SR-506-000-01
EPWM:CP:AA:RS s:\sp1825\cc1825.wpd
Council Meeting: February 8,2000
Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Adopt a Resolution of Intention to Change the
Names of Three Streets: 1) the 1900 Block of Ocean Avenue to Ocean
Way; 2) The Promenade to Ocean Front Walk; and 3) Autoway to
Pacific Terrace and Set a Public Hearing for March 28, 2000
Introduction
This report recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution of intention to change
three street names: 1) Ocean Avenue, one block south of Appian Way, to Ocean Way,
2) The Promenade to Ocean Front Walk, and 3) the unnamed autoway which extends
between Appian Way and Ocean Avenue north of Loew's Hotel to Pacific Terrace.
These name changes are to eliminate duplication and potential confusion. The
attached Resolution declares the City Council=s intention to change the street names
and sets a public hearing for March 28, 2000 to hear protests and implement the
changes.
Backqround
Ocean Wav
Over the years, the one block stretch of Ocean Avenue from Pico Boulevard to Bay
Street has been referred to by different names. In the 1950s it was called Appian; in
1964 it was called Ocean Avenue; in the 1980s and 1990s it was called Ocean Front
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Walk. Most recently, it has been referred to as Ocean Avenue again. The current
street name is a duplication of the more well-known Ocean Avenue just east of it, which
also contains 1900 block address numbers. Ocean Avenue on the east angles
southwestward to Bicknell Avenue and continues south another three blocks (see
Exhibit A). The impetus for the street name change came from the Police who weren't
certain where to dispatch Police units when calls were for Ocean Avenue.
Ocean Front Walk
The nomenclature of the public walkway along the beachfront also leads to confusion.
The Los Angeles County Assessor's Office identifies the entire length of the walkway as
The Promenade. However, certain residents just south of the Santa Monica Pier have
begun using Ocean Front Walk as the street address. The Postmaster considers it an
"alias" and delivers mail to Ocean Front Walk residents. Furthermore, in 1989 3rd
Street was reconstructed and this popular commercial street was renamed the Third
Street Promenade. Now, when someone refers to "the Promenade" it is unclear which
Promenade is meant. During the design process for the Beach Improvement Group
(B.I.G.) Project, the City Council directed staff to address renaming The Promenade to
eliminate this confusion and to establish a single identity for the walkway.
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Pacific Terrace
The unnamed autoway extending between Appian Way and Ocean Avenue at the north
side of Loew's Hotel was originally developed as an alley. As a part of the
development of Loew's Hotel complex that alley was widened and reconstructed to
include sidewalks and street lighting. It now serves as a full street and needs to be
identified as such.
Discussion
Several new names were proposed for Ocean Avenue. There are only two property
owners whose addresses are on this street, Casa del Mar Hotel and the apartment
building at 1915 Ocean Avenue. Both business owners preferred keeping "ocean" in
the street name because their businesses are marketed as being at the ocean. For
many years the street sign on that street said Ocean Front Walk. Staff recommends
changing the street name to Ocean Way to retain the "ocean" reference point. The
police and neighbors are comfortable with this name. For The Promenade, staff
recommends renaming the stretch of public walkway to Ocean Front Walk for continuity
and clarity. Staff further recommends naming the unnamed autoway as Pacific
Terrace because it closely aligns with Pacific Terrace west of Appian Way. In the
interest of continuity and clarity, an existing street name should be used.
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To implement these changes, City Council must declare its intention to change the
names by resolution, set a public hearing to hear comments, and direct staff to
implement the changes by another resolution at the public hearing.
Budqet/Financiallmoact
While there are some costs associated with a street name change - new street signs
made and installed, changes in the GIS maps - they are estimated to be under $5,000
and can be absorbed in the affected division's operating budgets.
Recom mendation
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a Resolution of Intention to change the
name of the 1900 block of Ocean Avenue to Ocean Way, change the beach walkway=s
name from The Promenade to Ocean Front Walk, and name the unnamed autoway
north of Loew's Hotel as Pacific Terrace, and set a public hearing to hear comments for
March 28, 2000.
Attachment: Resolution of Intention
Exhibit A: Street Map
Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director, Environment and Public Works Mgmt
Anthony Antich, P.E., City Engineer
Barbara Stinchfield, Director, Community and Cultural Services
Ruta Skirius, Senior Administrative Analyst
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