About the Building
Santa Monica Bay Towers went up in 1964 — one local directory dates it 1963 — a 14-story tower of 91 homes at 101 California Avenue, where California Avenue meets Ocean Avenue at the north edge of downtown Santa Monica, directly across from the Fairmont Miramar's grounds. It belongs to the first generation of postwar residential high-rises built a step from Palisades Park and the bluffs. The original developer and architect are not consistently credited in today's public sources, a common gap for buildings of this vintage; the association's records are the best route to its construction history.
The building is a concrete-era high-rise on privately owned land inside the City of Santa Monica — a standard fee-simple condominium, with no ground lease indicated in listing records. Age is the structural question that matters: Santa Monica adopted one of the nation's most extensive seismic retrofit programs in 2017, inventorying older buildings citywide by construction type. Whether and how this 1964 tower was evaluated or strengthened is not published, which makes the association's engineering file, retrofit correspondence, and insurance program first-order due diligence rather than a detail to leave for later.
The 91 residences are mostly one- and two-bedroom, single-level homes, with recorded sizes spanning roughly 672 to 2,910 square feet — another directory cites 674 to 2,771 — the top of the range reflecting combined or full-floor-scale homes. Layouts vary from compact bluff-side pieds-a-terre to broad plans with wraparound exposures, and at least one recent listing described private elevator access to the residence. Balconies are common, and the western exposures deliver the building's signature asset: an unbroken line of sight over Palisades Park to the bay, the pier, and the Malibu coastline.
For a 91-home building, service runs deep: listings and directories consistently describe a 24-hour doorman, concierge desk, and resident manager, along with a heated saltwater pool and sun deck, sauna, exercise room, and meeting room, served by two elevators. One recent listing itemized dues as covering electricity, gas, water, internet, phone service, building insurance, and the doorman — an unusually inclusive package that should be verified against the association's current budget. Parking is subterranean and controlled, typically two spaces per home with guest stalls, per listing records.
In market terms, Santa Monica Bay Towers is one of the few full-service doorman buildings at the beach end of Santa Monica, and its corner puts Palisades Park, Montana Avenue, and the Third Street Promenade within a short walk. Directories place the building within the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, citing Roosevelt Elementary, Lincoln Middle, and Santa Monica High; verify assignments with the district. Buyers weigh a 1960s tower's systems and seismic questions against what newer construction cannot offer here: this view line, this address, and 24-hour staff at this scale.
Amenities & Services
The Residences
Compact plans from roughly 672 square feet put the ocean panorama within reach of downsizers and second-home buyers, with the same doorman service and pool deck as the tower's largest residences.
Most homes are two-bedroom, two-bath layouts around 1,000 to 1,500 square feet, single-level, many with balconies. Western stacks face the bay; eastern stacks take the city, mountains, and morning light.
Recorded sizes reach roughly 2,771 to 2,910 square feet, reflecting combined or expanded residences on upper floors — including at least one with private elevator access per a recent listing. Verify permits for any combination.
West-facing homes look across Palisades Park to the bay, the Santa Monica Pier, and up the Malibu coast. Floor height changes the view meaningfully in a 14-story building, and pricing follows.
Six decades of ownership means interiors range from largely original to fully rebuilt, with wet bars, crown moldings, and every flooring era represented in listings. Condition drives value spread between otherwise identical stacks.
Balconies accompany many plans, and all residences are single-level with elevator access — practical for buyers planning to age in place a block from the park's flat walking paths.
Due Diligence
Listing records show controlled subterranean parking, typically two spaces per residence, some side-by-side, with guest stalls available. Assignments vary by unit and era of purchase, so confirm the specific deeded or assigned spaces on title.
Directories describe the building as pet-friendly subject to association rules, but the written policy — counts, weights, breeds — is not published. Obtain the current rules and any registration requirements directly from the association.
Units appear on the rental market, indicating leasing is permitted, but minimum terms, caps, and approval procedures are not publicly documented. Review the CC&Rs during escrow, particularly if buying with investment intent.
One recent listing itemized dues covering electricity, gas, water, internet, phone service, building insurance, and the 24-hour doorman — broader than most buildings. Inclusions vary by source and budget year, so verify against current association disclosures.
A 1964 high-rise predates modern seismic codes, and Santa Monica's 2017 citywide retrofit ordinance inventoried vulnerable construction types. The building's evaluation or retrofit status is not published — request engineering reports, retrofit records, and earthquake insurance details.
No assessments or projects are publicly documented, but a sixty-year-old tower's plumbing risers, elevators, waterproofing, and facade are perpetual reserve items. Read the reserve study, recent minutes, and any pending assessment disclosures with care.
A 24-hour doorman, concierge desk, and resident manager appear consistently in listings and directories — deep staffing for 91 homes, and a principal driver of monthly costs. Confirm current headcount, hours, and the managing agent.
Remodels require association approval, and buildings of this vintage often contain original materials that need licensed handling during demolition. The tower's specific renovation rules and work-hour restrictions are not published; request them before planning.
Everything above is drawn from public records, city permit data and published sources. The association’s statutory disclosure package is the only authoritative answer on dues, rules, reserves, insurance and litigation — Ben will request it and read it with you before you remove contingencies.
Common Questions
Keep Exploring
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Off Market & Coming Soon
Residences here reach the open market rarely, and some never do. Ask Ben to tell you when one is coming, including quietly.
Work With Ben
Units here often trade before they are ever listed. Tell Ben what you are looking for and hear first when something opens up, including off market.
Start the ConversationOff Market & Coming Soon
Residences here reach the open market rarely, and some never do. Ask Ben to tell you when one is coming, including quietly.
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