SR-9A (12)
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CCS:SEM:mllcon
Councll Meetlng: Aprll 11, 1995
Santa Monlca, Callfornla
APR 1 t 1995
STAFF REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Councll
FROM: Clty Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Approve Conceptual Plan for Renovation
of Mlles Memorial ?layhouse ln Llncoln Park and to Adopt
Use Guidelines for the Faclllty
INTRODUCTION
This report transmits and requests Clty Council approval of
conceptual plans for renovatlon of Mlles Memorial Playhouse and use
gUldellnes which wlll be lncorporated in the process to establlsh
what organizatlon(s) and activities w1II occupy the fac1l1ty.
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Monica recently reopened Lincoln Park after a
half-mlllion dollar renovation of the act1ve recreation areas on
the western side of the park. The new plaY1ng courts, equipment,
11ght1ng, landscap1ng and building mod1f1cations have been well
rece1ved by the publ1c.
A key to the full real1zat1on of Lincoln Park's potential is M1les
Memorlal Playhouse, a Clty landmark on the eastern slde of the park
that was heavily damaged in the Northrldge earthquake of 1994. The
playhouse was a gift to the City from a former Clty Councilmember,
J. Eucl1d Miles, who made a $25,000 bequest in honor of his
daughter
The donor speclfled that h1S glft be used for a "publlc
recreat10n hall for the ch1ldren and young men and
1
women O~__~he^
API' 1 f\s
communlty.lI Additional terms of the bequest requlred that the
facility be constructed in a City park and that the Clty malntain
the faclllty as it would the park. The City Councll accepted the
terms by adopting Resolutlons numbered 591 in 1925 and 877 in 1929
The initlal use of the playhouse was by a communlty theater group
which produced and presented plays there for a number of years.
Over the years, portions of the bUlldlng have been used for a wlde
variety of actlvitles including muslcal rehearsals and
performances, community classes, meetings, dance performances and
classes and other purposes
In addltlon to its distinctlve Spanlsh Colonial revival
architectural style and landmark status, the playhouse is notable
for ltS proscenlum stage wlth llmited theatrical productlon support
facllltles, an audience capaclty ln excess of 200 seats, a "sprung"
wood floor unlquely suited for dance, and multl-purpose space on
lts lower levels. T~e bUlldlng does not meet seismic and other
code requlrements including accesslblllty gUldelines. Its baslc
support systems such as electrlcal, heatlng and cooling are
lnadequate
Today, Mlles playhouse stands empty, bllghted and fe~ced off from
parkgoers Restoratlon of the playho~se will enhance Llncoln Park.
Populating the playho~se wlth actlve uses will encourage resldents
to make use of the new park facllltles. To that end, the John Ash
Group, an archltectural flrm specializing ln hlstorlC preservatlon,
was engaged to prepare plans for the restoratlon
2
PubllC lnput on the restoratlon project has been Sollclted through
publlC workshops, focus meetings wlth potentlal user groups, and
resldent and youth surveys. The communlty preferences that emerged
are for a facllity that accommodates musical and theatrical
performances, supports nelghborhood actlvltles and events and
provldes supplemental activlties that may lnclude exhlbltlons and
classes Youth, who under the terms of the bequest are to be the
prlncipal users of the space, expressed lnterest ln fllm and
performance space, mUS1C, vldeo and fllm production facilities,
special interest classes and exerClse opportunitles. Performlng
arts groups, the Santa Monica Hlstorlcal Soclety Museum and
recreatlonal dance groups have expressed lnterest in using the
restored playhouse. A number of schools and youth organizatlons
are interested ln programming there
The Arts Commisslon and Recreation and Parks CommlSSlon revlewed
three representatlve restoration concepts. One substantially
improved the playhouse for professional quallty theatrical use on
all levels, a second provlded some upgrade of theatrical amenitles
and provlded for classroom or productlon facllltles on the basement
level, and a third kept theatrlcal amenitles near their current
status and provided open space in the basement level. The Arts
CommlSSlon preferred the flrst concept and the Recreation and Parks
Commission preferred the thlrd.
3
Work1ng W1 th 1nput from the Comm1SS1ons and the workshops, the
arch1tects prepared a basic restorat1on plan that combined elements
from the three concepts.
RECOMMENDED RESTORATION CONCEPT
The f1nal renovat1on concept prepared by the John Ash Group
responds to publ1C and Comm1SS1on 1nput and ma1nta1ns fleX1b1l1ty
in designating a pr1mary use for the faclllty. The attached plans
lllustrate the concept which focuses on the baS1C structural and
suppo~t systems of the playhouse.
Briefly stated, the concept preserves the audltor1um and stage for
assembly and performance purposes and provides flex1ble use space
at the lower levels, access1ble publ1C restrooms, storage areas and
an elevator that accesses the four playhouse levels (stage,
auditorium, under stage and basement) PrOV1S1on is made for
electrlcal serV1ce, HVAC, and plumbing upgrades as well as se1sm1C,
ADA and other code compl1ance. Landscaping improvements include
restoration of per10d appropr1ate plant1ng at the rear of the
playhouse and provlslon for an outdoor gather1ng space 1n front.
