SANTA MONICA – On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, more than 2,500 students, faculty, and staff from Palisades Charter High School arrived at their new temporary campus in downtown Santa Monica, marking their return to in-person learning after the devastating Palisades Fire forced the closure of their original campus in January.
The new site—“Pali South”—occupies the former Sears building at 302 Colorado Avenue. In just one month, the vacant commercial space was transformed into a fully operational school campus through a coordinated and expedited construction process led by city departments, Pali High administrators, architects from Gensler, and contractors with CW Driver.
Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete and Los Angeles City Councilmember Traci Park were on site Tuesday morning at the Downtown Santa Monica Metro Station, greeting students and families as they arrived. Santa Monica Police officers, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies, and Santa Monica Firefighters were also present to provide a visible safety presence on the first day.
“This morning was a reminder of what community means,” said Mayor Negrete. “To see these students smiling and walking into a new space after all they’ve been through—it’s a privilege to welcome them here.”
Students will attend classes at the downtown site through June 6, and are expected to return again for the fall semester following summer break. The relocation was made possible through an emergency order approved by the Santa Monica City Council in the early days of the fire, which allowed affected schools to temporarily relocate to commercial properties within city limits. Palisades High is now the fifth school to do so under the order.
To accommodate the influx, the city developed a comprehensive transportation and mobility plan that includes adjusted traffic signals, dedicated drop-off and pick-up zones, and enhanced safety measures. Pali South is easily accessible by the Metro E Line and Big Blue Bus. Public transit ambassadors, law enforcement officers, and Downtown Santa Monica Ambassadors are stationed in the area to provide guidance and maintain order during peak hours.
Students from across the region are arriving via charter buses, rail, carpools, and active transportation. A dedicated drop-off area behind the Metro station connects directly to the campus via a pedestrian tunnel under 4th Street. Parking has been allocated for school personnel in nearby structures, and local officials are urging all commuters to plan accordingly, particularly during peak traffic windows between 7–8:30 a.m. and 2:30–4:00 p.m.
To support the students’ transition, local businesses—coordinated through Santa Monica Travel & Tourism—are offering special discounts and promotions for high schoolers. Physical education classes will be held at nearby parks, and the Main Library has extended resources and study spaces to the new student population.
The buildout of the Pali South campus included 90 new classrooms, 2,750 desks and chairs, 30 miles of wiring, 48,000 square feet of acoustic insulation, and 11,000 square yards of carpeting—enough to cover two football fields. In total, the rapid development included more than 28,000 construction hours over just 29 days.
Santa Monica Closeup will continue following Pali High’s presence downtown and document the evolving story of students, educators, and city staff working together to build resilience in the aftermath of disaster.
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