|
By Jorge Casuso
November 27, 2023 -- The Santa Monica Conservancy is seeking to have the Civic Auditorium designated a national historic property to help lure private investors who can renovate the "endangered" iconic structure.
A 75-page nominating application was recently submitted to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) "to raise awareness and visibility for this stunning example of Mid-Century Modern architecture," Conservancy officials said.
 |
| Civic Auditorium (Images courtesy Santa Monica Conservancy) |
While the 65-year-old Civic was designated as a City Landmark in 2001, it is currently "an endangered building in a precarious situation, despite its landmark status."
If approved, the national listing does not add restrictions to the site but would "provide opportunities for federal and state tax incentives to attract private investment," Conservancy officials said.
It also paves the way for "grants and use of State Historic Building Code alternative that could make a critical difference when analyzing the feasibility of any project or venture."
The Conservancy's move comes as State housing officials last week gave the City the go-ahead to negotiate the purchase of the Civic with a private party ("City Free to Negotiate Civic Sale with Commercial Developers," November 22, 2023).
 |
The go-ahead came after efforts by the City to attract proposals from non-profits by designating the site as "surplus land" resulted in only two interested buyers -- Community Corporation and the School District.
The Council rejected Community Corp's proposal to build affordable housing on the site, while the District has temporarily halted its plan to convert the building into a multi-use space. |
The Conservancy "continues to explore possibilities for new educational outreach and partnerships, streamlining of regulatory processes, and incentivizing proposals," officials said in a statement.
Investors can "take advantage of this unique opportunity to create a vibrant new future for an important community resource and introduce the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium to the next generation."
According to the Conservancy's application, the Civic "is an exemplary example of the Mid-Century Modern phase of the International Style and retains a very high degree of architectural integrity."
 |
It was the peak of the career of master architect Welton David Becket, "who created many buildings that stand as unique icons in Los Angeles."
In addition to the Civic, Becket designed the Capitol Records Building and the Los Angeles Music Center and "helped form the architectural identity of the City of Los Angeles in the Mid-Century era," the Conservancy wrote. |
Officially inaugurated on June 15, 1958, the Civic hosted the Academy Awards from 1961 to 1968, and was the first site to install the legendary red carpet, the application notes.
The Civic also hosted landmark music shows, including the 1964 T.A.M.I. (Teenage Awards Music International) show that featured performances by the Rolling Stones, James Brown, the Supremes, the Beach Boys, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles and Chuck Berry.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered two speeches at the Civic and the cavernous venue became a center for surfing culture, hosting conventions and screening surfing films that included the premiere of "Endless Summer."
The 1966 film documentary led to the "broad popularity that brought surf culture fantasies to land-locked teens all over the United States, with far-reaching impact on teen culture," the Conservancy wrote.
Conservancy officials note that the Civic -- which has been closed since 2013 -- requires major upgrades before it can reopen.
"Welton Becket’s 1958 innovative modern architecture retains a very high degree of historic authenticity, but the structure is seismically deficient by today’s standards and its systems are outdated," Conservancy officials said. |