Relocat1on of two jun1pers from that area 18 recommended to improve
the V1S1b1llty of the historic structure. The concept seeks to
preserve the h1storic fabric of the structure and to follow the
Secretary of the Interior's GUldel1nes for Restoration of H1stor1C
Structures whlch SHPO will use to evaluate the conceDt.
The est1mated cost of the baslc restorat1on concept 1S $975,000.
The archltects have also provlded est1mates of representat1ve
4
improvements and equ1pment which would be spec1f1c to the uses
ultimately selected for the faclllty. While the federal government
may participate in the cost of the basic restorationf the CltYf
worklng wlth the selected facility user(s) f would determine what
user-speclflC improvements would be desirable and what sources of
fundlng would be available to achleve them.
USE GUIDELINES
The recommended restoratlon concept preserves flexiblllty ln
determ1ning the ultimate uses and users of the playhouse. Because
there lS substantlal community interest ln the facillty, a
selection process that SOllCltS proposals wlll provlde the basis
for evaluatlng alternatlves to meet the needs and interests of
Santa Monica youth.
In evaluatlng future uses and vlable user groups, the followlng use
guidelines are proposed:
o Youth focus. The terms of the bequest WhlCh the Clty accepted
to construct Miles Playhouse clearly requlre its use for youth
actlvltles. Programs dlrected toward and wlth real appeal to
the interests of the City's diverse young people will be
sought. The Clty Attorney has advlsed that any other proposed
uses or the playhouse must be clearly subordlnate in terms of
tlme, space and partlcipatlon.
o ACtlvlty level. The Clty'S lnvestment in Lincoln Park wlll
benerlt from vltal and hlghly vislble yo~th activity levels at
Mlles Playhouse. Youth actlvltles whleh will populate the
playhouse throughout the day and evenlng will enliven the
park
o Unlque features The playhouse possesses characterlstlcs
which distlngulsh lt frem other communlty facillties. Youth
activltles WhlCh capltallze on features such as the proscenium
stage, the mld-slzed audlence capaclty, the "spr~ng" floor and
the landmark status of the bUlldlng will be most approprlate.
5
o Communlty and publlC beneflt. The City gives consideration to
resldent status lD booklng other public facilities, in grant
maklng and ln fee structures. In recognition of the
lnvestment that wlll be made ln restoration of the playhouse,
youth actlvltles should primarily serve those who reslde ln
the Clty Uses that are open to all youth of the communlty
are desirable
o Publlc/non-proflt programs. The City has benefitted from a
cooperatlve relatlonshlp wlth the public schools and Santa
Monlca's actlve non-proflt sector. Proposals for youth
actlvltles from those agencies are encouraged.
o Collaboration. Programs WhlCh demonstrate lnnovatl ve and
substantive collaboration between youth services and programs
are preferred.
o Financial stabllity. Resources will be required for the
sustalned operatlon of quality programs and for equipping the
playhouse for its user groups. Organlzatlons that demonstrate
financial stability and a resource base that wlll enable them
to sustain program vitality and enhance the faclllty are
favored.
NEXT STEPS
Followlng Council approval of the restoration concept, the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the State Office of Emergency
Servlces (OES), and the State HlstorlC Preservatlon Offlce (SHPO)
wlll formally reVlew the plans and complete a Damage Survey Report
for reconstructlon. ThlS wlll provlde an lndlcatlon of the extent
to WhlCh federal funds will assist in the renovatlon process. SHPO
staff have responded favorably to the proposed concept ln an
informal brlefing.
The architects would then prepare detailed plans for approval by
the City's Archltectural ReV1ew Board which 1S JOlned by a
representative from the Landmarks CommlSSlon under earthquake
recovery procedures.
Council has expressed lnterest in a final
look at all park related proJects at thlS stage of development.
6
Concurrently with the approval processes outllned above, a Request
for Proposals for use of the faclllty lncorporatlng the guidelines
adopted by Councll wlll be lssued.
Based on the response of
lnterested users, staff wlll recommend whether the City should
operate the faclllty (T1booklngTl various uses) or whether a
prlncipal tenant for the facility should be deslgnated.
Staff's
recommendation will be transmltted to the Arts Commlssion and
Recreation and Parks Commission as well as to the City Councll
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
The actlons recommended In thlS report have no lmmedlate budget or
flnancial impact.
Provision for the basic renovation of Miles
Playhouse wlll be consldered In con]Unctlon wlth the Clty'S Capital
Improvement Program budget Ear 1995-96.
Provlsion Eor user
specific amenitles will be ~ade once speciflc faclllty uses are
determlned.
RECOMMENDATION
It 1S recommended that the City Council approve the basic
restoration concept for Mlles Playhouse and the proposed gUldelines
Eor use of the Eaclllty.
Prepared by:
Susan E. McCarthy
Dlrector of community and Cultural SerVlces
7
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