Santa Monica Civic Center ParksSanta Monica Civic Center Parkshttp://www.smciviccenterparks.com/home/2012-05-11T23:57:36ZSquarespaceMounds of dirt moving around from place to placehttp://www.smciviccenterparks.com/home/2012/5/11/mounds-of-dirt-moving-around-from-place-to-place.htmlCommunity & Cultural Services2012-05-11T23:42:30Z2012-05-11T23:42:30ZThat is what over excavation is all about.  Soil is excavated from a portion of the site and piled on another. This is followed by reintroduction and compaction of soil into the excavated areas.  All this work so that we can be certain of a fixed density of soil at the base of the future park.  To build Observation Hill along the west edge of the future park, a 10 ft over excavation was dug and structural beam installled to support the future Hill.

Work is progressing on schedule.  

Watch the mounded dirt move by viewing our progress on the webcam (link above).

]]>What's going on next door?http://www.smciviccenterparks.com/home/2012/2/29/whats-going-on-next-door.htmlCommunity & Cultural Services2012-02-29T19:11:02Z2012-02-29T19:11:02ZA groundbreaking celebration on February 16 marked the official beginning of work on The Village at Santa Monica, a project that has been several years in the making. The $350-million residential and retail development on Ocean Avenue will contain 318 units, including 158 condos and 160 affordable apartments. It will also have commercial space on much of the ground level for restaurants and shops.

Developer Related Cos. estimates that sales will begin in 2013 and the Village will be complete in January 2014. The affordable component will be managed by the Community Corp. of Santa Monica; occupancy will be restricted to tenants with annual incomes less than 60% of the area median (now $50,580 for a family of four). The master plan and condos were designed by Santa Monica architecture firm Moore Ruble Yudell, and the apartments were designed by Santa Monica-based Koning Eizenberg. Related has begun excavation on the Village's underground garage and has set up a web site for the project at www.VillageatSantaMonica.com.

]]>Ask the Staff Eventhttp://www.smciviccenterparks.com/home/2012/2/1/ask-the-staff-event.htmlCommunity & Cultural Services2012-02-02T00:31:30Z2012-02-02T00:31:30Z

 Have a question about city construction projects underway or coming soon?

Ask the Staff!
 
February 9 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Ken Edwards Center | 1527 4th Street
Event Flyer

]]>Recreation and Parks Commission Makes Name Recommendationshttp://www.smciviccenterparks.com/home/2012/1/25/recreation-and-parks-commission-makes-name-recommendations.htmlCommunity & Cultural Services2012-01-26T01:28:03Z2012-01-26T01:28:03ZThe Recreation and Parks Commission unanimously voted during its January 19th meeting to recommend to the City Council that the area in front of City Hall currently known as Town Square be renamed

Ken Genser Square

Additionally, the Commission unanimously voted to recommend to the City Council that the area currently known as Palisades Garden Walk be renamed

Santa Monica Commons

and it further recommended that in recognition of the historical significance of the land and history of the community, that the area currently known as Observation Hill be renamed Tongva Hill and that an appropriate area of the park be identified in honor of the Belmar Triangle Neighborhood.



]]>Name Recommendationshttp://www.smciviccenterparks.com/home/2012/1/19/name-recommendations.htmlCommunity & Cultural Services2012-01-19T17:20:10Z2012-01-19T17:20:10ZThe Recreation and Parks Commission will meet on January 19th to  resume earlier discussions on a name or names to recommend to the City Council for the park currently known as Palisades Garden Walk.  They will also weigh-in on a name for the Town Square site.  

The Landmarks Commission will develop name recommendations for the Town Square site in February (link to be posted at a later date) and will also consider recommending a name for the Palisades Garden Walk site as well.

In March, the City Council will take public input, and review the results of public surveys, recommendations by staff and the design team, and recommendations from appropriate Commissions. 

]]>Council Gives "Green Light"http://www.smciviccenterparks.com/home/2011/10/26/council-gives-green-light.htmlCommunity & Cultural Services2011-10-26T18:35:53Z2011-10-26T18:35:53ZHere we go! 

