By Daniel Larios
Staff Writer

October 24, 2014 – The Santa Monica Planning Commission unanimously denied a design compatibility permit and parking variance Wednesday for a two-story apartment building project that has been stalled for 17 years.

Located on the southeast corner of Broadway and Stanford Street, the four-unit complex was denied the necessary permits because the project lacked parking, posed safety concerns and would not produce enough affordable housing to merit the concessions.

The Santa Monica two story, four unit apartment complex has been unifinished since 1997. Photo by Daniel Larios.

Commisioner Sue Himmelrich said there was no reason to allow the applicant “to leave this property for 20 years and then say that he’s entitled to these concessions in order to build one affordable unit.

“I don’t believe these concessions are necessary to enable the affordable housing because it’s required anyway,” Himmelrich added. 

The permit, which was recommended by City staff, would have allowed concessions to residential zoning standards regarding front-yard and side-yard setbacks and first and second floor parcel coverage. 

The building’s owner, Naren Desai, was also looking to get a parking variance that would allow three surface parking spaces accessible from the alley in lieu of the mandated eight spaces required by the Municipal Code. 

In order to obtain the variance, Desai offered to buy his prospective tenants transit passes and provide a covered space to park their bicycles.

After the Desai applied for a building permit in 1997, construction was delayed by disputes with the contractor, then by changes to the zoning code, according to City officials.

Commissioner Richard McKinnon asked City staff how much of the building could be salvaged after being exposed to the elements for nearly two decades.

“When you go past it, it looks as though this building is completely derelict and, having been out in the weather all the time, should be demolished rather than rebuilt,” said McKinnon.

Desai, who wants to live on the property if it’s completed, said that without the concessions, he would need to tear the building down.

“We’ve tried all avenues available to us to rebuild, even trying to classify it as a senior housing project, which would allow me to build without asking for a parking variance,” Desai told the Commission. 

“I followed the City staff’s recommendation and changed the plan and we decided to apply for a parking variance about a few months back. If the planning commission turns me down, then I would probably be forced to demolish the structure and end up with an empty lot.”

That was better than the current eyesore blighting their neighborhood, said area residents who testified at the hearing.

“I grew up in the south Bronx and this is way worse than what I’ve seen in the south Bronx,” said Mark Figueroa, one of the neighbors.

“Would I like to see this built? Yes I would,” he added. “But I would like to see it built to code,” he said. “Do not give this guy concessions because he jerked everyone around for 20 years”

Some took exception to the concessions Desai wanted.

“This project is rooted in concessions,” said neighbor Kevin Waterbury.  “This guy couldn’t get this off the ground without concessions.

“This abomination has been here for 17 years,” he added.  “So throw some more concessions and this thing gets done?  What’s the guarantee at this point?”

Since 2001, 19 formal complaints have been filed against the property, with no open cases currently pending, according to City officials.

An inspection by the City “found that the structure is sound, no property maintenance issues were identified and the condition of the property did not constitute a fire hazard,” Joe Trujillo, the City’s Code Enforcement Division manager, told the lookout in April.

Desai has 14 days to appeal the Planning Commission’s decision to the City Council.

Related Articles:

After Nearly Two Decades Stalled Santa Monica Apartment Still Unfinished, May 7, 2014.

Small Santa Monica Apartment Building 15 Years in the Works, April 23, 2012.

Santa Monica's Longest-Running Apartment Construction Still Stalled, May 10, 2013.