Illustrative
Concept Three, with open space in the area north of Olympic Drive, is
recommended as follows:
1.
After approval of the Specific Plan, community participation should be a
principal element in the design of the parks.
In particular, community participation should be engaged to help
define a vision for the special open space on Ocean Avenue, north of
Olympic Drive. An arboretum
or botanical garden should be one of the ideas considered for this area.
Only buildings that are an integral part of the open space should
be permitted in this area north of Olympic Drive.
Other park spaces should include open areas for informal games and
dispersed small recreational amenities, such as half-courts in the Civic
Auditorium Park. However,
playfields for large groups or organized sports should not be allowed.
2.
The design of the housing should be highly articulated, minimizing its
mass and scale while achieving 300 units in total.
A minimum of 160 units should be affordable to very low- and
low-income households. Provide
opportunities for the remaining units to respond to future conditions and
to include a diverse mix of incomes.
Consideration should be given to the inclusion of live-work
housing.
3.
After approval of the Specific Plan, public input should be solicited in
the design of all buildings in the area.
4.
Civic Center employees and residents should have priority for subsidies at
the early childhood education and development facility.
5.
Olympic Drive west of 2nd Street should be designed in a way to calm
traffic. Consideration should
be given to using turning-movement restrictions to reduce cut-through
traffic, if speed and congestion become problematic.
6.
The location of the City Services Building is conceptually approved.
Special attention should be given to massing and integration of the
new building into the surrounding context.
7.
The programming and rehabilitation/expansion of the Civic Auditorium
should focus on community and cultural uses, including the visual and
performing arts.
8.
An invitation should be made to Santa Monica College to locate their
proposed 500-seat theater at the southwest corner of Fourth Street and
Civic Center Drive (one Working Group member opposed this item).
9.
Consideration of commemorations should occur as part of the park planning
process. Consider
opportunities such as street, building or park names.