Medical and dental buildings at Cable and Santa Monica – the new “OB Plaza”
Demolition of Former Medical Buildings and Construction of Mixed-Use Commercial Buildings Planned
The owner of the large lot at the southeast corner of Cable and Santa Monica – whose buildings have for decades housed medical and dental offices – has applied for a permit to demolish the buildings and 
construct something he’s calling “Ocean Beach Plaza“.
The new planned project for the site – owned by well-known OB property-owner John Small – is for two commercial and mixed-used buildings, including a section with 2 stories, totaling 10,453 square feet.
The lot is .45 acres and currently has a large parking lot in the rear of the building with alley access off Cable and street access off Santa Monica.
All the medical and dental offices have been emptied at this point, with only the dry cleaning business right on the alley still going. 
The property is addressed 1929 Cable Street and this is the address for the permit to demolish and build anew.
I spoke with the owner of the dry cleaning shop, Jung Hwan Oh, and he was aware that the other building would be demolished but was not aware of the fate of his particular section. By time permits are authorized, it still could be a while before anything happens on the lot. I have a call into John Small’s office to ask for clarification.
(For you OB history buffs, the dry-cleaning store used to be the site of Rebel Bakers, an organic and vegetarian bakery and later the Androgyny Center.)
Parking in the rear of the buildings.
Small, through his agent F. Leland Hope, is applying for a Coastal Development Permit as the property is obviously within the coastal zone.
We are unaware of when the project will be in front of the OB Planning Board. Watch this space for future developments.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
This building goes back a long ways. My family has been visiting dentists and doctors there for decades. Most recently Dr Jeoff Gordon – whose name is on the glass door of one of the photos. That exterior rock wall is so …. fifties!
I actually love the funky-ness of it. And you’d be hard-pressed to find the type of craftsman these days that built it, in order to construct and design something better.
… now don’t get me started. It’s just more of OB’s history dissolving into the dustbins of demolition equipment. Not that the building is pretty … or maybe it’s not even worth saving. But, if it is 2 stories, then this will force renewed pressure on Newport Ave properties to tear down for 2 or even 3 story mixed-use buildings.
To be honest, the building – except maybe the rock wall outside – is fairly ugly. Not exceptional at all. Small, exam rooms. Although Gordon’s office was fun to be in, all the hallways leading around the center.
I agree. I prefer OB to stay small and one storied. There is too much traffic as it is in that area. I actually dig the building. I think I visited my first general practitioner there, Dr. Barrett. This building has history… and helps me feel at home in OB. I would be happy if we could keep our development to a minimum and invest more in public services, public facilities and things that are needed in our community, rather than building more buildings where already buildings are, especially when there’s nothing wrong with them!! If it ain’t broke, dont fix it!
If they incorporated the rock somehow…that would be so wonderful!
I had been going to my doc and dentist here since 1950. Will miss it.