About 200 apartment units working their way through the City planning pipeline will be up for discussion at Wednesday night’s Planning Commission meeting. NMS Properties, the city’s largest landlord and developer, and its offshoot, WNMS Communities, will present plans for two large mixed-use buildings downtown. Those developments will result in 164 market-rate units, as well as 45 affordable housing units in a senior housing project on Colorado Avenue.
1430 Lincoln
NMS LLC is seeking a Development Agreement to allow the construction of about 100 apartments and ground floor retail at 1430 Lincoln Boulevard. The project consists of a 5-story, 50-foot high building with 5,878 square feet of commercial space and four levels of underground parking, adding up to enough room for nearly 300 cars.
The project requires a Development Agreement because those parking spaces will replace spaces established by a private parking easement at 1337 7th Street. The site is part of a complicated land swap between Santa Monica’s biggest developer and the City – the City is seeking to acquire the 7th street lot to build a new Fire Station No. 1.
The development would have 14 studio apartments, 50 one-bedrooms units, 21 two-bedroom units, and 15 three-bedroom units. In order to reach the City’s affordable housing requirements, NMS is proposing 30 off-site affordable housing units at 711 Colorado Avenue at a senior housing project (more on that below).
The project must achieve a minimum LEED for Homes Platinum certification, according to the staff report. Plans include roof-mounted photovoltaic solar panels that will power common areas. The building will use 15 percent less energy than required by California Energy Code and 30 percent less water than CALGreen baseline standards, according to a staff report.
1325 6th Street
WNMS Properties is seeking a Development Agreement to turn the parking lot at 1325 6th Street into a 6-story mixed-use building with commercial space, 64 apartments and four levels of underground parking (138 spaces). The development would have nine studios, 32 one-bedroom units, 13 two-bedroom units, and 10 three-bedroom units, according to plans from Michael W Folonis Architects.
Renderings from the architect show a modern gray aluminum and glass development with large windows and transparent walkways and decks. Plans call for 4,860 square feet of commercial space.
Affordable housing requirements will be met by constructing fifteen additional units at 711 Colorado Avenue. The senior housing project will include free Wifi and a door-to-door shuttle service that takes residents directly from their unit to medical appointments and other locations around the City. WISE and Healthy Aging will have access to an on-site community room to provide regular office hours and in-person meetings.
The proposed Development Agreement for the project includes a LEED Platinum certification, transportation demand benefits, eclectic vehicle charging stations and rooftop panels.
Electric Vehicle Charging
The Planning Commission will also hear a report on the City’s Electric Vehicle Action Plan (EVAP), which aims to develop new initiatives to encourage electric car ownership in Santa Monica. Right now electric and hybrid cars represent about three percent of all vehicles in Santa Monica.
The EVAP program would expand and modernize charging infrastructure throughout the city. It also aims to increase EV Charging capability in apartment complexes and workplaces by streamlining the permitting process and developing a rebate program to help property owners install chargers. The city will also explore a nighttime parking program to promote overnight charging at public facilities.
Staff estimates the EV Action Plan will cost about $2 million in infrastructure costs over five years.
Planning Commission meets Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 1685 Main St.
kate@www.smdp.com
