By Jorge Casuso

April 29, 2026 -- The City Council Tuesday renamed a short stretch of street after a Black entrepreneur who planned to open a beach club on land taken by the City some 70 years ago.

The portion of Vicente Terrace -- between Main Street and Ocean Avenue -- is near the property where Silas White planned to establish the Ebony Beach Club to serve the City’s Black community.

The renaming of the street, which has no mailing addresses, was part of a $350,000 legal settlement with White's family that was unanimously approved by the City Council last November ("City Settles with Family of Black Entrepreneur," November 24, 2025).

The settlement of the suit, which claimed the property was taken from White in a racially motivated eminent domain action, also includes proclaiming October 12 as Silas White day and establishing an exhibit honoring the entrepreneur who died in 1962.

During Tuesday's meeting, the family's legal representative read a statement from White's family commending the City for renaming the street.

"We look forward to the City's continued efforts to recognize and address the historical injustices experienced by the communities of color," the statement read.

"This action is a significant step in acknowledging the racially motivated polices that hindered individuals and families from addressing entrepreneurship, home ownership and the accumulation of generational wealth.

"While no single measure can fully remedy these losses or unrealized opportunities, it is essential to continue paving the path toward meaningful repair," the family said.

The family's lawsuit sought financial compensation or the return of the land near the beach currently occupied by surface parking spaces at the northwest end of the Viceroy Hotel property at the corner of Pico Boulevard and Ocean Avenue.

A year after White's family presented their case to the Council, City officials concluded after four months of research that White didn't own the property in question.

A group of investors called Silas White & Associates signed a lease-to-purchase agreement in 1957 to buy the property for $200,000 paid in monthly installments over 15 years and paid an initial $8,250.

The following year, the City filed to eminent domain five parcels that included the beach club site and paid the owners $70,000.

By then, White and his investors had made property improvements, published ads and drawn the interest of 400 prospective members for the club several blocks from Santa Monica's segregated “Inkwell” beach.

The settlement approved by the Council in November recognized the family's efforts to "address alleged wrongs" to Silas White and gave the family's claim consideration under a restorative program that allows "leasehold interests" to be eligible.