Bulldog Buzz Category: Industry/Utility
Coastal Commission Denial of Short Term Rentals Looks Bad for Santa Monica
Last week, a California Court of Appeal ruled that per the California Coastal Act, a homeowner’s association cannot bar its residents from making their homes available as short term rentals. Jeremy Talcott, Staff Attorney for the Pacific Legal Foundation, writes in the Daily Journal that perhaps the California Coastal Commission is going too far in… READ MORE
Santa Monica Conservancy to Host Fundraiser at Historic Craftsman Bungalow
Santa Monica Mirror — The 1912 aeroplane Craftsman bungalow in Santa Monica will be on display at the Santa Monica Conservancy‘s Annual Fundraising Salon on Sunday, June 10, from 3-5 pm. Exquisitely restored, this landmark north of Montana Avenue is a rare variant of Craftsman design in Santa Monica, featuring a small second story that… READ MORE
Ocean Park Residents – Beware of Catalytic Converter Thefts
The Santa Monica Police Department is advising residents to protect their cars from a rise in catalytic converter thefts. Catalytic converters contain precious metals and can be stolen in minutes with the help of power saws. Thieves are targeting popular models such as the Toyota Prius, Honda RAV-4, Toyota Camry and other SUVs. Park your… READ MORE
As Retailers Exit the Promenade, Tech Companies Convert Empty Spaces into Office Suites
Bisnow — For years, the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, the heart of Silicon Beach, has been a shopping and dining destination. But times in the outdoor pedestrian mall are changing. As tech companies continue to pour into Silicon Beach, some of the retail storefronts that lined the area are becoming creative office suites…. READ MORE
Is Santa Monica-style rent control coming back? Depends on whom you ask
The Real Deal Los Angeles — Affordable housing advocates in Los Angeles said they have enough signatures for a ballot referendum in hopes of overturning state-level rent control restrictions. The news came on Monday during a press conference in front of City Hall, joined by Mayor Eric Garcetti and Councilmember Mike Bonin. The group needs… READ MORE
Snapchat’s Venice Properties Hit the Market
The Real Deal Los Angeles — A mixed-use portfolio comprised of 10 buildings, or 22,200 square feet, is now on the market for $79.5 million. Snap leases two of the four oceanfront properties, Bisnow reported. Snap is in the process of moving out of Venice and into Santa Monica. The messaging service now occupies its… READ MORE
Is High-End CIM Group Planning a New West Adams Boutique Hotel?
Curbed LA — Busy developer CIM Group might be behind a proposed 43-room hotel in West Adams. The plans, filed with the city planning department earlier this year and discussed by the West Adams Neighborhood Council this week, call for a three-story hotel and a ground-floor restaurant with a bar to rise at 5170 West… READ MORE
First Look at Proposed Mixed-Use Development in West Adams
Curbed Los Angeles — A major project planned for a West Adams property has been mostly a mystery since it was first proposed in 2015. Now, we’re getting our first good look at what could be in store for the site at La Cienega and Jefferson boulevards. Renderings on the website for project developer Carmel… READ MORE
As Snapchat moves to Santa Monica, more than half its Venice space up for lease
LA Times – When Snapchat was housed in a sky blue beachfront bungalow on the Venice boardwalk, fans of the fledgling disappearing-video app used to take selfies in front of the company’s now famous ghost logo. Evan Spiegel, the company’s founder and chief executive, could walk out onto the promenade, talk to his users, and… READ MORE
Local Real Estate Agents Leaving Startup Brokerage Compass After Months
The Real Deal – Despite its $1 billion valuation, startup brokerage Compass is having trouble retaining some of its Los Angeles-based recruits. The firm took the L.A. scene by storm when it launched in 2015, poaching some of the West Coast’s top talent, but it has now seen a crop of recent hires return to… READ MORE
Looking to add a backyard studio? This tool can help.
Curbed Los Angeles — New state rules have made it easier for California homeowners to add accessory dwelling units (otherwise known as back houses or granny flats) to their properties. But many interested homeowners don’t know where to start. Local prefab company Cover has built a new tool that tells LA homeowners what, exactly, they… READ MORE
The City of Angels Beats London as the New Hot Spot for Global Real Estate Investors
Forbes – And the best city in the world to invest in real estate is…Los Angeles. The City of Angels beat out London as the new hot spot for global real estate investors in the third annual Schroders Global Cities 30 Index. Schroders is a London-based investment bank. Los Angeles is home to the well-respected colleges… READ MORE
Zillow hears your ‘Zestimate’ complaints: it’s offering a $1 million prize for a better algorithm
MarketWatch – Zillow is offering a $1 million award to the “person or team who can most improve the Zestimate algorithm.” The announcement of the contest comes one week after Zillow was slapped with a class-action lawsuit over its proprietary home-price tool. The algorithm in question is meant to serve as a starting point in helping people… READ MORE
What Salary Do You Need to Afford a Home in LA? Nearly $100,000, As It Turns Out
Curbed LA—A typical median-priced home in Los Angeles County out of reach for the vast majority of residents, according to a new analysis from the California Association of Realtors. According to the data, just 29 percent of potential homebuyers can afford a property at county’s median price of $485,800. At that price point, a nearly six-figure household… READ MORE
