SANTA MONICA, Calif. (KABC) -- Two homeless housing projects in Santa Monica were paused after outraged residents voiced their concerns over the already deteriorating state of a once booming shopping and tourist destination.

Two multi-million dollar beachfront properties on Ocean Avenue were slated to become housing for the homeless as part of the Behavior Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) Program, something neighbors learned of just recently.

"What? How did this happen? How did we not know?" said Santa Monica resident, Greg Morena.

City leaders said they were caught off guard too.

"Of course I'm concerned about the lack of local control and community engagement in Santa Monica," said Mayor Lana Negrete.

She said L.A. County's Department of Mental Health and Providence Saint Joseph Medica

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