Goldenvoice Brings Big Sound Back to the Shore: Ocean Way Festival Debuts in Santa Monica

If you’ve lived on the Westside long enough, you know its relationship with live music runs deep. From legendary late-night sets at the old Santa Monica Civic Auditorium to the iconic Twilight Concert Series out on the pier, music has always been built into the fabric of our city.

This fall, that history gets an incredible new chapter.

Goldenvoice—the powerhouses behind Coachella—just announced the debut of Ocean Way Festival, a massive two-day event taking over the sand right between the Santa Monica Pier and Bay Street on September 26 and 27, 2026.

It isn't just another weekend festival. It’s a full-circle homage to our local culture that’s set to send some major positive energy across the entire Westside economy.

A Lineup Built on Coastal Legacy

The event takes its name directly from Ocean Way, the beachfront street where sound pioneer Allen Sides first established the famous Ocean Way Recording Studios. To match that pedigree, Goldenvoice put together a heavy-hitting, genre-spanning bill:

• Saturday, Sept 26: A rock-heavy lineup headlined by The Killers and Jack White, with performances by Sublime, Alvvays, and SG Lewis.

• Sunday, Sept 27: A smoother, soulful vibe featuring Olivia Dean, Khruangbin, Durand Jones & The Indications, and Hiatus Kaiyote.

• On-the-Sand Hospitality: VIP ticket holders will get access to the "Proper Beach Club"—a curated enclave on the sand created in partnership with Proper Hotels, featuring high-end lounge spaces and premium mainstage viewing.

Planning Note: To keep the neighborhood moving smoothly, the festival will have zero on-site parking. Organizers are encouraging rideshares, biking the strand, or taking the Metro E Line right into Downtown Santa Monica.

The Bigger Picture: What Events Like This Do for the Westside

Beyond the music, landing a major festival like this is a huge win for Santa Monica’s ongoing revitalization.

1. A Direct Shot in the Arm for Local Business: Late September is usually when the summer travel rush starts to quiet down. Bringing thousands of visitors directly to Ocean Avenue and Downtown Santa Monica injects immediate revenue into our local boutique hotels, restaurants, and shops right when they need it most.

2. Refueling Santa Monica’s Culture: Santa Monica has been making intentional moves to boost public safety, clean up commercial corridors, and bring back civic energy. Partnering with a premier operator like Goldenvoice puts a global spotlight back on the city as an exciting, safe, and world-class place to visit.

3. The Real Estate Ripple Effect: Great neighborhoods aren't defined by housing stock alone—they’re defined by lifestyle. When a community consistently hosts top-tier cultural events, exceptional dining, and vibrant public gatherings, it creates a place where people actively want to live and stay. That sustained desirability is what keeps Westside real estate values so uniquely resilient over the long haul.

The Campbell Wellman Take

This is exactly the kind of energy we love seeing in Santa Monica. It’s about being able to walk down to the beach, catch world-class artists, grab dinner at your favorite local spot, and walk back home. When city leadership and local businesses collaborate to pull off events of this scale, the whole community wins. It keeps our neighborhood fun, supports our local economy, and reinforces the incredible quality of life that makes buying a home here such a smart long-term investment.

Concrete & Salt Air: The 4th Annual Swirl Surfskate Fest Returns to Venice This Saturday

If there is one neighborhood on the Westside that truly understands the seamless transition between the ocean waves and the pavement, it’s Venice Beach. On Saturday, July 25, 2026, the absolute birthplace of surfskate culture is shutting down the streets for a massive, all-day party: the 4th Annual Swirl Surfskate Fest.

Hosted by @grlswirl—one of the world's largest women-founded, grassroots skate collectives—and presented by Hydro Flask, this completely free festival takes over the heart of Venice right under the iconic Venice Sign on Windward Avenue.

Whether you are a seasoned bowl rider, a longboard enthusiast, or simply love the great, creative energy of coastal LA, this is where you want to be this weekend.

Your All-Day Schedule: From Ocean Swells to Street Beats

The festival spans from 8:00 AM until late into the evening, transforming Windward Avenue and the beach front into an interactive, multi-stage block party. Here is how the day unfolds:

• 8:00 AM – Morning Paddle Out: Kick off the day at the water’s edge. Grab your surfboard and meet the crew north of Lifeguard Tower 26 (just at the Santa Monica/Venice border). Coffee and pastries are provided for all participants as hundreds paddle out together in a celebration of community and coastal heritage.

