1976 Stanton 1990

Jeffrey Stanton Santa Monica Pier: A History from 1875 to 1990, Donahue Publishing: Los Angeles, CA, 1990, 1976

Chapter 6: City Owned Pier (1974-1990) 

     " . . . Community Development Grant . . . Gehry's* plans . . . for the face lift were approved in September . . . for a wooden boardwalk between the carousel building and Moby's Dock restaurant, new stairs on both the north and south side of the pier for easier beach access, forty new benches, and additional pier lighting. . . . Work began in January 1976, and the project was completed by June. . . ." p. 148

     "McClosky opposed using the Community Development Grant for pier repairs rather than housing for the elderly. "The pier," he said, "is no historic monument and besides it carries no fire insurance." Mayor Nat Trives said the pier fell in the category of recreation for low and moderate income persons . . .

     "After federal funds were officially granted in June, a group of residents challenged their use by mounting a letter wriing campaign to HUD officials . . . City grants coordinator, Martha Brown Hicks . . .

      "The city's Landmark's Commission in 1976, after studying the pier's history, declared the pier a historic landmark. The commissioners did so primarily to control changes on the pier. Landmark status meant that the city was required to apply to its Landmark Commission for certificates of appropriateness to make alterations."

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 Kelyn Roberts 2017