Forcing out Santa Monica's Artists?

The exodus of artists from Santa Monica has been both rapid and dramatic. When consultants hired to gauge the extent of the problem conducted a survey of artists’ spaces in May, there were 156 live/work and studio spaces left in the city. After the report on “Strategies To Preserve and Enhance Affordable Artist Housing and Studio Space” was typed up, the number had dropped to 117. By the time the final draft was presented to Santa Monica’s Arts Commission on July 10, there were only 78 studios left, half the number just two months ago. Recommendations include changing zoning to encourage development of artist spaces, possibly modifying the current district zoning to establish an artist-studio district that would specifically encourage arts activity, and using city-owned property for day studios and live/work spaces. Jorge Casuso of the LA Weekly reports.