1902 Stanton 1998

Jeffrey Stanton Founding of Ocean Park, Web Document, April 6, 1998, 1904, 1903, 1902, 1902, 1900s

     ". . . Despite political connections, municipal assistance for their resort produced few results and city services were lacking. When Dudley finally sold his half interest in the resort in February 1902 for $400,000, it was a clear indication that Santa Monica's business establishment feared that Kinney's resort would draw tourist dollars from their North Beach resort, and that it would not support Kinney's plan to compete against Sherman and Clark's Los Angeles Pacific trolley service.

     "Kinney's three new partners, Alexander Fraser, Henry Gage and George Meritt Jones immediately invested in improvements. Their plans included installing a sewer system for the community, extending the beach walkway to the extreme end of their tract, developing the residential tract immediately south of Rose Avenue, and constructing a large bathhouse. Unfortunately Kinney didn't get along with them, probably because they refused to support any of his projects. First they weren't willing to make enemies of powerful rival businessmen by supporting Kinney's rival trolley company. Secondly they were more interested in their money losing Casino (restaurant and vaudeville theater) that they built beside the pier. Thirdly, they disagreed on how the wetlands on the southern portion of their land should be developed."

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 Kelyn Roberts 2017