Council OKs Funds to Demolish Sea Castle
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Devastated by fire and earthquake, the historic Santa Monica Sea Castle apartment building is a safety hazard and must be torn down as soon as possible, city officials said Tuesday.
The Santa Monica City Council approved spending more than $692,000 to demolish the eight-story Sea Castle after determining that the building is in danger of collapsing.
The owner, Sea Castle Apartments Ltd., failed to get a demolition permit despite an order by the city to remove the 178-unit building, left vacant and “red-tagged” after the 1994 Northridge earthquake and then further damaged in a huge fire last month.
City officials say it is now up to them to tear down the building, as the Sea Castle poses an “imminent threat to the public,” is structurally unsound, poses a continued fire risk and contains asbestos.
Peter B. Gelblum, attorney for the owners, said they agree the 1929 landmark structure must be removed, but have been unable to get a loan for the demolition.
City Atty. Marsha Jones Moutrie said the city intends to recover the $692,353 with a lien on the property.
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