1981 Pirie, Kastner, and Mudrick1983

Jenny Pirie, Peter Kastner and Jeff Mudrick A Short History of Ocean Park, Ocean Park Community Organization, 1982, (With a 1983 update.) 15 pp. 1983, 1982, 1981

     "In 1981, the threat of the Ocean Park Redevelopment Project was revived with a plan to build luxury condos on the public golf course on Neilson Way.

     "Hundreds of residents were mobilized in an attempt to stop the plan, but the fate of that property had been decided years earlier by a previous City Council - before a community organiztion had been built that was strong enough to resist the pressure of the real estate developers. The condos could not be stopped.

     "Still, Ocean Park residents did demand, and win, several changes in the project: it was to provide some affordable housing (replacing a few of the units demolished in the 1960's); the height of the project was to be substantially lower, and a view corridor to the ocean would be maintained.

     "That year, neighbors demanded that the Ornyte Chemical Company stop polluting the air near Santa Monica High School with dangerous chemicals. As a result of community efforts, Ornyte Chemicals is relocating to an industrial area.

     "Late in 1981, OPCO added Project "Crime Stop" to its activities, providing free locks to people with low and moderate incomes.

     "That fall, it became clear that people wanted to take more initiative in deciding the kind of development that would take place in Ocean Park, rather than just fight defensive battles against real estate developers. With this is mind, at their Third Community Congress, OPCO called for the establishment of a "community development corporation" (CDC) - a corporation created and controlled by residents to meet development needs that would otherwise go unmet, i.e. affordable housing and service- oriented businesses.

     ". . .

     ". . . In the summer of 1981, seniors living in the Ocean House board-and-care facility were evicted by the building's owners, despite a court restraining order, and the attempts of the City's Rent Control Board to prevent the evictions. When the developers stated their intention of putting a luxury hotel in the building, people living in the area took action and called on OPCO for help. In the face of strong neighborhood opposition, the developeers agreed to drop their plans for a hotel, and to restore the senior facility in Ocean House."

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 Kelyn Roberts 2017