By Jorge Casuso

November 22, 2023 -- State housing officials have given the City the go-ahead to negotiate the purchase of the Civic Auditorium with any interested party, City officials announced Wednesday.

The move comes after the California Housing and Community Development Department determined the City has complied with the Surplus Land Act -- which prioritizes affordable housing, parks and recreation -- for the historic site.

Civic Auditorium in 1958 (Images from School District's Feasibility Study)

"The process included issuing a Notice of Availability to Eligible Entities" and "negotiating in good faith with any Eligible Entity that submitted a Notice of Intent to purchase or lease the land," City officials said.

"These negotiations did not result in a disposition or lease of the site," officials said. "With the state certification that the Surplus Land Act process is complete, the city could now consider proposals for the site from any interested party.

"Options for the future of this site are being evaluated along with next steps."

Two proposals were submitted after the City Council voted to declare the Civic Auditorium as surplus land in October 2022.

In July, the Council voted to terminate negotiations with Community Corp, Santa Monica's largest affordable housing provider ("Council Ends Negotiations to Sell Civic Auditorium for Affordable Housing," July 27, 2023).

Last month, the School District announced it will not submit a proposal to purchase and rehabilitate the historic building unless the City fails to find another buyer ("District Holds Back Civic Proposal For Now," October 6, 2023).

The District had unveiled a nearly $227 million plan -- excluding the purchase cost -- to renovate and re-adapt the 65-year-old structure as a multi-use space ("School District Releases Plans for Civic Auditorium," August 11, 2023).

As word of the plan spread, a grass roots movement emerged to restore the moth-balled auditorium to its original use as a prominent public venue that once hosted legendary rock acts and the Academy Awards.

Proponents say they expect other interested parties will bid for the site, although previous efforts have failed to pencil out a way to pay for the restoration, which includes extensive seismic retrofitting.