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Last year, the local alderman threatened to downzone the church property, reducing its value to developers, and its Pietà had to be moved from the church with a police escort.

Then, in 2003, an alliance of community members and local developers persuaded the City Council, which included Bill de Blasio and Ms. Brewer, to vote unanimously to “downzone” the historic district.

So to block that, the City Council voted Monday to shift the land temporarily into the Pike Market historic district — which for the time being would effectively downzone it by 40-plus stories.

I still think it’s a mistake to downzone any part of a city where there’s high demand for housing — especially a city as well-served by transit and as committed in its rhetoric to inclusion and social justice as Santa Monica.