Ocean ave. mental health facility cancelled after backlash
The Santa Monica Behavioral Health Wellness Center, a non-profit planned to open early in November, was to replace senior housing on the four hundred block of Ocean Avenue. Developed by St. Joseph Center, the project was supposed to act as transitional housing for people facing problems concerning mental health and homelessness.
On Oct. 27, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath announced the termination of the project altogether. The lack of community awareness, coupled with the concerns of safety, prompted the county supervisor to proceed in a way that would maintain the trust between the community and county.
Upon its announcement, the project faced severe backlash from different parts of the Santa Monica community.
One of the primary concerns from the community was the lack of transparency from the city and county. Santa Monica resident Matt Goldenberg explains that this lack of transparency had led to a struggle with trust between the community and the city, and the need for a plan that people could understand.
“I was surprised because it sounded like there hadn’t been the normal public disclosure that we would’ve expected,” Goldenberg said.
The project was planned to be located in one of Santa Monica’s most exclusive neighborhoods. Its location would be in proximity to elementary schools, as well as Palisades Park, an area where residents and children frequent. This aspect of the project, along with the potential open-door policy, also raised concerns of safety.
Samo student Andie Ernst (’28) explained how the project’s location could pose potential safety risks.
“Considering I live close to Ocean Ave., I think the project would bring more homeless people to the area and make me feel unsafe,” Ernst said.
On Oct. 14, Horvath announced a ‘pause’ on the project. Horvath and the St. Joseph center decided to hold off on proceeding with plans after receiving complaints from the community due to the lack of input.
“The county had been planning this for months and didn’t communicate with the neighborhood until two weeks before it was planned to open, and so the question became why, if this was going to be such a successful and wonderful program, why wouldn’t you disclose that early?” Goldenberg said.
Another institute run by the St. Joseph Center, The Manor, located on Pico Blvd., has drawn similar concerns. It is said to have frequent police visits and screaming, causing residents to avoid walking near the site. To help address concerns, the St. Joseph Center maintains a hotline for people to contact if they have any questions.
Samo Student Sadie Gryczman (’26), president of Student Wellness Advisory Group (SWAG), explained how the opening of this initiative could have benefited the community.
“Mental health is a very prevalent issue, and giving these opportunities to people with mental health issues is really important. It's creating a safe space where people can get the care they need to build some stability,” Gryczman said.
This project was developed by the St. Joseph Center, in collaboration with the property owner, Leo Pustilnikov. Serving as a former senior housing development, Pustilnikov offered the space to the Center in 2004. It only received permits from the county as of early October, as well as sufficient funding from grants. The project was being funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health under Prop 1.
In terminating the project, Horvath has decided to work with the St. Joseph Center to look for alternative locations that would be better suited to the project, while preserving the relationship between the county and the Santa Monica community. Horvath shared her thoughts on the situation in a statement to the Santa Monica Daily Press.
“When a project moves forward without community awareness, it erodes trust. In this case, that trust has been broken, and the community is right to be frustrated," Horvath said.
Louis Rotgin / The Samohi
Planned site for the Santa Monica Behavioral Wellness Center on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica.