Coastal Commission Approves Office Building on Abandoned Flamingo Motel Site

By Jorge Casuso

Thursday, July 15 -- The California Coastal Commission on Tuesday approved the demolition of the long-abandoned Flamingo Motel, which has sat vacant for a decade, and gave the go-ahead for the construction of a four-story office building on the prime site near the beach.

The two-year permit for the property on Ocean Avenue across the street from the Loews Hotel was granted at a meeting in San Rafael after neighbors failed to delay the vote until the commission meets next month in Santa Monica.

The property - which is part of the Civic Center Specific Plan -- has been put up for sale by Maguire Partners, which holds a long-term ground lease from the owners, the Artis Trust.

"The Coastal Commission permit expired a few years back," said attorney Chris Harding, who represents Maguire Partners on the proposed project. "But given the severe recession and the uncertainty of the Civic Center Plan, they chose to wait.

"Maguire Partners is interested in developing the site," Harding said. "There are dramatically improved market conditions."

The two-year Coastal Commission permit allows Maguire Partners to develop a 78,321-square-foot office building no taller than 56 feet with 267 underground parking spaces. The commission added a special condition requiring that 159 of the spaces be available for public parking during weekends, holidays and after 5 p.m.on weekdays

The lease holders already have a development agreement with the city for a 68,400 square-foot structure with retail and restaurant space on the bottom floor, but they must pull a building permit by Dec. 31, planning officials said.

"At this point in time, Maguire has all the city approvals except for the Architectural Review Board," said planning director Suzanne Frick. "But they have to pull permits."

Harding said the company plans to pull the permits before the deadline. "We have sufficient time to do that," he said

Some city officials and nearby residents oppose the project, saying it was a mistake to approve the development in 1990 and extend the agreement in 1995.

"I certainly hope this project would not go forward," said Councilman Ken Genser, who voted against both council approvals.

"The argument could be made that building an office building and restaurant with underground parking is not the best use of a scarce coastal resource," said Councilman Kevin McKeown.

Some neighbors agree.

"In this case, the coastal commission process has failed the public," said Ellen Brennan, a neighborhood activist who lives near the pier. "To allow an office building to be built on that stretch of Ocean Avenue just seems a very poor use of precious coastal resources."

Under the agreement with the city, Maguire Partners must pay more than $640,000 for an affordable lodging mitigation fee. The fee, based on the 81 motel rooms lost when the Flamingo is demolished, is required by both the city and coastal commission. The company also must pay $250,000 to a special improvement fund for projects that are part of the Civic Center Specific Plan.