Are there any KSMO residents on the forum who are active in this fight?... Santa Monica Airport Voters Decide Beautiful airport in a fantastic location. It would be a shame to lose it.
I wish them luck. SM is the epicenter of socialist thinking in So Cal. In many ways it is worse than Berkeley.
not only beautiful and in a great location, but a very historic airport to SoCal, the aviation industry, WWII, etc etc....
The initiative is meaningless. The airport took Federal money, and no one can shut it down for the time limit that is involved. I think it's ok until 2030, or so. Art
The same thing happened here in Seattle when the local politicians made sure that Sand Point Naval Air Station was shut down and turned into a "developed" property. Sand Point was historically significant as the starting point for the round the world flight with the Army Air Service and the Douglas DWC's. It was also a functioning airport and could have had significantly reduced congestion at the other airports in the area. However, the well healed residents in the area didn't want the noise from " affluent sportsmen flying their little airplanes around", and they managed to kill it. The oldest airport in the country, College Park, Md. also came close to being bulldozed over until sane heads stopped it. The Wright Brothers opened it in 1908, I believe.
I hope your right. The issue is the determination level of the city fathers. Remember Meigs Field and the criminal Daley.
This fight seems to be the opposite of socialist thinking, though yes I do understand the "Republic of Santa Monica" meme. Big money interests appear to be ready to move in to develop the property and the city seems poised and ready to help them to it.
I know the City lost that fight in court, but I wonder if that's enough to stop the bulldozers, as Dmark1 mentions above. How long will the developers wait, and is it worth it to them all to commit the crime then beg forgiveness? Would anyone go to jail?
And I'll bet there are all kinds of statues, plaques, pictures, and street names commemorating the historic property it was before the wheels of progress obliterated it...
And lawsuits like this one aren't helping. The case against the airport won't get too far, but it's all about perception... Parents of young woman killed at Santa Monica Airport take legal action - westsidetoday.com
When there is money at stake politicians can't help themselves no matter their phony stated beliefs. I wonder how many of the city fathers wives are going to get South Beach condos out of the deal? I hate to sound cynical but hell, they're politicians and we all know the only thing worse is a child molester.
that's the funny part of the whole thing...the redevelopment plan approved by the city of SaMo is for high density low and middle income housing. so it won't add a ton of property tax revenue, will reduce/remove sales tax revenue, create a massive traffic problem (500 or so people use the airport daily now, there will be 10x that many cars in the area if it's housing), and create a drain on police/fire/EMS. classic liberal do-gooderism.
Do you see a developer sticking to that plan? They may drop some high density low and middle income housing into the basement, but those views won't go to people who can't afford them. I say this with dripping sarcasm and more than a grain of truth... The traffic around there is bad enough as it is. I can't see Bundy-Centinela handling more traffic than it already does. Maybe they'll elevate 23rd street above the existing homes and make it six lanes wide.
that will be the billion dollar question....SaMo is notorious for being sticklers about zoning, permitting, etc. they've also been on a big low(er) income housing kick, in conjunction with the EXPO light rail extension. but you are correct, the potential for massively expensive homes/condos with amazing ocean views does exist, and they'd be stupid to not exploit that.
