SMCLC Urges Residents to Attend 2/21 Miramar Hotel Open House to View Latest Development Plan and Ask Questions

February 18, 2013

Dear Friends of SMCLC,

The proposed Miramar Hotel "renovation" on Ocean and Wilshire, is more accurately described as a demolition/redevelopment project to construct a massive hotel, condo towers, and stores on the site.  The project is strongly opposed by its surrounding neighbors, and by Santa Monica residents concerned about the significant adverse impacts this development would bring to our downtown.  (The last proposal we have seen was 556,000 square feet with 10 and 12 story buildings for a new hotel, stores, and condos -- more square footage than Santa Monica Place!)

SMCLC understands the Miramar is about to launch a major PR campaign in support of its current vision of the project - including a mass mailing to residents and businesses and perhaps a survey.

To launch its effort, the Miramar is holding an Open House this Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m. to unveil its latest thinking about the site.  We haven't seen the plans and don't know if there are significant changes as opposed to simply moving the mass and height around on the site.

We think it's extremely important that as many residents as possible drop by between 3 and 9 p.m. to see the plans and ask questions that you have.  We want to ensure that all sides of the community are represented in this process, and we don't know how many of you have been invited to this event. We are ALL stakeholders in what will likely be one of the largest project Development Agreements in the coming years, and it's impossible to ask questions directly of the developer at Planning Commission and City Council hearings so now's our chance!  And what we learn can help us in shaping the environmental review process too.

Here's the Miramar announcement (note they are asking for RSVP's).  Please forward this on to anyone you think would be interested in going:

"For several years the owners of the Miramar Hotel have been working on a plan to restore the 86-year old hotel to its rightful place as one of the finest coastal resorts in California.  We have reached out to over a thousand Santa Monica residents, businesses and stakeholders for input and comments on the future of the hotel.  Our preliminary plans were also the subject of extensive public hearings before the Planning Commission and the City Council last year.  The input received was enormously helpful, and provided invaluable guidance.

The City is about to begin a comprehensive environmental impact report (EIR) for our proposed project, which has evolved significantly in accordance with the City's [sic] Council's direction.  In anticipation of this proces, I would like to invite you to an open house where our neighbors will have the opportunity to learn more about our progress.  The open house wil take place on February 21 from 3:00-9:00 pm in the Ocean Meeting Rooms located in the lower level of the hotel.  Please RSVP to Joani Gibbs at (310) 899-4181 or jgibbs@athensdevco.com."


Thanks and hope to see you there, 

Diana Gordon for SMCLC