Land Use & Circulation

Gelson’s Teardown Project

On May 1, 2023, the applicant submitted revised project plans in response to the Planning Department’s 61-page letter from July 2022. Staff responded within 60 days. The ball is once again in the applicant’s court. Administrative Approval will be granted once Planning staff determines that the project meets municipal code requirements. No public hearings are required, other than at the Architectural Review Board. Learn more

Click here for comments from the City Planning Department on the developer’s noncompliance
with city zoning ordinances on the Application for Administrative Approval.

Share your concerns:

City Council Members:
phil.brock@santamonica.gov, gleam.davis@santamonica.gov, oscar.delatorre@santamonica.gov
sue.himmelrich@santamonica.gov, kristin.mccowan@santamonica.gov, lana.negrete@santamonica.gov
christine.parra@santamonica.gov

Planning Director David Martin: Planning@santamonica.gov
City Manager David White: Manager@santamonica.gov

Letters to the Editor:

Santa Monica Daily Press – Letters@smdp.com

Santa Monica Lookout – Editor@SantaMonicaLookout.com

Santa Monica Mirror – Sam@MirrorMediaGroupLA.com

Santa Monica Observer – Editor@SMobserver.com

The Argonaut: Argonaut editor

More information:

Opinion: “Is Gelson’s Our Future? Bigger Is Not Better! – Part 2”
Ron Goldman, FAIA, for SMa.r.t. (Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow)
5/20/22 – Santa Monica Mirror
bigger-is-not-better-not-necessary-part-2/

Opinion: “Is Gelson’s Our Future? Bigger Is Not Better!”
Ron Goldman, FAIA, for SMa.r.t.
(Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow)
5/12/22 – Santa Monica Mirror
is-gelsons-our-future-bigger-is-not-better/

Opinion: “Gelson’s, Boxed In”
Bob Taylor, AIA, for SMa.r.t.
(Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow)
5/6/22 – Santa Monica Mirror
sma-r-t-column-gelsons-boxed-in/

“The Santa Monica Coalition Seeks to Block Construction at Gelson’s Site”
4/15/22 – Santa Monica Mirror
group-ignores-warnings-that-development-cant-be-stopped/

“Earlier this month, SMCLC objected to the Gelson’s application because it did not include sufficient information. Yesterday we learned the City agreed.”
4/15/22 – Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City

Opinion: “NIMBYs Getting a Bad Rap”
Tom Elias
4/8/22 – Santa Monica Mirror
column-nimbys-getting-a-bad-rap/

“Slow Growth Group Launches Battle to Stop Project on Gelson’s Site”
4/7/22 – Santa Monica Lookout
Battle_to_Stop_Project_on_Gelsons_Site

“Gelson’s Project Fails to Meet Planning Requirements”
4/6/22 – Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City
Gelsons4-6-22.

Opinion: “Tunneling for Mobility”
Mario Fonda-Bonardi, AIA, for SMa.r.t.(Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow)
4/1/22 – Santa Monica Mirror
sma-r-t-column-tunneling-for-mobility/
(Editor’s note: this is an April Fools Day column and is intended to be satire.)

Opinion: “The Value of Our Boulevards”
Ron Goldman, FAIA, for SMa.r.t. (Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow)
3/28/22 – Santa Monica Mirror
sma-r-t-column-the-value-of-our-boulevards/

Opinion: “The Development at Ocean Park and Lincoln”
Bob Taylor, AIA, for SMa.r.t.
(Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow)
3/4/22 – Santa Monica Mirror

Opinion: “The Buck Stops with the Council” – Dr. Daniel Galamba
3/2/22 – Santa Monica Lookout

“Gelson’s Teardown Project” – Video of the February 17 community meeting

“Gelson’s Proposed Project a Done Deal?”
2/24/22 – Santa Monica Lookout

Opinion: “We Can Talk” – Charles Andrews
2/23/22 – Santa Monica Daily Press

“Ocean Park and Sunset Park Residents Oppose 521-Unit Development on Gelson’s Site”
2/21/22 – Santa Monica Daily Press

Opinion: “Crammin’ Jack Is Back! ‘Dingbat’ City Is Here” – Bob Taylor, AIA for SMa.r.t.
(Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow)
2/17/22 – Santa Monica Mirror

Opinion: “A Very Bad Deal for Residents and the City”
Mary Marlow, Chair, Santa Monica Transparency Project
2/11/22 – Santa Monica Daily Press

“Sunset Park Neighborhood Could Be the Site of Massive Mixed Use Apartment
Complex”
2/11/22 – Santa Monica Mirror

“Developer Plans 521-Unit Mixed-Use Apartment Project in Santa Monica”
2/10/22 – What Now Los Angeles

“521 Apartments Could Replace Retail Center in Santa Monica—at the corner of Lincoln and Ocean Park” 2/7/22 – Urbanize LA

Letter to the Editor — Michael Sieverts and Kim Baer, Santa Monica
1/25/22 – Santa Monica Daily Press

Opinion: “Gaming the System” – Peter Altschuler, Ocean Park resident
1/24/22 – Santa Monica Lookout

Planning & Community Development Department website:

https://www.smgov.net/Departments/PCD/

Plans and Projects:

https://www.smgov.net/Departments/PCD/Plans-Projects/

Communicating with your City Council:

City Council agendas are posted 72 hours before each meeting.
Click here for City Council information and agendas.
Watch meetings on CityTV or cable channel 16. Learn more.

Provide public comment:
Send emails to CouncilMtgItems@smgov.net with the agenda item number in the subject line.
Call (310) 312-8173 during the meeting. The queue opens for each agenda item just before the item is called and remains open until the first 5 public comments are heard. Comments limited to 2 minutes.

Communicating with your Planning Commission:

Planning Commission agendas are posted 72 hours before each meeting: Agendas
Watch meetings on CityTV, cable channel 16 or YouTube.
To provide public comment send emails to PlanningComment@smgov.net
Be sure to include the agenda item number in the subject line.