• Public Pop-Up Skateparks (All Day): Carver Skate is erecting a full custom pop-up skatepark right on the asphalt for the public to ride all day long. Bring your board, helmet, and enthusiasm—all skill levels are welcome!

• 1:00 PM – Surfskate Competition & Vendor Market: Watch top progression riders carve up a one-of-a-kind ramp setup built by Carver. The competition features legendary Dogtown-era judges, major prizes, and even the coveted "World's Okayest Skater" award. While watching the comp, browse the local artisan market featuring art booths, food vendors, and a Carver board-tuning station.

• Evening Concert (Under the Venice Sign): As the sun sets, Windward Avenue closes down entirely for a massive street concert featuring live music, including a special set by guitar phenom Grace Bowers, leading up to a surprise headlining artist!

• Late Night After Party: The energy shifts directly to the historic Townhouse Venice for an official dance party to wrap up the night.

Grassroots Roots & The Swirl Skate Foundation

While Swirl Fest draws thousands of attendees, it remains fundamentally a grassroots labor of love. Organized by GRLSWIRL to honor the living legends of Dogtown and empower a new, diverse generation of skaters, the festival is completely free to attend.

To help keep community programming alive, organizers encourage a $7 suggested donation when you RSVP. 100% of these donations go directly to the Swirl Skate Foundation, supporting global skate mentorship programs, youth outreach, and inclusive community events year-round.

The Campbell Wellman Take

GRLSWIRL and Swirl Fest embody the authentic, creative soul of Venice. Events like this remind us why coastal Westside real estate is so uniquely special. It’s not just about the incredible homes—it’s about the culture, the walkability, and the fun that happens when neighbors close down the street to skate, dance to live music, and support the local community. If you're out and about this Saturday, pop over to Windward Ave, support the local vendors, and take in this Venice summer event.

Green Light for Rebuilding: LA Waives Permit Fees for Palisades Wildfire Recovery

In the eighteen months following the devastating January 2025 wildfires, Pacific Palisades has been defined by grit, determination, and an unwavering commitment to rebuild. Today, property owners across Palisades, Hurst, Kenneth, Archer, and Sunset fire zones just received one of the most significant financial tailwinds to date.

Mayor Karen Bass officially signed a landmark urgency ordinance—which officially took effect on July 16, 2026—waiving a comprehensive suite of building permit and clearance fees across multiple Los Angeles city departments.

For families who have been navigating the emotional and financial labyrinth of rebuilding, this move removes tens of thousands of dollars in upfront friction, clearing a direct path from architectural blueprints to breaking ground.

What the Permit Fee Waiver Means for You

Passed as an urgency measure to remove immediate financial barriers, Ordinance No. 188985 provides significant fee relief capped at an aggregate $90 million over three years. Here is what homeowners need to know about qualifying for fee waivers and project planning:

• The 110% Floor Area Threshold: The City of Los Angeles will waive permitting and clearance fees for repairs or rebuilds up to 110% of the original structure’s floor area. If you choose to expand your new footprint beyond that 110% mark, standard city fees will only apply to the square footage exceeding the threshold.

• Who Qualifies: To ensure this relief directly benefits affected neighbors, the waivers apply strictly to individuals or entities that owned the property on January 7, 2025.

• Retroactive Refunds: For proactive homeowners who have already paid plan check or clearance fees to pull early permits, LADBS is establishing formal procedures to process full refunds for all qualifying projects.

• Department-Wide Coverage: The waiver spans fees across Building and Safety (LADBS), Fire, City Planning, Public Works, Housing, Transportation, Cultural Affairs, and Recreation & Parks.

A Crucial Clawback Clause: Except for townhomes or condominiums, if a property receiving a fee waiver is sold before a final Certificate of Occupancy is issued, the seller is required to reimburse the city for the full amount of the waived fees. This ensures the incentive stays tied directly to long-term community recovery rather than speculative lot flipping.

Streamlining the Blueprint to Move-In Pipeline

Waiving permit fees is about momentum. Combined with existing executive orders that streamline plan checks (with LADBS expediting initial reviews far faster than pre-fire averages), the timeline to get shovels in the dirt has been condensed significantly.

