It’s impossible to ignore the level of development going in downtown Santa Monica. The largest and most significant of which is undoubtedly 710 Broadway, the former site of the Vons supermarket. But rapidly catching up is 1430 Lincoln Blvd, 1527 Lincoln Blvd and 711 Colorado Ave.
And while construction hasn’t started on 601 Colorado yet, the project at 1650 Lincoln Blvd is beginning its reach for the sky, ultimately making this centrally-situated six block area a super-concentrated hotbed of construction.
The presence of a tower crane to the location suggests developer Tishman Speyer is done digging down and plans to set their sights skyward as yet another mixed-use apartment complex begins to slowly take shape.
Situated between the Arroyo apartment building and Mel’s Diner, the finished structure will eventually be a four-floor building, including the ground floor, featuring 98 apartments above 6,071 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and a three-level, subterranean 206-car parking garage.
The new build, designed by KFA Architecture, is described as having a "a layered exterior featuring a white plaster skin enveloping recessed, glazed bays." The website of construction service company Milender White says, "The massing strategy uses natural light and a clearly visible courtyard at the entrance to make the single building seem like two."
As construction on this project ramps up, it will no doubt do nothing to alleviate the daytime congestion on the three block portion of Lincoln Blvd between the 10 freeway entrance/exit, along Broadway up to Santa Monica Blvd.
According to Milender White, 1650 Lincoln Blvd is scheduled to welcome its first tenants in 2025.
scott.snowden@smdp.com
