The city is documenting multiple violations at 413 Ocean Ave. that are prompting eviction, relocation and stop-business orders as the county's halted housing plan undergoes a broader review
According to a recent social media post from Mayor Lana Negrete, Santa Monica officials said a problem property on Ocean Avenue at the center of a now-defunct housing project in the county was found to be unsafe and allowed to operate without proper permits.
City inspectors from construction and safety, code enforcement, fire protection and housing conducted a comprehensive inspection of 413 Ocean Ave. Friday. after the community complained about the condition and use of the site. The inspection found that the building “is not in good condition and is not ready for residential use,” Negrete said in a statement posted on Facebook.
City officials documented several violations that supported an existing eviction notice. Site staff told inspectors they were unaware the facility was unlicensed and operating without required permits. While some residents had been relocated to Sherman Oaks, more than 30 people remained inside at the time of the inspection, Negrete said.
Negrete said the operator planned to house about 58 people — two per room — and described the site as a sober living program. Inspectors also learned that the operator appears to be managing the property through multiple legal entities and suspected a similar setup may be in place for a second building at 825 Ocean Ave. was planned.
The City of Santa Monica plans to send follow-up letters to the property owner, developer and operator on Monday outlining required compliance with the eviction notice, relocation requirements, updated citations and full identification of the site's actual use. The letters also instruct the operator to cease all activities until permits, licenses and a certificate of use are received.
“These are not accusations — these are the city’s documented findings,” Negrete said, adding that their priority is to ensure vulnerable people are not “put into unsafe, unlicensed spaces.”
The update comes weeks after Los Angeles County Administrator Lindsey P. Horvath announced the termination of two planned transitional housing projects on Ocean Ave. 413 and 825 on the grounds that community trust has collapsed and planning is not transparent. The projects, intended to provide beds for people experiencing homelessness and behavioral health problems, drew increasing criticism from residents and city leaders — including Negrete — because of limited outreach.
Horvath has directed county officials and the city to identify new, compliant locations for services originally planned for Ocean Avenue.
“People deserve dignity, stability and real oversight,” Negrete said. “Policy reforms are already underway to prevent something like this from happening again.”