Bergamot Station, a city-owned and tenant-run arts complicated in Santa Monica, California is dealing with potential demolition after a long time of tensions between tenants and the municipality of Santa Monica. The 5.6-acre campus is house to 18 artwork galleries, studios and cultural venues, and has lengthy been thought-about an necessary cultural hub in Los Angeles. However many tenants really feel the town refuses to recognise it as such and desires to make use of the land to construct a housing undertaking mandated by California Senate Invoice 79, laws geared toward facilitating high-density improvement in transit-rich areas to assist tackle the state’s housing disaster, which was signed into legislation by governor Gavin Newsome final October.
Even earlier than the invoice handed, the wheels of Bergamot Station’s potential demise had been in movement. In February 2025, the town of Santa Monica reclassified the property as “surplus land”. Tenants had been knowledgeable they’d have round two years to vacate the property. In June 2025, the town issued a request for proposals inviting builders to submit plans. The proposals would enable demolition of the prevailing galleries and alternative with non-public improvement. Based on tenants, their galleries and areas haven’t been included in plans for the event.
The Bergamot Station Arts Middle—so named as a result of it was the location of a railroad station from 1875 to 1953—opened 1994 and was organised by Wayne Clean as one of many first gallery-sharing artwork complexes in america. “We created a really particular setting which resonated world wide,” says Craig Krull, who has operated a gallery at Bergamot Station since 1994.
The complicated turned a broadly emulated mannequin for a collectively bootstrapped arts vacation spot, providing free public entry, parking, non-profit theatre, academic programmig and group occasions. “We had been the primary cease for thus many individuals internationally,” Krull says. “They didn’t even go to their motels. They got here to us first.”
Tenants describe a historical past of failed redevelopment plans, administration modifications, liens, evictions and hire will increase which have undermined the complicated’s long-term stability. From its inception, the connection between Bergamot Station and the town was strained and unstable.
Below new administration
Based on Robert Berman, who has run his namesake gallery in Santa Monica since 1979, he has been attempting to safe historic landmark designation for Bergamot Station for many years however the metropolis has refused. “I believe their objective is to alienate the tenants in order that they transfer out or they evict to make it simpler for them to demolish,” Berman says.
Tenants say they seen an instantaneous shift within the ambiance at Bergamot Station in 2024, when the corporate Rising Realty Companions took over property administration tasks on the web site. Representatives for Rising Realty Companions and the town of Santa Monica didn’t reply to repeated inquiries from The Artwork Newspaper.
A mural at Bergamot Station references the location’s former industrial capabilities Picture by dvcronan, by way of Flickr
Rose Shoshana, who has maintained a gallery area at Bergamot for 32 years, says the ambiance on the web site modified dramatically after the introduction of personal safety. She says safety guards have been hostile towards guests, behaviour she says she had by no means skilled throughout her earlier a long time as a tenant.
In a single alleged incident, Shoshana says a guard approached a customer claiming she “seemed like she didn’t belong right here”, and tried to kick them off the property. Loos have been locked and guests’ automobiles have been towed, seemingly with out cause. “You possibly can’t resolve who belongs right here and who doesn’t,” Shoshana says. “It is a public area. A city-owned property.”
Tenants say such encounters have affected the location’s popularity as a free and open cultural venue. “This seemingly small incident represents a a lot bigger difficulty,” Shoshana says. “Crucial arts and tradition complicated in Santa Monica is now being threatened. The potential loss to the broader group could be profound.”
Tenants argue that the town’s method bypasses significant public course of and historic analysis, they usually query how demolition might proceed if Bergamot Station qualifies for landmark designation. Berman provides: “Santa Monica ought to be greater than a boardwalk and a Ferris wheel.”
Charles Duncombe, the inventive director of the nonprofit Metropolis Storage Theatre, says Bergamot is central to Santa Monica’s cultural life and civic identification. “Till just lately, the town has been arts- and culture-oriented,” Duncombe says. “The Cultural Affairs [Department] have by no means had a seat on the desk.” He provides that the impact has been significantly damaging for organisations like his that function within the evenings.
Airport versus station
Duncombe speculates that the town is beneath a strict deadline from the state to supply a specific amount of housing. However he wonders if the town might wait till the Santa Monica Airport property turns into obtainable after it closes to aviation in December 2028.
“I don’t know the land portfolio of Santa Monica (metropolis), however I’d think about there’s one other location they may set up housing in,” mentioned Krull. She provides that the airport and Barker Hangar location—which is internet hosting Frieze Los Angeles this week for the fourth 12 months in a row—had been raised as a possible web site for the housing improvement, however that the neighbours within the space have fought it due to the affect on visitors.
Krull provides the lack of Bergamot Station could be irreversible. “The town is dropping an academic and cultural useful resource,” he says. “Bergamot can’t be recreated. It’s tragic.” He provides that the battle has been painful for tenants who additionally help housing improvement. “Everyone knows housing is necessary,” he says. “That’s why it’s been laborious to face up so fiercely.”
A web-based petition launched by the group Saving Bergamot has, as of this writing, gathered greater than 1,300 signatures.
Tenants say the state of affairs displays a widening rift between the town, property managers and the cultural group at Bergamot Station. Berman says the town’s long-term goal has been clear. “We’re destined to be torn down,” he says. “We’re on dying row they usually’re not even giving us a final supper.”
