Santa Monica
A state appeals court has upheld the Rent Control Board’s right to block the demolition of affordable ocean-front apartments, even when a developer offers to replace the apartments in another part of the city.
The case centered on a request by two developers to demolish a 22-unit apartment complex at Ocean and Palisades avenues and replace it with 45 condominiums. In return, the developers offered to build 28 apartments at 5th and Pacific streets in Ocean Park.
In a 3-0 decision, the court ruled that developers cannot circumvent the law by offering to replace demolished apartment units. The court also stated that displacement posed an unfair hardship on tenants.
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