After a mammoth 14 year public process that was marred by an aggressive campaign (that sometimes broke the law) funded by the rival Huntley, the public process for the new Miramar Hotel ended with approval of its plan by the city’s Historic Landmark Commission.
The finished project will be a mix of hotel rooms, condominiums and affordable housing. In particular the project will include”
- 301 room hotel
- Up to 60 condominiums
- 42 family-sized affordable apartments
(60% 2 and 3 bedroom units) - Pedestrian-oriented restaurant and retail spaces
Over ½ of the site is dedicated to open space and is compliant with the Downtown Community Plan.
The Santa Monica Conservancy celebrated the approval, noting that while the plan calls for extensive renovation of the existing hotel, it preserves the most important historic landmarks.
“This achievement represents a win for destination tourism, housing development, and preservation in Santa Monica. The project also successfully revitalizes the Miramar site while preserving two significant landmarks: the Palisades Building and the historic Moreton Bay Fig Tree,” wrote the Conservancy in an email to supporters.
The new Miramar Santa Monica will remain a union hotel and provide over 100 additional full-time jobs. Existing employees will be protected during construction per the UNITE HERE closure agreement that was signed last year. For more information, visit the project’s official website, or read the city’s report for the Landmark’s Commission.
