South Bay Echo for Sept 8
Shark sighting in King Harbor, a ship appears to float, luxury apartments to replace Gable House and Manhattan Beach postpones controversial project vote
Welcome to the 39th edition of South Bay Echo, your source of local hometown news with a real estate angle.
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Shark sighting in King Harbor
Cue the Jaws music…
This Labor Day weekend was one for the ages with record temperatures and large crowds on the beaches. In King Harbor, many boaters and paddlers spent the hot afternoons lounging in the shallow waters on the inside of the breakwall.
Joining the swimmers and paddlers in King Harbor on Monday evening, just as the sun was setting, looked to be a small shark, maybe a school shark.
Boater Daniel Rugenstein posted video of the rare shark sighting on Facebook. I contacted Daniel to get more of the story. He said a fellow boater on the water shared the video and that many others saw the shark as well.
I’m not surprised really. Readers of this Substack early on might remember this time last year when I ran across a group of fishermen that hooked a shark about this same size off the Redondo Beach Pier.
It makes sense that a shark would be cruising the harbor waters. A majority of the sea lions are away at their breeding grounds on San Miguel Island, so there is an abundance of small fish and not much competition in the harbor right now.
The only obstacle are those pesky swimmers...
Image appears to show floating ship
Now here’s something you don’t see everyday: A floating ship.
In this bizarre photo snapped by Christopher Kyle Brown and shared on Facebook, an oil tanker off the coast of El Segundo appears to be hovering in mid air.
Wha-wha-what?!
It’s obviously an optical illusion. What makes this illusion possible was not only the crazy high air pressure and extremely warm weather, but also the glassy ocean conditions that created a mirage of sorts. Truly a miraculous image.
Luxury apartments to replace Gable House bowling alley
Another bowling alley has run into the gutter. Gable House Bowl, a Torrance institution since the 1960s will be demolished soon and replaced with 200-plus luxury apartments, according to the Daily Breeze.
The project was recently approved by the planning commission and is scheduled for groundbreaking in the middle of next year. It includes ground floor retail, rooftop decks and 17 units of affordable housing.
In a nod to the long-time favorite of school kids for generations, the new apartment complex will be named Gable House.
Manhattan Beach puts off vote on controversial apartment complex
The Manhattan Beach City Council for unknown reasons backed away from addressing at its meeting this week the controversial Highrose/Project Verandas apartment complex on Rosecrans and Highland .
An item to discuss the project and make a decision was apparently pulled from the agenda a few hours before the meeting on Tuesday, according to the Daily Breeze.
The proposed four-story, 79-unit apartment building has generated quite the stir in town because it seems out of place for the quaint El Porto district where traffic and parking can already be a nightmare.
Developers tried to avoid a lengthy review process through state density law by including six affordable units, but an appeal by residents sent the project to the city council.
A prior discussion two weeks ago lasted past midnight so I’m sure the council members are feeling the pressure. There is often little they can do, however, if the project complies with zoning laws.
That’s all for now… Enjoy another fabulous weekend.
“Another bowling alley has run into the gutter.”
David. 😂