Madison campus project watched closely by residents
Santa Monica College is a million dollars closer to its claim to be the “cultural mecca” in the city.
The Santa Monica College Foundation has announced that it has allocated $1 million of undesignated funds to the college’s Madison Theater project, a proposed 500-seat education and performing arts facility.
The gift brings the total raised for the $15 million project to $4.5 million.
SMC officials see the performing arts center as filling a large void on the west side for cultural activities. College officials envision the facility as the hub of west side organizations like the Los Angeles Opera.
In addition to lectures and rehearsals, the facility would provide a venue for theater performances, dance, chorale, symphony orchestra and guest speakers.
“This pledge represents the SMC Foundation’s firm commitment to this important project,” said SMC Foundation President Graham Pope. “The Madison project, when completed, will be the only center of its kind for arts education and performance on the west side and will greatly enrich our community. We are pleased to designate these funds, which were private unrestricted gifts donated to the SMC Foundation, to the theater.”
The SMC Foundation already has raised $3.5 million in gifts, pledges and bequests for the Madison Theater project.
Actor and SMC alumnus Dustin Hoffman is the honorary chair of the Madison fundraising campaign.
The proposed facility will be built at SMC’s Madison campus, located on Santa Monica Boulevard between 10th and 11th streets.
The theater is proposed in the same location as the existing auditorium. The main level, expanded balcony and new lobby will add about 15,000 square feet, making for an entire facility of 56,000 square feet.
Many residents fear such a facility will ruin their neighborhoods with noise, traffic and parking. They want to see the theater in a more public place like the civic center, which is planned for a $120 million redevelopment. Some of the city’s elected officials are supportive of the idea.
SMC President Piedad Robertson has said that neighbors will not be left out of the planning process. She points out that five residents living within a quarter mile of the proposed theater will be on the advisory committee.
The college plans to accommodate all of the parking for the facility and will address traffic concerns by having the SMC police manage traffic before and
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 30, 2002. Read the original PDF.