With the success of the traveling exhibit “Ashes and Snow” and the equestrian ballet “Cavalia,” City Hall is looking at other ways to use the 1550 parking lot adjacent to the Santa Monica Pier for extended run cultural events.
A community meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Ken Edwards Center and residents are encouraged to submit suggestions via snail mail or e-mail to Open Space Management, 2600 Ocean Park Blvd., 90405, or e-mailed to
Extended run cultural events in the 1550 lot, if managed properly and held in the off-season, are an excellent source of revenue to help the city maintain and improve Santa Monica State Beach, said Callie Hurd, open space manager.
These events also meet the community’s demand for cultural offerings and can provide an economic benefit to the city by increasing retail and restaurant business.
A city staff report released in September 2006 on the impact of “Ashes and Snow,” which ran from Jan. 14 to May 14 2006, found that 409,000 people attended the exhibition, spending an estimated $1.2 million at the pier over the five month exhibition period.
City Hall realized an estimated $7,200 from related food and beverage and retail sales taxes — in addition to the $450,000 in rental revenue received directly from the event producers.
The Ken Edwards Center is served by Big Blue Bus lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 and Rapid 3. To request a disability-related accommodation, please call (310) 458-8573.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 16, 2008. Read the original PDF.