An office building in the heart of Santa Monica that was once home to the Santa Monica Daily Press could become 132 units of housing.
Developer Lincoln Property Company has proposed an eight-story residential development to replace the building formerly known as the Comma Building at 1640 5th Street, the Santa Monica Daily Press reported.
The Santa Monica-based publication had an office in the building, across the street from the Annenberg Access Center homeless shelter, for more than a decade before 1640 5th Street closed last year.
The Santa Monica Architectural Review Board will soon vote on Lincoln’s plans, which include 117 market-rate apartments and 15 affordable units. Residents would have three levels of subterranean parking.
With a planned building height of 87 feet, the project would need approval to use California’s state density bonus program to receive incentives. The 112,302-square-foot development would be built on a 22,885-square-foot boot-shaped site, similar to the former Comma Building.
The developer opted for a single building after originally planning to buy and incorporate the neighboring building and include services for Santa Monica’s homeless population. The area has been crime ridden recently with attempted murders, stabbings and arson as well as drug overdoses, according to the Daily Press.
Members of the architectural review board criticized the original design for having “too many different vocabularies” and not enough corner elements or strong building materials. Applicant Justin Cua of Lincoln Property then redesigned the southeast corner and replaced the fiber cement board with brick on the lower floors and wrapped metal siding around the building’s protruding portion.
The building would have an eighth-floor roof deck with a pool, barbecue areas and ocean views. It wouldn’t necessarily tower over its neighbors either, as the height would be comparable to six-story buildings on nearby Colorado Avenue. Because the building would rise next to I-10 the Daily Press reported the south-facing side would not have balconies or operable windows due to air-quality concerns.
The approval process for the building has been expedited thanks to Senate Bill 330, which makes it easier for developers to get the green light on housing projects and prevents municipalities like Santa Monica from limiting or downgrading zoning. Lincoln Property submitted a preliminary application in May of 2024 and received approval in September.
Santa Monica’s Architectural Review Board will meet June 9 to consider moving the project forward.