Last night City Council upheld the appeal of the Landmarks Commission decision and approved the Certificate of Appropriateness application on a revised design for Town Square.  City Council also approved updated Palisades Garden Walk Overlook Structures designs and streescape plans for Ocean Avenue and Main Street.   James Corner Field Operations and its team of experts will now work to completed the Construction Documents.  Construction of the parks will begin in Spring of 2012 and be completed by the end of 2013.

Today, the first of the 100+ ton, 60 year old, "Three Amigos" Ficus trees was moved.  Watch a video of the move under "Construction Updates" above.  The "Three Amigos" are being planted near "Morty" to form a Ficus grove in the new park.

]]>City Council set to consider design for Town Square, updated design of overlook structures & streetscapeshttp://www.smciviccenterparks.com/home/2011/10/10/city-council-set-to-consider-design-for-town-square-updated.htmlCommunity & Cultural Services2011-10-10T18:01:15Z2011-10-10T18:01:15ZThe Landmarks Commission during its September 20th Special Meeting, reviewed and approved a Certificate Of Appropriateness for the modified design for Town Square with the following four conditions of approval:

Condition 1:  Retain all of the existing brick work;

Condition 2:  Reduce the number of Western Sycamore trees in each row of the north and south allees from the proposed 6 trees per row to 4 or 5;

Condition 3:  Minimize the amount of decorative grasses in the lawn areas; and

Condition 4:  Retain the existing accessible ramp and planter configuration and replicate it exactly on the north side of the City Hall entry.

The park design team carefully reviewed the four conditions and has modified the Town Square plan in response to them.  However, because the design response is not completely compliant with the conditions of approval, an appeal has been filed and will be will be considered by the City Council during its October 25th meeting.  On October 20, 2011, the Recreation and Parks Commission will review the plans for Town Square and formulate recommendations for Council consideration.

On September 19, 2011 the Architectural Review Board approved the revised design or the Overlook Structures in Palisades Garden Walk. On October 25, 2011, the revised design will be presented to the City Council along with plans for the Main Street and Ocean Avenue streetscapes adjacent to the project.

 

]]>Landmarks Commission to review revised design for Town Squarehttp://www.smciviccenterparks.com/home/2011/9/16/landmarks-commission-to-review-revised-design-for-town-squar.htmlCommunity & Cultural Services2011-09-16T16:54:53Z2011-09-16T16:54:53ZDuring a Special Meeting to be held on Tuesday, September 20th starting at 6:30pm in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Main Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Boulevard, the Landmarks Commission will review a revised design for Town Square. 

The modified design includes the retention, rehabilitation and/or relocation of certain existing historic character defining elements of the site, in addition to reconfiguring the site topography and grade, the installation of new landscaping and hardscape materials, a central water feature, new benches and seat walls, and lighting. Pursuant to Santa Monica Municipal Code, a Certificate of Appropriateness is required for any proposed alterations in whole or in part, of or to a Landmark or Landmark Parcel.

]]>Project Goes to ARB on August 29http://www.smciviccenterparks.com/home/2011/8/26/project-goes-to-arb-on-august-29.htmlCommunity & Cultural Services2011-08-26T20:29:02Z2011-08-26T20:29:02ZSanta Monica's Architectural Review Board will discuss the Civic Center Parks project at its meeting on Monday, August 29. The project is Item 7.3 on the agenda.

]]>Design Review and Park Name Updateshttp://www.smciviccenterparks.com/home/2011/7/18/design-review-and-park-name-updates.htmlCommunity & Cultural Services2011-07-18T22:12:12Z2011-07-18T22:12:12ZWe are pleased to announce that the California Coastal Commission on July 14th approved the City's permit to build a new Civic Center park. 

The City's Architectural Review Board, during its Monday, July 18th meeting held at 7 PM in the City Council Chambers, will review refined designs for the park's overlook structures, pedestrian bridge and maintenance shed. 

Finally, on Thursday, July 21st starting at 7:30 PM in the City Council Chambers, the Recreation and Parks Commission will listen to suggestions from members of the public before making a recommendation on a permanent name for the new Civic Center Park currently known as Palisades Garden Walk.  Results of the written and on-line public surveys will be presented to the Commission and are summarized in the report attached.

 

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