Dear Editor,

The Santa Monica City Council approved funding at their June 10 meeting for consultants to begin work with the community, and the Planning Department, in an effort to improve Lincoln Blvd. south of the freeway.

The Lincoln Boulevard Task Force (LBTF), comprised of residents from Ocean Park, Sunset Park, and the Pico Neighborhood, have been working together for the past 2 1/2 years, formulating a strategic approach and establishing design criteria, that expresses the residents positions on how best to transition this auto dominated thruway to, as the LUCE states, “Lincoln Boulevard transitions slowly from an auto-dominated boulevard to a pedestrian-oriented boulevard servicing the adjacent neighborhoods.”

We look forward to the exciting possibilities we are about to embark on with the Lincoln Neighborhood Corridor Plan (LiNC).

Per the LUCE and the Zoning Ordinance Update (ZOU), we will be working to reduce the number of auto-dominated businesses instead of adding more auto services and dealerships to what is already known as ‘Stinkin’ Lincoln’; and encouraging the formation of a business improvement district (BID); adding new landscaping and trees to soften the street edges; addressing the difficult issue of bikes and proprietary bus lanes on Lincoln, adding new safe crosswalks, and encouraging a Facade Improvement Program, possibly with grants that would assist owners in updating their street facing frontages.

We see Lincoln as the ‘front door’ to Santa Monica from all points to the south, including visitors that come from all over the world via LAX, and whose first view of our city is along what we mostly see at this time as ‘Stink’n Lincoln’. Our city deserves to present a better face, as we think of ourselves as a leader in environmental issues, and as a ‘sustainable city’ the last thing we should be presenting, as a first impression, is an auto dominated series of dealerships and repair shops.

We are excited to have been a part of preparing for this moment, and are energized as we are about to begin this very important formal design process. This effort will ultimately result in an inviting entry to Santa Monica, with a new landscaped and pedestrian activated streetscape, with small neighborhood serving, independent and creative storefronts and businesses.

Bob Taylor, A.I.A.

Chair LBTF Zoning Sub-Committee Ocean Park

Roger Swanson

Chair, LBTF Ocean Park

Gloria Garvin, PhD

LBTF Pico Neighborhood Association

Zina Josephs

Sunset Park Resident