Construction Updates

Storm drains and more

Community & Cultural Services — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:01:57 +0000

Storm drains (see green pipes below) are being installed...

and a deep pit is being dug for the Ocean Avenue entrance water feature vaults.

Grading work on schedule

Community & Cultural Services — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:50:41 +0000

Grading, shoring and utility work is progressing on schedule. W.E. O'Neil crews encounted a reinforced concrete caisson from the basement level of the former RAND building. It was dug out and removed without impact to the schedule.

Over-excavation work underway

Community & Cultural Services — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:50:05 +0000

W.E. O'Neil Construction crews are preparing the site by over-excavating the base soil.

Park site is ready

Community & Cultural Services — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:18:19 +0000

All site preparation work by American Landscape and their subconsultants has been completed. The future park site looks ready for the next phase - park construction!

In early February, the City's design builder W. E. O'Neil, will move a construction trailer onto the site. 100% Construction Drawings have been submitted to Building and Safety and are being reviewed.

Site Preparation Work Almost Complete

Community & Cultural Services — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:58:53 +0000

The site preparation and tree relocation work on the future Palisades Garden Walk site is almost complete. The Ficus tree grove is taking shape, the large Bird of Paradise plants have been clustered together, and a strong group of Canary palms join a line of Washingtonia robusta palms in the north west corner of the park. It's starting to feel like a park!

Watch 100+ Ton "Amigo" Trees Move

Community & Cultural Services — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:41:18 +0000

The first of the "Three Amigos" trees makes it way to the Ficus picnic grove area of the new park.

The second (middle) tree is starts it journey. Watch the tree's constrained branches free-up.

And the last tree on its way. Note the lush growth on the right side and lack of growth on the side shared with the middle "Amigo" tree.

Palms trees on the move

Community & Cultural Services — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:53:46 +0000

Seventeen non-native Washingtonia robusta palm trees currently located on the future park site are being relocated at a rate of 4-5 per day to City of Santa Monica Woodlawn Cemetery, Mortuary and Mausoleum. The future park is located within the Coastal Zone and is therefore subject to California Coastal Commission oversight. Park plans prepared by the project designers, James Corner Field Operations, were approved by the Coastal Commission during its meeting in July; however, the Commission specifically noted that non-native invasive palms (Washingtonia) on the site could not be relocated on the site or within the coastal zone. Woodlawn Cemetery is well outside of the coastal zone. The Washingtonias will be scattered at various locations inside the cemetery grounds including along Maple Avenue and 15th Street.

Photo courtesy of the Santa Monica Daily Press

Large thicker trunked Canary Palms are also being moved, but these are being located to their final destination within the new park design. A nice cluster of Canary Palms will be seen near the NW park entrance.

Trees get new home on sloped site next to City Hall

Community & Cultural Services — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:29:54 +0000

A group of mature trees from the future Palisades Garden Walk site have been moved to the sloped area between City Hall and the 10-Freeway. To prepare the slope, overgrown ivy has been removed revealing the terraced areas and brick retaining walls.

Photo courtesy of American Landscape

Down to the dirt

Community & Cultural Services — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 22:35:08 +0000

The surface parking lot material (mostly gravel and landscape cloth) has been moved into mounds
revealing the dirt below. The site feels more like a park every day.

Taking the 'ing' out of Parking

Community & Cultural Services — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:10:43 +0000

Fencing has been installed to protect trees that are to remain in place and other trees have been boxed in preparation for their eventual move. Demolition activities are underway. The parking lot is on its way out. It is the opposite of the Joni Mitchell song...here in Santa Monica we are unpaving paradise!