In what I expect will be a mixed reaction by residents, along with several dozen other streets, Montana Avenue is about to see a speed limit reduction to 25 MPH. With an upsetting number of pedestrian vs car collisions, most feel this change is long overdue.

In late August, the Santa Monica City Council held a meeting in which members unanimously voted to lower speed limits on 29 streets and to slightly increase the limit on just one 0.3-mile stretch (the California Incline will now be 30 MPH). A final vote this week is expected to solidify the new limits and they are set to take effect in just 30 days - lighting speed for Santa Monica elected officials! 

The change comes after recent state legislation granting cities greater flexibility in how to set speed limits after decades of a rigid state standard that was, theoretically, intended to prevent cities  creating artificial “speed traps”. The old law effectively restricted cities from lowering limits in places where 15% of the drivers were already speeding. 

For more information, read the state’s guidelines on setting speed limits.

In addition to Montana Avenue’s new limit of 25 MPH, 11th Street, 14th Street and 26th Street will all see reductions from 30 to 25 MPH.

Here is the full list of changes expected to take effect in October:

Reduction to 35 mph 

• Olympic Boulevard between 11th Street and Centinela Avenue – from 40 to 35 mph 

Reduction to 30 mph 

• Lincoln Boulevard between I-10 Freeway and Pico Boulevard – from 35 to 30 mph 

• Ocean Park Boulevard between 23rd Street and Centinela Avenue – from 35 to 30 mph 

• Pico Boulevard between Lincoln Boulevard and Centinela Avenue – from 35 to 30 mph 

Reduction to 25 mph 

• 2nd Street between Wilshire Boulevard and Colorado Avenue — from 30 to 25 mph 

• 4th Street between Colorado Avenue and Pico Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph 

• 11th Street between San Vicente Boulevard and Marine Street — from 30 to 25 mph 

• 14th Street between San Vicente Boulevard and Ashland Avenue —  from 30 to 25 mph 

• 20th Street between Wilshire and Pico boulevards — from 30 to 25 mph 

• 26th Street between San Vicente and Cloverfield boulevards – from 30 to 25 mph 

• Colorado Avenue between Ocean Avenue and 17th Street — from 30 to 25 mph 

• Dewey Street between Robson Avenue and 23rd Street — from 30 to 25 mph 

• Main Street between Colorado Avenue and Pico Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph 

• Marine Street between Lincoln Boulevard and 17th Street — from 30 to 25 mph 

• Montana Avenue between Ocean Avenue and Stanford Street — from 30 to 25 mph 

• Neilson Way between Pico Boulevard and Marine Street — from 30 to 25 mph 

• Ocean Avenue between the north city limit and Pico Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph 

• Ocean Park Boulevard between Barnard Way and 23rd Street — from 30 to 25 mph 

• Pico Boulevard between Appian Way and Lincoln Boulevard — from 35 to 25 mph 

• Stewart Street between Colorado Avenue and Pico Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph 

• Wilshire Boulevard between Ocean Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph 

Reduction to 20 mph 

• 6th Street between Pico Boulevard and Pier Avenue — from 30 to 20 mph 

• 20th Street between Pico and Ocean Park boulevards — from 25 to 20 mph 

• Appian Way between Pacific Coast Highway and Bay Street — from 25 to 20 mph 

• Ashland Avenue between Neilson Way and Lincoln Boulevard — from 25  to 20 mph 

• Barnard Way between Hollister Avenue and Neilson Way — from 25 to 20 mph 

• California Avenue between Ocean Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard — from 25 to 20 mph 

• Michigan Avenue between Lincoln Boulevard and 19th Street — from 25 to 20 mph 

• Washington Avenue between Ocean Avenue and Stanford Street — from 25 to 20 mph 

Increase to 30 MPH 

• California Avenue between Pacific Coast Highway and Ocean Avenue (the California Incline) — from 25 to 30 mph 
  

What say you? Are you in favor or against slower speeds? 

In other 90402 Real Estate news….

There are now 29 Active listings in 90402. That is a 30% increase since last week’s update!

447 9th Street – Listed for $3,499,000. Very charming 1930’s Spanish, priced near lot value. Looks clean and livable, and I expect it will quickly be under contract. 

615 23rd Street – Listed for $14,995,000. This 7,000 sqft Architectural is still under construction with expected completion before the end of the year. It features a rooftop deck, elevator, pool and 2-story, 1,000 sqft ADU on a 8,700 sqft lot. The lot was purchased in 2021 for $3,430,000.

635 20 Street – Listed for $7,495,000. Originally built in the 1920’s and extensively remodeled. Great curb-appeal, over 5,100 sqft with a pool on a 60’ wide lot. Pence Hathorn Silver has sold his home a number of times over the years! In 2004 for $2.3M, in 2007 for $4.6M and in 2012 for $4.2M. The last sale was in 2013 for $4.3M.

345 25th Street – Listed for $6,200,000. Renovated Country English home with almost 4,100 sqft plus a studio space above the garage. Large 10,000+ sqft lot.  Last sold in 1997 for $1,275,000.

515 24th Street – Listed for $9,250,000. Designer-done Traditional built in 2009. Lots of living space with over 7,200 sqft on an 8,700 sqft lot with pool. Last sold in 2021 for $7,285,410.

There are five in escrow:

428 17th Street – I am representing the Buyer, who is a past client, on this “off-market” listing. If you want to hear about off-market opportunities, call me!

246 15th Street – Listed  for $5,399,000.

704 Palisades Beach Road – Listed for $10,000,000. 

233 22nd Street – Listed for $5,450,000.

618 10th Street – Listed for $3,698,000.

Just one new closing:

226 Palisades Avenue – Sold for $10,600,000- more than 50% less than it originally came on the market for last year at $22,500,000.