INSIDE
Gott’s Roadside to Open in Downtown Santa Monica: Report smmirror.com
July 5 - July 11, 2024 Volume CXXIII Issue 214
See Page 7
Santa Monica Adopts $765M Budget, Focuses on Public Safety and Homelessness Adjustments Involve the Addition of Police Officer Positions and Enhancements to the City’s Security Camera Program
The Santa Monica City Council recently adopted the Fiscal Year 202425 operating and Capital Improvement Program budget, investmenting in areas such as public safety, addressing homelessness, sustainability, mobility and inclusive programs. The $765.3 million operating and CIP budget for 2024-25 incorporates $1.8 million in adjustments to support public safety and economic recovery, based on council direction from the May 28 budget study session. The budget also includes grant funds to support
homelessness programs. Significant adjustments involve the addition of four police officer positions, a one-year waiver followed by a second-year reduction on outdoor dining fees for businesses on the Third Street Promenade, enhancements to the city’s security camera program, and investments in mobility, road safety, and transit, including improvements to unsignalized intersections. The budget reflects key investments in five community priority areas: Clean & Safe, Addressing Homelessness, Sustainable & Connected, Justice, Equity & Diversity, and Economic Growth and Cultural Vitality. Key initiatives funded by the balanced budget include ongoing resources to address homelessness, such as a contract with The Salvation Army for drug abuse treatment services and funding for the completion and implementation of the citywide Homelessness Strategic Plan. The budget also expands operating hours for the Homeless Liaison Program (HLP) Team in the Police Department and allocates $119 million for police and crime prevention, including increased deployments of the mobile command post and the build-out of the Real Time
Crime Center. With the addition of four officers in this year’s budget, the City Council has allocated resources for 11 new police officers over the past two fiscal years. Enhanced recruitment efforts to fill Police Department vacancies are also included, along with the creation of a small business assistance and tenant improvement fund and the streamlining of the city’s permitting processes. The Council also advanced a $194.7 million FY 2024-26 Biennial Capital Improvement Program plan, paving the way for safety cameras and other public safety improvements, transit upgrades, parks and community services, tree planting, and other key infrastructure projects over the next two years. The two-year CIP includes projects funded by 22 different sources, including enterprise funds from rates and fees, such as the Water Fund, as well as tax revenues from voter-approved ballot measures, and federal and state funding. Notable capital projects for the next two years include $29 million for the Pier Bridge replacement project, $11.95 million for street and sidewalk maintenance, $6.45 million to construct two groundwater recharge
wells through the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP), $4.77 million for the completion of the Wilshire Transportation Safety Project, $1 million for streetlight modernization, $2.1 million for a new playground at Virginia Avenue Park, $500,000 for tree planting and landscape improvements as part of the Urban Forest Master Plan, $450,000 for the completion of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and $850,000 for a new community garden on 19th Street. As part of the budget adoption, the Council directed city staff to schedule a study session to explore additional measures for public safety and homelessness and to discuss potential budget revisions to reallocate resources accordingly.
This Former Thomas Edison Powerhouse is Becoming a Bagel Shop Now, an entrepreneur is transforming be similar to Uber, only meant for the With the the property at 3116 2nd Street once West Coast. The bagel shop will likely more. This time, to expand his bagel launch operations sometime next year, Acquisition, the ventures to the West Coast. said Strano. The 1,500 sq. ft. property was recently The property was constructed in Buyer Looks to sold for $2.5 million from Temple 1909 for Edison, which operated (who owned the property and several transformers in the facility, Grow His East Coast Mishkon leased it out for the past 70 years) to 2nd providing electric power to those in the Santa Monica LLC. Ian Strano surrounding neighborhood. For years, Bagel Operations to Street of NAI Capital represented Temple Southern California Edison Power Mishkon in the transaction. 2nd Street operated out of the property before it the West was represented by Compass. was transformed into a theater in 1982
By Zach Armstrong In 1909, a Santa Monica property was constructed as a power facility for Thomas Edison’s electric company; providing power to the Ocean Park neighborhood. Between 1982 and 2011, the vibrant “Powerhouse Theater” put on local plays out of the space. In recent years, Luigi al Teatro served up Italian cuisine from the premises up until a late closing.
According to Strano, the buyer is a “wealthy businessman” who owns Uber Bagels; an East Coast bagel shop chain which operates numerous locations across Maryland. Its menu boasts a wide range of breakfast and lunch sandwich items served on several bagel options such as Asiago Bay, Garlic, Whole Wheat, Sesame and Rosemary Sea Salt. With the new acquisition of the Santa Monica property, the Uber Bagels owner looks to debut Godspeed Bagels, a concept that Strano says will
and earned the nickname “Powerhouse.” In the mid-90s, the theater underwent a revitalization by Powerhouse Theatre Co. which operated the space until 2011. The property was then marketed as a retail or creative office space. After another renovation in 2016, the space now includes an outdoor patio and garden space. Westside Italian chef Luigi Fineo opened Luigi al Teatro from the property in 2018 before closing in recent years. Santa Monica Conservancy also
established the structure as a historic landmark in recent years, thus protecting it from demolition, according to Strano. “The interior roof and structure are original and protected from being demolished.” said Ian Strano, Executive Vice President of NAI Capital, in an email to Mirror Media Group. “This is a one of a kind and, therefore, achieved higher pricing. The buyer understood the value of owning a historic building.”