April 26, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Bergamot Plan Continues Development in Santa Monica:

Santa Monica has worked on a Bergamot area plan for some time, aiming to transform the site from a set of warehouses filled with art galleries, studios, and other creative uses into a revitalized, vibrant community center. On June 14, the Santa Monica City Council held a study session to get an update on the plan’s progress and to give input on its development.

The City’s recently adopted Land Use and Circulation Element recommended that a Bergamot area plan be developed to help create a high-quality, mixed-use creative arts/entertainment transit village. This new village will be centered around the new Expo Light Rail station that will be built by 2015, with a station stop at Bergamot. This area plan will encompass 140 acres and has been broken up by the city’s planning department into three sub areas – The Bergamot Transit Village, The Bergamot Art Center, and The Mixed-Use Creative District.

When complete, the Bergamot area plan will address area land uses, circulation, publicly accessible open space, an area-wide parking district, community benefits, infrastructure planning, and having a coordinated implementation for the plan. This coordination will include sequencing aimed at balancing public and private creation of transportation, amenities, and infrastructure.

The first community workshop was held on Feb. 17, and focused on the transit village. Those who participated expressed strong support for having people-scaled buildings and environments, walkable block sizes, connections and pathways to key destinations, green streets designed for all users, and streets that are landscaped and water wise. A strategy was also developed to accomplish the community’s goals, which include consolidating surface parking to create new pathways and mitigate traffic, creating new intersections, and using open space to provide a framework for buildings and streets.

Senior Planner Peter James told the council his department has been reaching out to involve the property owners in the Bergamot area that would be affected. He noted the Bergamot Transit Area property owners were very interested in shared parking.

The next community workshop will be in the evening of July 13 at Pier 59 studios. This workshop will help define a vision for the creative economy that will be centered at Bergamot Art Center. This center consists of 6.9 acres, of which the City owns 5.6 acres. The remaining 1.3 acres are privately owned. It is Southern California’s largest gallery complex, the center of the city’s creative base, and the future home of the Expo Light Rail Station. Workshop participants will have the chance to define art and cultural uses that add to the vitality of the current center and could endow future facilities and operations. In addition, they will explore national and international precedents that could serve as a model for the center. Lastly, they will examine methods to enhance the presence of the creative sector in the Bergamot Transit Village and the mixed-use creative districts.

Mayor Richard Bloom called for the entire area plan to be finalized by February 2012. Eileen Fogarty, the City’s planning and community development director, explained that the efforts on the arts center will continue after the July 13 workshop, with her department simultaneously working on refinements for the Bergamot Transit Village. Additionally, community efforts on the mixed-use creative area will begin in the fall.

Council member Terry O’Day said he has “strong feelings that parking should be underground – it makes for a much more pedestrian district and a much better impact on the surrounding neighborhood.” He also suggested that in order to keep the existing art galleries, temporary spaces should be offered to them while the Bergamot Art Center is changed. Lastly, he recommended that the area’s parcels should use recycled water.

in News
<>Related Posts

CHP Arrests Man Accused of Stealing $5K of Copper on PCH

April 25, 2025

April 25, 2025

The suspect was arrested on suspicion of grand theft and was booked at the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station A 22-year-old...

Topanga Beach Bus Resumes Service Between West Valley and Santa Monica

April 25, 2025

April 25, 2025

The route now operates once daily in each direction and is being escorted by Caltrans The Topanga Beach Bus resumed...

(Video) The Willows: 30 Years Going Strong

April 25, 2025

April 25, 2025

Founded in 1994, The Willows Community School, located in Culver City, California, is a Developmental Kindergarten through 8th grade non-profit, co-educational...

ASTEME Camps Explore Science, Technology, Math and Engineering

April 25, 2025

April 25, 2025

Many teachers and parents hear this question daily when it comes to schooling: “When am I ever going to use...

Q&A: No Age Limit on Home Care Management & Home Safety, Tips from a Care Manager

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

In-home safety issues that go unnoticed — cracked sidewalks, broken railings or uneven flooring for example — are often the root...

Film Review: Sinners

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

FILM REVIEWSINNERSRated R137 MinutesReleased April 18th   This is one big Blues/Jazz/Vampire/Disco Dance Party. Wow! Sinners will pick you up and...

SMC to Host Free Children’s Concert in May

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

The event will feature collaborative performances with local artists, including a Taiko drumming group from Culver City’s El Marino Language...

LAX/Metro Station is One Step Closer to Transforming the Airport Commute

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

New Multi-Modal Metro Station Connects Angelenos to the Airport Metro Board Chair and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn announced...

THIS WEEKEND: Art and Music Festival Takes Over Third Street Promenade

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

Admission is free and open to the public The Third Street Promenade will transform into a lively celebration of creativity...

Tony P’s Dockside Grill to Close After 28 Years in Marina del Rey

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

In a farewell letter to patrons, owners wrote, “We hope these final weeks are a celebration of all we have...

Four Proposals Compete for SMC Station’s Affordable Housing Future

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

The site sits in the Pico Neighborhood, where 83% of trips are by car and nearly half of residents struggle...

(Video) Matú Kai Brentwood: The full experience

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Sister restaurant to Matú in Beverly Hills, located at 11777 San Vicente Blvd. Sister restaurant to Matú in Beverly Hills,...

Uncle Stevey’s Bagels Wins Westside Hearts with Next-Level Bagels, Premium Sandwiches, and Local Coffee

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Family-Run Shop Serves Delicious and Thoughtfully Curated Bagels With Love By Dolores Quintana A little more than a year since...

Santa Monica’s Socalo Toasts Pali Wine Co. with a Five-Course Culinary Celebration

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Enjoy Celebrated Central Coast Wines, Including a 100-Point Red Blend Socalo, the acclaimed Mexican restaurant from celebrity chefs Mary Sue...

Fogo de Chão Hosts Wine Lover’s Dream Night with Chilean Winery VIK

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Diners Will Enjoy a Chef-Curated South American Menu, Highly Rated Wines Wine lovers and culinary connoisseurs are invited to gather...