Homeowners are strongly encouraged to register for the direct updates list by contacting the city’s dedicated concierge team at palisadespermitconcierge@lacity.org.

The Campbell Wellman Take

This ordinance is a massive win for our neighbors. The financial toll of a rebuild extends far beyond raw materials and labor. When you eliminate thousands in municipal clearance fees across six different city departments, you allow homeowners to put that capital right back where it belongs—into higher-quality building materials, enhanced fire-resilient design, and better finishes.

Navigating city ordinances and zoning nuances can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to do it alone. That is why having a team like Spiegel Wellman Construction in your corner is such an advantage. With over four decades of custom building experience right here on the Westside, their design-build team understands how to maximize these city incentives, navigate the 110% threshold seamlessly, and turn this administrative green light into a seamless construction process.

The Blank Slate: Building Your Legacy on the Coastal Westside and South Bay

There is a unique kind of optimism that comes with staring at a vacant lot on the Southern California coast. While the broader real estate headlines can feel noisy and focused on temporary market shifts, those of us who have spent years in this market know that the true value of our coastal neighborhoods has never been about the daily news cycle—it’s about the land, the salt air, and the rare opportunity to build a home that will stand for generations.

Whether you are looking to build a custom modern architectural marvel along the walk streets of Venice, a sprawling family compound on a quiet lot in Manhattan Beach, or secure a generational ocean-front homesite in the Pacific Palisades, building from the ground up remains the ultimate expression of permanence.

Navigating the design and construction process across the Westside and the South Bay requires clarity, realism, and a focus on the long game. Here is your roadmap to getting the foundation right.

1. What to Expect: The Coastal Reality

Building along the Southern California coastline means navigating some of the most sophisticated regulatory, environmental, and engineering landscapes in the country.

• The Timeline: A quality custom build on the Westside or South Bay typically spans 18 to 30 months from initial architectural concept to move-in day.

• The Coastal Commission & Local Jurisdictions: Depending on how close your lot is to the sand, you may fall within the jurisdiction of the California Coastal Commission. Navigating Coastal Development Permits (CDPs), local city design reviews (such as in Manhattan Beach or Hermosa Beach), and Los Angeles city planning can add anywhere from 6 to 12 months to your pre-construction phase. Working with a team intimately familiar with these localized municipal nuances is absolutely non-negotiable.

2. How to Hire the Right Builder for Your Vision

Do not hire a custom builder based on a spreadsheet or a low-ball estimate alone. In high-end residential construction, the relationship is just as important as the bottom line.

• Vetting for Partnership: You are essentially entering a two-year marriage. Look for builders who operate with complete financial transparency—specifically utilizing "open-book" accounting. Ask to see how they handle change orders, and request to tour their past projects to inspect the quality of their framing and finish carpentry.

• Aligning Budget & Design Early: The biggest friction point in custom building is "feature creep" (letting design elements slowly balloon costs). Ensure your architect and builder are actively collaborating before your plans are submitted for permits. A great builder acts as a practical budget filter, showing you where to value-engineer structural elements without compromising the home's aesthetic integrity.

3. The Financial Strategy: Land + Construction Financing

Many buyers assume they need to pay cash for land and fund the construction entirely out of pocket. In reality, luxury financing offers highly sophisticated leverage tools.

• Construction-to-Permanent Loans: This is the gold standard for custom residential projects. A specialized lender packages your land acquisition and your construction costs into a single loan.

• How it Works: During the active build phase, you pay interest-only payments based solely on the funds drawn to pay subcontractors. Once the city signs off on your final certificate of occupancy, the loan automatically converts into a traditional, long-term fixed mortgage—streamlining your capital and preserving your liquidity.

The Build Spectrum: Choosing Your Path

To help guide your budgeting, we've outlined the realistic costs of construction across the Westside and South Bay.

Note on Soft Costs: These ranges reflect construction hard costs. Remember to budget an additional 25% to 40% for soft costs, including architectural fees, soil and structural engineering, geological reports, interior design, and city permit fees.

A Generational Opportunity: 15363 Via De Las Olas

While there are beautiful building sites sprinkled across our coastal pockets, truly legendary ocean-view land is finite. In the Pacific Palisades—which is currently undergoing a beautiful, post-fire neighborhood renaissance—we are proud to represent 15363 Via De Las Olas.

