The Santa Monica Dispatch's Peggy Clifford attended yesterday's Santa Monica Planning Commission meeting and reports that Apple's new Third Street Promenade building was quickly approved, without even discussion.
The surprise was that the staff put the project on the Consent Calendar. I cannot remember any large, complex commercial project ever going on the Consent Calendar. Apple was the only item on last night’s Calendar. And, under the rules, the Consent Calendar is approved as a whole – unless someone wishes to pull at item for discussion.
And in that crucial blink, the commissioners approved the Consent Calendar (aka Apple Glass House), and that was that – except for a staff report on the redesign of the Project Case List, after which they adjourned.
The proposal first came to light yesterday, and detailed a new 8,084 glass-roofed Apple Store to be built on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California. The store will be built in the space of an old Borders Bookstore.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)Where does the rain go?
Non issue, rain would never touch an Apple store. It goes around.
It's somewhat disgusting the way planning comities / local governments pander to Apple.
Reminds me of the recent Cupertino city council meeting. The 'officials' were practically gushing over Steve Jobs and showing off their iPad's - it was cringeworthy.
At least pretend you're a professional...
It would probably be more surprising if they didn't gush over him given what Steve Jobs and Apple has done for Cupertino.
It's somewhat disgusting the way planning comities / local governments pander to Apple.
Professional? They're local government. These are your neighbors with a little bit of power, not some 5-term US Senators.Reminds me of the recent Cupertino city council meeting. The 'officials' were practically gushing over Steve Jobs and showing off their iPad's - it was cringeworthy.
At least pretend you're a professional...
Plus, look, the buildings Apple designs look amazing, and they will bring in lots of money to the local community. Why wouldn't you kiss Apple's ass?
And after the decision all the board members walked out and collected their nice new shiny MBA's.
lol
Wouldn't it be hot inside?? Think greenhouse effect... I mean they will obviously use ACs...but still I don't think that's a good design....coming from Apple I expect more...
What's more...on a sunny day...I wouldn't want to feel like I'm "shopping" for products OUTSIDE...feels very cheap...feels like buying something from an illegal street merchant..
There are many things you can do to glass to help counter heat and an over abundance of sunlight, these things could easily be done to the roof without people noticing. Do you really think the Apple designers have no taken this into consideration and just plan on throwing plain old regular glass on the ceiling?
It's somewhat disgusting the way planning comities / local governments pander to Apple.
Reminds me of the recent Cupertino city council meeting. The 'officials' were practically gushing over Steve Jobs and showing off their iPad's - it was cringeworthy.
At least pretend you're a professional...
What would you have liked them to do exactly? The see a great looking structure being built by a reputable company who does a great job on their stores. A company who's stores bring in a lot of customers and revenue. This is an existing space being changed around for a new business. What should there concerns have been exactly where they needed to debate this?
I dont understand the point to this question. It would go to the same place as a regular roof.... On the roof and then it would flow off to the ground.
Look at the picture. The other roofs are flat and must have hidden drains. The water doesn't overflow down their sides.
So I think he's talking about how the Apple store's curved roof doesn't even appear to have gutters. Of course, that's almost certainly artistic license in that drawing. I highly suspect it does have hidden drains along the edges.
PS. Good thing it's not white painted glass. It'd be delayed for years while they work out the light leak and reflection issues :)