Economic Growth & Cultural Vitality: City enters negotiations to restore, operate iconic Civic Auditorium

July 24, 2024 10:51 AM

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (July 24, 2024) – The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium could see a future rebirth, following a unanimous vote by the Santa Monica City Council Tuesday to enter into negotiations with Revitalization Partners Group, LLC to restore and operate the historic venue.

The firm, known as RPG, is a consortium of experts in live entertainment, real estate development, finance, historic preservation and public-private partnerships that came together to formulate a proposal for the site.

The group includes:

“This is an impressive group of experts coming together to make something happen,” Mayor Phil Brock said. “I look forward to seeing what they propose and, hopefully, a bright future for this iconic venue.”

Before it was shuttered in 2011 due to seismic issues, the city-owned auditorium served as one of the region’s leading entertainment venues, hosting a critically acclaimed roster of events including concerts, Academy Award shows, community festivals and trade shows.

The city designated the site as “surplus” through the Surplus Land Act process, which was certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development in fall 2023. In December 2023, the city issued a request for Letters of Interest to solicit a firm to redevelop the venue.

As part of the process, teams were requested to submit summaries of their experience including:

Four firms submitted proposals, and in May the City Council directed staff to move forward to negotiate with RPG. As part of the exclusive negotiating agreement process, RPG will perform studies and analysis related to historic preservation, seismic and structural engineering, ADA compliance, acoustics, and other areas to evaluate remediation, construction costs and other considerations.

RPG has agreed to pay the city an initial $350,000 to cover the city’s staff, consultant and legal costs, to be replenished if necessary.

The firm is expected to submit a comprehensive project scope and timeframe for council consideration by early 2025.

For more information, view the staff report.

Media Contact

Tati Simonian
Public Information Officer
Tati.Simonian@santamonica.gov

Categories

Arts, Culture & Fun, Historic Preservation, The Arts

Departments

Community Development

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