Positioned directly on the front row of the prestigious Via De Las Olas bluffs, this rare 6,463-square-foot homesite offers completely unobstructed, panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the coastline. Situated just blocks from the newly restored Palisades Village, it represents a blank canvas where you can build a custom contemporary masterpiece or a timeless coastal retreat in one of Los Angeles' most protected real estate pockets.

The Campbell Wellman Take

Building a home on the Westside or South Bay is more than just a real estate investment; it is an act of world-building for your family. When you are ready to stop searching for the perfect home and decide to build it, we are here to help you secure the perfect dirt and the right team to bring it to life.

That is why we partner closely with Spiegel Wellman Construction. With over 40 years of hands-on experience crafting some of the most iconic, complex custom estates on the Westside and throughout the South Bay, their design-build team brings unparalleled expertise to navigating the precise soils, coastal permits, and high-end details your legacy project deserves. Together, we ensure your forever home is built on a flawless foundation.

Conquer the Pier 5K Returns to Venice Beach This Saturday

This Saturday, July 18th, one of the most uniquely scenic athletic traditions on the Westside returns. Conquer the Pier Venice Beach 5K is officially back, offering runners, walkers, and local families the rare opportunity to race directly over the Pacific Ocean.

If you have been looking for an upbeat, active way to soak in the mid-summer morning sun while giving back to our coastal parks, this is your perfect weekend plan.

The Race Experience: Running Across the Water

What separates this event from a standard 5K is the route itself. The fast, flat, and entirely paved course begins next to the historic Muscle Beach area at Windward Plaza. From there, runners will navigate the iconic Venice Beach boardwalk before making their way out onto the historic Venice Beach Pier.

Covering the entire length of the pier, you are quite literally starting and finishing with nothing but salt air, crashing waves, and panoramic ocean views surrounding you.

• Conquer the Venice Beach Pier 5K

• The Top Dog Division 5K: No need to leave your favorite training partner at home. This year features the popular Benny’s Top Dog Division. Registered pups get their very own dog bib and a dog-specific finisher medal to wear proudly on the walk back home!

• The Finish Line Festival: Crossing the finish line at Windward Plaza drops you right into a full beach celebration featuring a live DJ, a vibrant sponsor and vendor expo, and plenty of post-race giveaways.

• REGISTER HERE

Your Race Week Playbook

1. Early Packet Pickup & Shake-Out Run

Beat the Saturday morning rush by heading down to Marina Del Rey early.

• When: Thursday, July 16th, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM

• Where: REI, 4655 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

• Bonus Event: Don't miss the new REI Shake-out Run starting right from the store at 6:30 PM to get your legs loose before the weekend.

2. Race Day Schedule (Saturday, July 18th)

• 6:30 AM: Day-of Packet Pickup opens at Windward Plaza

• 8:00 AM: 5K Race Start (Arrive early to warm up and soak in the energy)

3. Parking Tips

Venice beach lots fill up incredibly fast on mid-summer weekend mornings. If you want to secure a spot close to the start line, aim to arrive early. Recommended parking lots include:

• South Lot: 2100 Ocean Front Walk

• North Lot: 300 Ocean Front Walk

• Pier Lot: 3100 Washington Blvd (closest to the pier portion of the run)

Running for a Better Venice

Beyond the medals and the scenic miles, registering for this weekend's run represents a direct investment in the very community we love.

100% of the event proceeds go directly to the Los Angeles Parks Foundation, specifically earmarked to support local youth sports, community programs, and upkeep at the Venice Beach Recreation Center. Every registration helps preserve and protect the public parks, basketball courts, and skate parks that make our coastal community a globally recognized hub of culture and athletic history.

The Campbell Wellman Take

Events like the Conquer the Pier 5K highlight exactly why people fall in love with the coastal Westside lifestyle. It blends physical wellness, unmatched natural scenery, and a the best vibes. It’s a chance to run alongside your neighbors, support local parks, and celebrate the active lifestyle that makes our real estate markets so incredibly desirable. Whether you’re gunning for a personal record on a flat course, walking it with your family, or running with your dog, we highly encourage you to head down to Windward Plaza this Saturday. It’s community engagement at its best.

Welcome Back to the Ridge: Temescal Gateway Park Reopens This Friday!

For anyone who calls Pacific Palisades home, our connection to the landscape isn't just about the ocean views—it’s about the dirt under our boots. For the last 18 months, our community’s outdoor heartbeat has felt a bit quiet. Following the devastating Palisades Fire of January 2025, one of our absolute favorite trailheads and gathering spaces was forced into a long, necessary slumber.

