We’ve got a couple of exciting things coming up this week, including a chance to learn about the Plaza at Santa Monica project over drinks, the grand opening of the Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway (MANGo), Lighten Up: Climate Action Santa Monica’s Spring Forum on low cost, clean energy, and ride to CicLAvia in Pasadena with Santa Monica Spoke.
Happy Hour at the Misfit for the Plaza at SAnta Monica
The team behind the proposed project for the 4th/5th streets and Arizona Avenue are holding an open bar happy hour this Wednesday at the Misfit in Downtown Santa Monica to give people a chance to learn more about the proposal.
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Rem Koolhaas’ firm, OMA, the Plaza at Santa Monica would bring affordable housing, a boutique hotel, public open space, a children’s museum, a bike center, and transit-adjacent work space the heart of Downtown Santa Monica only a few blocks from the future Expo light rail stop. There have already been several community meetings on the project, which has the support of the local hospitality workers’ union and other members of the community.
The project goes before the Planning Commission on June 3 for a float-up, where the team will update the Commission on the latest plans for the site. Critical to that update will be the feedback the team has been receiving from Santa Monicans on design, sustainability, transportation and programming options.
When: Wednesday May 27 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Misfit Bar at 225 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Ribbon Cutting for the Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway
Celebrate the opening of the Michigan Avenue Greenway — known as MANGo — landscape circles this Saturday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The transformation of Michigan Avenue into a safe, shared street continues with the opening of the landscape circles which encourage drivers to travel at safe speeds through the Greenway while adding foliage to the streetscape.
It’s another step closer to making Michigan Avenue a safe place for all after much community input solicited in innovative and engaging ways.
“The three-mile Greenway between the Bergamot Arts Center and the beach would provide a safe and comfortable place for neighbors of all ages to walk, bike, recreate, and interact with one another,” according to the city’s website.
“Additionally, it will be a functional circulation link to connect residents and visitors with many significant community and regional institutions, including schools, parks, job centers, and future Expo stations,” the site says. “The project will make it easier to get around Santa Monica on foot and by bicycle, and is intended to enhance the livability of the Pico Neighborhood and improve environmental quality.”
When: Saturday, May 30 at 10 a.m.
Where: Michigan Ave. and 12th St.
Climate Action Santa Monica Spring Forum
This Sunday, come learn about how Santa Monica can do its part to fight climate change with clean, cheap energy for the whole city.
The topic of Climate Action Santa Monica’s forum will be a new model for cities who want to find cleaner, cheaper alternatives to provide power for their residents.
“Learn how Santa Monica in combination with other cities is working toward creating a new power authority. The new authority will ensure power in Santa Monica is mostly or all renewable at a price comparable or less than the existing power vendor,” according to CASM’s description of the forum.
The description continues: “Featured speakers at the forum include Joe Galliani and Shawn Marshall, both heavily involved with CCA’s. Shawn with Lean Energy USA was integral in the forming of Marin’s CCA and Joe is the lead organizer of the South Bay Clean Power Working Group, the volunteer citizen group working on bringing clean energy to Santa Monica and other Southern California cities.
“Additionally, at the forum, UCLA Environment & Sustainability students will present their research and conclusions as to ways in which Santa Monica can further reduce greenhouse gases. Their capstone research project and presentation, initiated at the request of Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment, will offer results of a Santa Monica UCLA Sustainability Audit,” it reads.
When: Sunday, May 31 at 1 p.m.
Where: The Church in Ocean Park at 235 Hill St, Santa Monica, CA
Bike to CicLaVia in Pasadena
Are you heading to Pasadena this Sunday for CicLAvia? If you are leaving from the Westside and you have the stamina, there are a couple of options for you to arrive car-free.
Santa Monica Spoke will host two feeder rides to Pasadena, starting at Tongva Park at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 31.
Option one is multi-modal. Ride to the Expo line, hop on and connect to the Gold Line in Downtown Los Angeles. According to Spoke’s site, “This simple Route is 7.5 miles and nearly completely flat with bike lanes or low traffic volume streets at our time of travel. We will be traveling at an easy pace but do ask you ‘stay with the pace’ so we can all get there together. No rider is left behind. For feeder ride all young children should be on tag-a-long, child carrier or in trailers. Group will decide to ride or train to Gold Line Station from 7th Street Station.”
Option two is for those who want to ride all the way to Pasadena. Again, according to Spoke’s site, “This ride is 27.9 miles and for more advance riders – faster paced with more elevation gain (click map). This group plans to meet the UCLA Bike Shop Group at Westwood and Santa Monica Blvd at 8:45am. The group will still stay together with no rider left behind – you do have the option if you choose to jump on the Gold Line if you run out of steam or prefer to ride the train from DTLA.”
When: Sunday, May 31 at 7:30 a.m.
Where: Tongva Park
