By Daniel Larios
Staff Writer

May 1, 2014 – City officials will unveil three proposals next week to develop the site of the Bergamot Station Arts Center across the street from a controversial project that is the subject of a referendum.

The City will host a public meeting to discuss the three proposed plans on May 6 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Arts Center located on 2525 Michigan Avenue. The plans will transform the arts hub in Santa Monica’s industrial corridor across the street from a future Expo Light Rail stop.

City staff sees the development of the 5.6 acres of City owned land currently occupied by some 30 small businesses, most of them art related, as an economic boon that retains the concentration of art galleries and other art uses.

But slow-growth advocates are up in arms about more development proposed across the street from a 765,000-square-foot mixed use project that inspired a groundswell of opposition.

 “The City owns most of the Bergamot Arts Center, including the 5-acre site proposed to be redeveloped,” wrote officials of the Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (SMCLC).  “That means we, as Santa Monica residents, own it. And that means it should be up to us to determine its future.

“Bergamot as we know it will be gone,” the email reads. “Is that what residents want?”

Coalition officials noted that one proposed project “would significantly gut our beloved Bergamot Arts Center with its unique, historical feel, turning the site largely into a major hotel, commercial office space, restaurants and retail, subterranean parking for approximately 450 vehicles, and a bigger Santa Monica Arts Museum building.”

Another proposal also includes a hotel, while a third offers “a recognizable home for media, entertainment and technology companies.”  All three include a museum and retain the arts focus.

At next week’s community meeting, Development teams from ReThink Development/Kor Group, Bergamot Station Ltd/ Worthe Real Estate Group and 26Street TOD Partners LLC will be on hand to present their proposals, according to City staff.

City staff from the Economic Development, Planning and Community Development, Cultural Affairs, Public Works and Big Blue Bus will also be present to help answer questions about the site, as well as provide information concerning the City’s leasing and development guidelines.

They will also talk about the “overall guiding public policy objectives governing the site’s designation as a community cultural arts center,” according to officials.

In May of 2012, the city issued a Request for Qualification (RFQ) for the development of the Center, looking for teams interested and experienced with this type of project. 

As part of the process, the three teams were selected as finalists to participate in the Request for Proposal (RFP) process during the November 27 City Council meeting. 

Also, in December 2012, City staff presented the Core components of the Bergamot Area plan to the Planning Commission, which oversees potential development and construction matters.

Opponents claim that City staff did not follow proper procedure in presenting the plan to the public.

“This latest development proposal… came as a shock especially to the many small, diverse gallery owners at Bergamot, as well as to our City's Arts Commission, none of whom had been consulted about any of the 3 proposals,” SMCLC leaders wrote.

“After gallery owners objected, the Council told staff to do outreach to the gallery owners and our community.”

The City’s Housing and Economic Development Department is responsible for managing the city owned portions of the property. 

The City-owned site is currently occupied by approximately 30 small businesses, including art galleries, a non-profit theater company and a café.  Galleries, creative offices and the Santa Monica Museum of Art are located in the private-owned portion adjacent to the city-owned site.

To request disability-related accommodations for the community meeting, please contact (310) 458-8906.