But this week, we have the ultimate milestone to celebrate.

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) officially announced that Temescal Gateway Park will reopen to the public this Friday, July 17, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. It’s a moment of profound joy, relief, and deep appreciation for the massive, collaborative effort that brought this beloved canyon back to life.

Your Weekend Playbook: What’s Open?

While the mountain is still healing, our most iconic ridge-lines and connector trails are pristine, safe, and ready for your weekend footsteps. Whether you're looking for a challenging morning run or a peaceful family picnic, here is where you can head this weekend:

• The Rebuilt Rivas Trail: This beloved trail has been fully restored, offering hiker access up to two breathtaking scenic overlooks of the coastline, as well as its historic connection directly over to Will Rogers State Historic Park.

• The Sunset Trail: Fully open and offering its signature, panoramic transition into the wider Topanga State Park trail network.

• Picnic & Rest Zones: Both the Sycamore Grove and Rubell Picnic Areas are completely cleared, safety-checked, and ready for summer afternoon gatherings.

⚠️ A Crucial Trail Note: The popular Temescal Canyon Trail to the waterfall remains closed until further notice. The fire damage in the deeper canyon created hazardous, highly unstable conditions that require extensive engineering and restoration before hikers can safely return. Please respect the trail closure signs—staying on the open, designated paths is vital for both your safety and the delicate habitat recovery currently underway.

The Power of Community & Smart Local Solutions

What makes this reopening so inspiring is the sheer scale of the community defense and recovery that made it possible. When the fire first tore through the canyon, the MRCA Fire Division mounted an incredible stand that literally saved the park's historic buildings from destruction.

From there, the park pivotally transitioned into the central logistics hub for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, serving as the command center for the massive regional cleanup effort across the Palisades. Once the heavy lifting was done, a true army of local volunteers and organizations—including the California Conservation Corps, the Sierra Club, and our own local champions at Resilient Palisades—stepped in to clear hazardous trees, plant native flora, and rebuild the trail steps we'll be stepping on this Friday.

A Win-Win for Park Funding & Infrastructure

To keep the momentum going, the MRCA recently approved a temporary land-use agreement with the LADWP. A 65,000-square-foot dirt overflow lot (located north of Simon Meadow) will be used over the next three years to stage the critical reconstruction and undergrounding of power lines damaged in the fire.

Because the site is remote, it won’t impact your public trail access. Even better? LADWP is paying fair market rent to use the site, with 100% of those lease payments being funneled directly back into Temescal’s ongoing restoration and park operations. And once the utility project wraps up, LADWP is contractually obligated to fully restore and improve the site for the community’s long-term enjoyment.

The Campbell Wellman Take

"This is the news we’ve been waiting for," says the team.

Temescal Gateway Park is more than just a park—it’s where we clear our minds, walk our dogs, bump into neighbors, and teach our kids to appreciate the outdoors. Having this gateway back open is a massive victory for our local quality of life. When we talk about what makes Westside real estate so uniquely valuable, it always comes back to our relationship with the natural environment. To have world-class trailheads quite literally in your backyard is a luxury you can't put a price tag on. As you head up the trail this weekend, take a moment to look at the new green shoots emerging from the soil. Our canyon is coming back, and we couldn't be more proud of the community that rallied to protect it. See you on the ridge!

Living with Giants: Inside the Legendary Broad Estate in Brentwood

Great art collections typically belong to institutions, tucked behind stanchions and protected by climate-controlled glass. But long before downtown Los Angeles welcomed the striking honeycomb facade of The Broad museum on Grand Avenue, one of the world’s most vital collections of postwar and contemporary masterworks lived in a quiet, domestic sanctuary right here on the Westside.

In Brentwood, the private estate of the late Eli Broad and his wife, Edythe, served as a brilliant, deeply personal laboratory for modern patronage. The home wasn't just a container for their legendary 2,000-piece collection—it was a living canvas where daily life and towering cultural ambition existed in constant conversation.

An Architectural Masterpiece Built for Masterworks

Spanning a manicured three-acre estate, the 13,000-square-foot residence is an architectural tour de force. Originally envisioned by legendary architect Frank Gehry, the structural design was later executed by the acclaimed firm Langdon Wilson.

