On Tuesday, the City Council will decide whether to go ahead with plans for the Bergamot Station Arts Center revitalization project.
Three developer teams — Bergamot Station LTD/Worthe, 26Street TOD Partners, LLC, and REthink/KOR — are competing for the right to invest tens of millions of dollars into the City-owned property. All three proposals would increase public open space and help upgrade much of the property’s existing infrastructure to accommodate the Expo line, which will have a stop adjacent to the Arts Center.
All three teams have also proposed robust plans to preserve the existing galleries and the buildings that house them as part of the redevelopment project. They have also proposed adding revenue-generating uses to the property, like a boutique hotel, in order to continue subsidizing the rents of the for-profit art galleries and nonprofit organizations, like the Santa Monica Museum of Art.
The Santa Monica Museum of Art has actively supported the plans proposed by 26Street TOD Partners, LLC in part because, of the three, 26Street’s plan includes the largest new museum space and the most comprehensive cultural programming scheme, including a partnership with KCRW and CalArts.
26Street has also proposed putting a full-service bike center at the newly-revitalized Arts Center, akin to the one currently thriving in Downtown Santa Monica.
Some are demanding that no change be made at the site and they have asked like-minded people to show up en force at the Council meeting to shout down all of the proposed plans. Unless you speak up, these people will claim to speak for you.
Get involved: If you believe that this site would benefit from responsible, sensitive redevelopment, make your voice heard, either by contacting your City Council today or by turning out to City Hall on Tuesday to speak. Individual Council members’ emails are available here, or you can write to council@smgov.net.
When: Tuesday, September 8 at 6 p.m.
Where: Santa Monica City Hall, 601 Main Street, CA 90401
