The Bergamot Station Gallery & Cultural Association (BSGCA) is reaching out to the arts community and the public to inform you of the imminent destruction of Bergamot Station Arts Center, should the City of Santa Monica proceed with its current development plans. Dozens of business owners, hundreds of employees, and an endless number of artists and their families as well as the Santa Monica arts community at large, are in serious jeopardy.
We need your support in an effort to save Bergamot Station from overdevelopment. We do not want another Grove or Shopping Mall to replace this unique and historic complex, which has thrived against all odds for over 20 years as well as providing exceptional arts programming and community service. All three development teams under consideration for the contract with the City of Santa Monica propose a massive overhaul to the property which will result in the disruption and closure of many of our businesses. Current development proposals threaten to:
- DECREASE THE NUMBER OF ART GALLERIES
- ADD RETAIL SPACE
- ADD CREATIVE OFFICES
- ADD A HOTEL
- ADD BARS AND RESTAURANTS
We, as over 40 art galleries and cultural businesses, respectfully cannot support the City’s plan to turn Bergamot Station into one of these three concepts:
THESE ARE NOT OPTIONS!
They threaten the heart and soul of Bergamot Station as we know it.
We ask our patrons, associates, friends, artists, and supporters to help us preserve our businesses and our beloved community of galleries and arts related businesses by signing a petition to request that the City of Santa Monica Officials cease plans for redevelopment until the survival of the core tenants of Bergamot Station is ensured.
PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION before the Santa Monica City Council votes on this issue in the next few weeks. Leave a comment as to why the preservation of our station is important to you, share the petition with your friends, and contact council members and let them know you support our cause.