The result is a structure defined by sculptural bravado, soaring volumes, and radical materials.

Inside the main living area, guests are greeted by a breathtaking, free-form welded stainless-steel ceiling. Acclaimed interior designer Rose Tarlow, who meticulously shaped the home’s interior textures, famously described it as “a giant Japanese paper kite hovering above the voluminous space.” Rather than feeling cold or sterile, Tarlow grounded the home with highly refined woods and custom furnishings, creating an environment that was simultaneously theatrical and intimate.

The entire lower level of the two-story home was specifically engineered as a private, museum-grade gallery, while the sweeping grounds, shaped by Rios Clementi Hale Studios, create a rolling green sanctuary explicitly designed to contextualize monumental outdoor sculptures.

Where Masterpieces Met Daily Life

What made the Broad estate truly remarkable wasn't just the sheer market value of the works, but the fearless, unpretentious way Eli and Edye lived among them. Art was never relegated to a distant wing; it occupied the spaces of their everyday existence.

In the sunlit living room, a delicate Alexander Calder mobile caught the coastal breeze, while massive, emotionally raw landscapes by Anselm Kiefer dominated the walls. Robert Rauschenberg’s iconic Red Painting (1954)—which the Broads famously acquired after trading away a delicate Van Gogh drawing that was too light-sensitive to leave Eli’s underwear drawer—sat proudly in the living space.

Every corner of the house presented a charged, brilliant pairing: a George Segal figurative sculpture standing near a window, a classic Giacometti bronze in a quiet alcove, and text installations by Jenny Holzer threading through private rooms.

The Campbell Wellman Take

When we look at the ultra-luxury real estate market in neighborhoods like Brentwood and Pacific Palisades, we often talk about square footage, view corridors, and premium materials. But the Broad estate represents the absolute pinnacle of what a property can be: architecture as an expression of world-building.  Eli and Edythe Broad built a civic engine. The deeper logic of their patronage—the same vision that drove the expansion of MOCA, the construction of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and ultimately their eponymous downtown museum—was practiced first right here in their own home. It stands as a powerful reminder that the most extraordinary properties in Los Angeles are where LA history, culture, and power are quietly shaped.

Palisades Village Sets August 15 Reopening After $100 Million Rebuild

Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG

For those of us who live and work on the Westside, the local landscape has felt a bit incomplete for the last year and a half. Following the Palisades Fire in January 2025, which destroyed thousands of homes and roughly 100 commercial spaces, our community has been quietly, fiercely rebuilding.

Now, one of the most visible milestones of that recovery is officially on the calendar.

Visionary developer Rick Caruso announced that Palisades Village will officially reopen to the public on Saturday, August 15, 2026. While the beautiful outdoor shopping and dining district miraculously survived the flames itself, Caruso and his team have spent the last 19 months executing a meticulous, $100 million restoration and environmental remediation project to ensure the space is pristine, safe, and completely modernized to welcome the community back home.

Rebuilding Stronger: Who is Coming Back?

The upcoming grand opening is more than just a return to business as usual; it represents a major vote of confidence in the long-term economic resilience of Palisades. Caruso revealed that the center is already 99% leased, boasting a brilliant mix of familiar neighborhood favorites and highly anticipated new additions.

An overwhelming majority of the original tenants are returning to their spaces, a testament to the irreplaceable location and tight-knit local consumer base. You can look forward to seeing the doors open once again at:

• Erewhon & Blue Ribbon Sushi

• Elyse Walker, Brunello Cucinelli, and Zimmermann

• Veronica Beard, A.L.C., and K Bakery

• Angelini Ristorante & Bar (Chef Gino Angelini noted they plan to return quietly and respectfully, keeping focus on the ongoing residential recovery)

• Loomey's Toys

The Next Chapter: Incredible New Concept Additions

Nearly one-third of the storefronts in the center will be entirely new to the village. Headlining this next generation is Spacca Tutto, a spectacular new Italian-American steakhouse from James Beard Award-winning chef and proud Angeleno Nancy Silverton. Partnering with Caruso and the River Jetty Restaurant Group, Silverton’s highly anticipated concept takes inspiration from her iconic chi SPACCA roots, blending a massive, premium steak program with classic chophouse comfort food and an incredible 250-label wine list. Colloquially translating to "go for it" in Italian, Spacca Tutto is a fitting anchor for a center defined by resilience.

