh Street. However, he and other preservationists can’t get over the design, which they say is inappropriate, particularly for the location, which has been characterized as a “gateway” to San Vicente, which some would like to have designated an historic district. “It’s important for Santa Monica to retain a very strong sense of place,” Berley said. TrammellCrow submitted an earlier project that featured a more modern, contemporary design with a curved facade that was

NOT FOR LONG: A condominium complex, which consists of three separate buildings sur-

CIVIC CENTER Billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad has chosen downtown Los Angeles over Santa Monica as the site to house his extensive contemporary art collection after a decision by the Grand Avenue Authority on Monday to approve his plans for the project. Broad had already received approvals from the Los Angeles City Council, the Community Redevelopment Agency and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to build in Los Angeles. The authority’s decision was the final approval needed from a governmental agency. “Influencing our decision was my commitment to downtown Los Angeles over the past 30 years, including my role as founding chairman of MOCA in 1979, our work with Mayor Riordan to construct the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the High School for Visual and Performing Arts, and my prior involvement with the Grand Avenue Project,” Broad said in a letter to Santa Monica City Manager Rod Gould. “We in the city are not terribly surprised because Mr. Broad has telegraphed for a number of months now his preference to build a museum in L.A. because it would draw more visitors in L.A. and help revitalize L.A.’s downtown,” Gould said. “We continue to believe ours was the superior site and he could build here faster. We wish Mr. Broad and L.A. the best and congratulate them both.” As part of the deal, Broad will pay L.A.’s Community Redevelopment Agency $7.7 million to lease the land and will endow $200 million to the Broad Art Foundation to cover operating expenses. They are expected to spend between $80 and $100 million to build the museum and an underground parking garage. “Our heart is on Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. This is our gift to the city that has been so good to us,” Broad said. “We would like to extend our thanks to the city of

SEE PROJECT PAGE 6

rounding a 5,000 square-foot central courtyard at the corner of Ocean Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard, will replace the former home of Santa Monica’s first female mayor, Clo Hoover.

SEE MUSEUM PAGE 6

BY MELISSA LEU Special to the Daily Press

Brandon Wise brandonw@smdp.com

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