SCHOOL DISTRICT BACKS AWAY FROM ITS CIVIC AUDITORIUM PROPOSAL AFTER GROWING COMMUNITY OPPOSITION
There was some great news this week for residents who want to keep and restore Santa Monica’s Civic Auditorium rather than sell it to the School District to be used primarily as a gym.
The District, bowing to growing community opposition, has withdrawn its proposal to acquire the historic building.
At community meetings, we witnessed time after time, there was almost no support for the District’s plans and almost none from City Council members. We believe the District’s outreach confirmed as much or it wouldn’t have withdrawn its proposal.
Now, under California’s Surplus Land Act, the final hurdle has been removed and the City can field offers from other bidders. While the District can still make an offer later, it will be competing with other entities-- entities that have experience developing and operating world-class concert venues and can restore the Civic as a premier destination for music and the arts.
Save the Civic’s mission has always been clear: publicly owned spaces for music and the arts are rare and important cultural venues and should not be sold off to be used for other purposes.
We’ll update you as we know more. In the meantime, this is a great day for Santa Monica!
If you haven’t already, please visit our website: savethecivic.org and register your contact information so we can notify you with updates or when action is needed.