Joining Silverton in the new lineup are several highly coveted lifestyle and fashion brands making their mark on the Westside:

• LESET (The elevated activewear and knitwear brand opening its very first West Coast brick-and-mortar location)

• Violet Grey

• Xirena

The Campbell Wellman Take

True real estate value isn't just driven by the four walls of a home; it is fundamentally anchored by the health and vitality of the neighborhood surrounding it. Palisades Village has always been the definitive social square for this community. Losing it temporarily was a heartbreaking pause, but seeing it come back with a $100 million reinvestment—and 99% leased out of the gate—proves that consumer and commercial demand for Pacific Palisades is entirely unbreakable.

What Rick Caruso and these world-class business owners are signaling is that Palisades isn't just returning; it's entering a renaissance. For local property values, this reopening removes a massive question mark and firmly restores the walkable, premium lifestyle that makes our local real estate some of the most insulated and desirable in the world. Mark your calendars for August 15th—it’s going to be an awesome day for our town.

Beyond the Cold Plunge: Building the Modern Westside "Longevity Home"

(Photo courtesy of AD Pro)

There is a major paradigm shift happening in the luxury architectural world right now, and it goes far deeper than the aesthetics of a beautifully finished room.

Recently, Architectural Digest spotlighted a movement that has been quietly guiding our own design-build philosophy here on the Westside: The Longevity Home. As the editors noted, “If the sauna boom marked the first wave of at-home wellness, the next chapter is health span—the years we can thrive in good health.”

For years, the conversation around longevity was confined to what we put into our bodies—diet, supplements, biohacking gadgets, and exercise regimens. But a bigger, more profound question is surfacing: How does the physical structure we inhabit shape our biology over decades?

Considering we spend the vast majority of our lives indoors, our homes are not just passive structures. They are active ecosystems. Every surface we touch, every breath of air we draw, every light source, and every layout cue we navigate either depletes our vitality or replenishes it.

As seasoned Southern California custom home builders, Spiegel Wellman is taking the longevity movement out of the podcast studio and embedding it directly into the studs, systems, and soul of Southern California’s finest homes. Here are some key ways to build for health span.

1. The Invisible Infrastructure: Air, Water, and Building Biology

True luxury is no longer defined just by the marble on the countertops; it’s defined by the invisible layers of the home. The modern longevity home recognizes that indoor air quality can heavily drive systemic inflammation if left unchecked.

When we build from the ground up, we look at the home’s "biology" holistically. This means moving far beyond baseline code requirements to integrate commercial-grade, multi-stage air filtration systems and advanced ERVs (Energy Recovery Ventilators) that continuously cycle in fresh, ocean-filtered air while expelling volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Furthermore, we explicitly curate a non-toxic material palette from day one—utilizing zero-VOC solid timbers, natural plasters, real stone, and solvent-free adhesives. By eliminating synthetic off-gassing at the foundational level, the home quietly protects your respiratory and endocrine systems while you sleep.

2. Neuro-Supportive Lighting and Circadian Harmony

Our biology evolved to take its cues from the sun, yet modern living often floods our eyes with artificial blue light late into the evening, disrupting melatonin production and fracturing deep, restorative sleep.

In our custom builds, we combat this by designing sophisticated, automated circadian lighting systems. These systems seamlessly mirror the natural trajectory of the California sun—bathing your spaces in crisp, energizing, blue-enriched light in the morning, and gradually downshifting to warm, amber, low-level frequencies as dusk settles over the Pacific. Combined with automated blackout shading in the bedrooms, the home’s environment explicitly programs your nervous system for deeper recovery.

3. Integrated Recovery over "Gadget Showrooms"

There is a massive difference between a home that features a wellness amenity and a home that is fundamentally designed for wellness. A standalone cold plunge tucked into a corner of a garage feels like a chore; a thoughtfully designed wellness space feels like a sanctuary.

We believe areas for physical recovery should be seamless extensions of the architecture. Whether it's a dedicated spa room featuring an infrared sauna, a custom stone-clad steam shower, an outdoor plunge pool framed by privacy greenery, or a peaceful yoga terrace looking out toward the Santa Monica mountains, these spaces must feel intuitive. When recovery is woven seamlessly into your morning routine, healthy habits become effortless.

