Jeffrey Stanton Santa Monica Pier: A History from 1875 to 1990, Donahue Publishing: Los Angeles, CA, 1990, 1974
Chapter 6: City Owned Pier (1974-1990)
"The city, aware that their newly acquired pier would require money to rehabilitate, hired . . . an outside consultant, Economic Research Associates, to prepare a financial plan . . . . [It was necessary] to bring the Newcomb Pier up to building code requirements.
"The group studied the demographics and spending habits of the 2.4 million yearly visitors and found that 70% were either young people age 12-18 or senior citizens. . . .
" . . . George Gordon* who owned the carousel . . . reopened for business on Oct. 11, 1974. . . .
"On October 18, 1974 Santa Monica unveiled a . . . plan to rehabilitate the pier. . . . In addition, the plan recommended that the city clear the blighted area near the pier by acquiring . . . two run-down apartments and four dilapidated houses in the crime infested area south of the pier.
"Councilman John McCloskey raised doubts . . ." p. 146
"With Nat Trives . . .
"The $1.5 million program for restoring the pier and clearing out the blight around the pier was approved by a 6-1 margin at the following Council meeting. McCloskey remained opposed. The city decided to issue revenue bonds for the two and one half year project, and spend . . . from a federal grant to buy the Seabright and Purser Apartments, breeding grounds for crime.
"The Council's action guaranteed that the quaint, small town character of the pier would be preserved, and that it would not be developed into a grandiose commercial venture. Clo Hoover said, "the plan shows the City Manager really listens and responds to what the city wants." . . .