| March OPA Monthly Meeting This Monday (March 9): The meeting is at the Ocean Park Library @ 2601 Main St. starting with food and mingling at 6:00pm. We will also be hybrid on Zoom. Click here to add the OPA monthly meeting and Zoom link to your calendar. Here’s the zoom link, and here’s the schedule: |
| 6:00 – 6:30: Food, refreshments and mingling6:30 – 7:30: Guest Speakers:SaMo Police DepartmentSaMo Fire DepartmentJuan Matute Deputy Director at UCLA’s Institute of Transportation StudiesOthers TBD: Maybe a councilmember and/or state senate candidate7:30 – 8:30: Board business, including 2026 priorities, upcoming calendar of events, & more) |
| Bowlmor Construction Updates: We spoke with a representative for the project at Pico & 3rd St. last week, and here are some key updates: |
| Foundations for the project are now complete and the ramp has been removed, so hauling is done.Offsite work for the foreseeable future is compete and there shouldn’t be any digging in the street from us.Elevated Concrete Decks – these are any decks above the very bottom of the excavation (parking garage levels) and includes the concrete decks all the way up to Level 2 (1 level above the sidewalk). These will be ongoing with average of 1 pour per week for a couple months (could be a week or two with 2 pours if progress allows, which would shorten the overall duration of this work ultimately.) There will be a total of 17 concrete pours (4 pours at P2 Level, 4 pours at P1 Level, 6 pours at Level 1, 3 pours at Level 2).Closures will be the same as they have been on previous concrete days.Wood framing is tentatively scheduled to begin at Level 1 (same level as existing sidewalk) the 1st week of June 2026.We hope to be wrapping up work in Q4 2027, with final city sign off in January 2028. |
| Santa Monica Council Unanimously Approves Sweeping Zoning Overhaul to Boost Business: The City Council has approved a comprehensive package of zoning amendments designed to streamline permitting for businesses and try to encourage new investment. The ordinance downgrades permit requirements for many business types, streamlines alcohol regulations and permanently adopts temporary economic recovery rules that officials say have successfully attracted new enterprises to the downtown area. This article includes a picture of the work being done on the old Areal/World Cafe space. |
| Santa Monica rents plunge 7.5% as coastal market cools faster than nation: Rental prices in Santa Monica fell sharply in March, dropping 2.3% in a single month as the city recorded the steepest annual rent decline in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The median rent in the city now stands at $2,318, according to the latest Apartment List data. One-bedroom units have a median rent of $2,194, while two-bedroom apartments average $2,630. More details here. |
| Santa Monica PD Focuses on the Dangers of Distracted Driving: During the month of March, the Santa Monica Police Department will conduct an enforcement operations focused on drivers suspected of violating the hands-free cell phone law. More details here. |
| Councilmember Lana Negrete Newsletter: Here is her weekly newsletter, with Public Safety stats, Fire Department Update, Economic Development updates, and more. |
| Eviction Filing Targets Edgemar Restaurant Tenant Over Alleged Unpaid Rent: This article details that “The landlord, Sequoia Shores, LLC, filed an unlawful detainer case in Los Angeles County Superior Court seeking possession of the restaurant premises at 2435 Main St. in Santa Monica. In the complaint, the landlord identifies the tenant as Edgemar Hospitality, LLC and alleges the company failed to pay rent owed under a commercial lease.” This SMDP article details The Edgemar’s effort to fight the eviction. |
| The Street Seen: 2614 4th St (Taylor) (@ Ocean Park Blvd): A 10-room, 2-story Craftsman-style house is constructed on the west side of 4th St near Ocean Park Blvd in 1910. The original owner doesn’t get to live here. The house is recently refurbished. More details here. |
| Message from OPA Business Member Aqua Surf: Local Ocean Park based surf camp Aqua Surf is offering 20% off Summer Surf Camps with code STOKE20 during their annual Early Bird Sale (ends March 16). Programs run at Tower 28 in Ocean Park for kids and teens (ages 5–17). They are also hosting Spring Break Surf Camp the weeks of March 30–April 3 and April 6–10. |