4. Biophilic Connection and Nervous-System Calm

The human nervous system is constantly scanning its surroundings for safety cues. Sterile, overly sharp, synthetic environments can unconsciously keep us in a state of low-level, chronic alertness.

By utilizing biophilic design—the practice of connecting indoor spaces to the natural world—we create an immediate downshift in cortisol levels. On the Westside, this means maximizing massive, flush-threshold fleetwood sliders that dissolve the barrier between indoor living and lush native landscaping. It means incorporating organic textures like hand-carved stone, live-edge woods, and hand-applied lime washes that age beautifully and patina over time. Nature signals safety to the brain, and a calm brain lives longer.

The Spiegel Wellman Take

We are building environments designed to help your family thrive across generations. High-tech biohacking tools will always evolve, but a home rooted in clean air, natural light, the right flow, clean craftsmanship, and seamless harmony with nature is a timeless foundation for a long, thriving life. Living well starts right where you live.

The SpaceX Windfall: How History’s Largest IPO is Igniting Southern California Luxury Real Estate

On June 12, 2026, the global financial landscape shifted when SpaceX made its historic public stock market debut on the Nasdaq. Priced at $135 per share, the offering raised a staggering $75 billion—officially shattering records as the largest IPO in world history and propelling the company's valuation to a jaw-dropping $2.1 trillion.

While Wall Street analysts debate the broader macroeconomic ripples of the blockbuster tech debut, a much more immediate, tangible phenomenon is unfolding right in our own backyard.

Headquartered just inland in Hawthorne, California, the SpaceX windfall has instantly catalyzed a massive, hyper-localized injection of wealth into the Southern California housing market. Data indicates that the debut has effectively minted over 4,000 new millionaires among current and former employees, with an elite tier of roughly 400 individuals suddenly holding equity stakes valued at $100 million or more.

The result? An immediate, highly competitive race for premium coastal real estate across the Westside and the South Bay.

The South Bay and Beach City Surge

For years, high-earning tech executives and aerospace engineers have quietly anchored themselves along our coastal coastlines. However, the scale of this specific IPO wealth event has dramatically shifted the inventory dynamic.

Local luxury agents are already experiencing a massive influx of inquiries specifically targeting properties priced at $5 million and above. Because the corporate headquarters sit an easy commute away in Hawthorne, the initial wave of demand is hitting our immediate neighborhood micro-markets hardest:

• The Primary Targets: High-end buyers are heavily focusing on the South Bay beach communities—specifically Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach—alongside Westside strongholds like Venice and Santa Monica.

• The Buyer Profile: These are deeply practical, highly analytical tech professionals. Local market feedback shows that rather than chasing flash, these newly minted millionaires are systematically looking for foundational family upgrades. The dominant criteria include properties boasting at least four bedrooms, custom swimming pools, and unobstructed ocean views.

• The Financing Strategy: Interestingly, many of these buyers aren’t even waiting for traditional post-IPO lockup periods to expire later this year. Utilizing sophisticated wealth-building and tax strategies, high-level executives are leveraging and borrowing against their newly liquid shares to make competitive, non-contingent plays on luxury properties right now.

An Inventory Crunch in a Balanced Market

Prior to June, the broader Westside and South Bay luxury markets had been settling into a healthy, balanced discovery phase, with active inventory up roughly 15% year-over-year. The sudden arrival of thousands of capitalized buyers is poised to completely compress that breathing room.

While the wealth disbursement will happen gradually over a multi-year period, the immediate psychological shift has already created a tighter, highly competitive bidding environment. In prime pockets like the Manhattan Beach Sand Section or the premium walking streets of Venice and Santa Monica, the baseline for entry is shifting rapidly.

The Campbell Wellman Take

This is a massive, generational wealth event for Southern California real estate, and it fundamentally reinforces the value of our coastal neighborhoods. What we are seeing isn't a speculative bubble; it’s a massive influx of local, highly sophisticated buyers who already love this area and want to plant permanent roots here for their families. When you suddenly inject thousands of new millionaires into geographically constrained coastal markets—where you can't simply build more land—scarcity wins every single time. For sellers on the Westside and South Bay, this means demand for premium, turn-key architectural homes is going to remain incredibly insulated. If you've been sitting on the fence about listing your property, the timing could not be more precise. A brand-new class of visionary local buyers is officially holding the keys, and they are actively looking for a place to call home.