Ebony Beach
Club Update
July 29, 2025
Item 11-B
July 29, 2025
Item 11-B
July 29, 2025
Overview
• In 1957, Silas White & Associates signed a lease-to-own agreement for 1811 Ocean Ave to open the Ebony Beach
Club, a Black-led nonprofit social club.
• In 1958, the City filed to acquire the property through eminent domain as part of a civic development plan.
• In 1959, the court awarded compensation to the landowner; Ebony Beach Club Inc. received none
Item 11-B
July 29, 2025
Item 11-B
July 29, 2025
Legal Context
• The court ruled that the nonprofit had no legal
interest in the land.
• Under 1950s law, courts could not consider racial
motivation, community benefit, or investments—
only ownership and market value.
• This was legally routine at the time.
• City records confirm Silas White’s investment and
planning for the club.
Item 11-B
July 29, 2025
Item 11-B
July 29, 2025
• In the mid-20th century, cities often used eminent domain and urban renewal to reshape neighborhoods, frequently displacing Black and Brown communities in the name of progress.
• Research shows that race-neutral laws like zoning and redevelopment were commonly applied in ways that produced racially unequal outcomes. • These policies, while legal at the time, caused lasting harm by limiting access to property, stability, and opportunity for communities of color. • In Santa Monica, freeway construction and Civic Center projects displaced residents from historically Black and Brown neighborhoods, including the area known as the Belmar Triangle.
Eminent Domain and Racial Displacement
Item 11-B
July 29, 2025
Item 11-B
July 29, 2025
Commitment to the White Family
On March 19, 2024,the White family addressed City Council and shared the story of the Ebony Beach Club.
Council unanimously voted to direct staff to conduct a full review of historical records, legal documents, and media coverage related to the seizure of 1811 Ocean Avenue. And to return with "Recommendations that include steps the City of Santa Monica should take to repair past harm that the City perpetuated against Silas White and his descendants."
Recommendation:
With that review now completed, Staff recommends entering into formal mediation with a mediator selected by the White family, with the City covering costs up to $15,000.
Item 11-B
July 29, 2025
Item 11-B
July 29, 2025
Toward A Broader Framework
This case is not isolated—Santa Monica’s history includes other racially disproportionate land losses.
• A citywide restorative justice framework is needed that can provide:
• Clear criteria
• Transparent review process
• Community-centered engagement
• The Landback & Reparations Task Force, launched in 2025, is developing these tools and recommendations for broader reparative justice beyond the case of the Ebony Beach Club
Item 11-B
July 29, 2025
Item 11-B
July 29, 2025