Should the 227-acre Santa Monica Airport be turned into a public park, hundreds of homes or both?
That’s the debate being waged in the coastal city, which must determine the future of the controversial airport set to close in 2028 at 3233 Donald Douglas Loop South, the Santa Monica Daily Press reported.
At a recent Santa Monica Democratic Club meeting, members formed an ad hoc committee to study the issue and recommend a formal position before the City Council makes critical decisions.
The discussion reflects a decades-long battle over the airport, now shifting toward a once-in-a-generation opportunity for redevelopment.
Frank Gruber of the Santa Monica Airport2Park Foundation urged full conversion of the airport land into a “Great Park,” invoking 2014’s Measure LC, which restricts post-airport development to parks and recreational uses unless approved by voters.
He warned that introducing housing could divide the community and potentially prolong aviation operations.
“We need more housing,” Gruber told the Daily Press. “But with more people comes more need for open space — especially for those without backyards.”
Airport2Park’s vision emphasizes environmental justice, pointing to Santa Monica’s limited parks compared to other cities. The group argues this may be the last chance to create a major urban park in an increasingly dense urban area.
A competing proposal from a coalition called Cloverfield Commons, however, calls for a shared approach: dividing the site evenly between affordable housing and a park.
Community organizer Vivian Rothstein and Santa Monica Forward co-chair Bradley Ewing outlined a plan for modest housing for low- and moderate-income residents, along with green space.
Rothstein emphasized the city’s dire need for housing for essential workers, saying, “We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use land that belongs to us for the benefit of the future.”
Ewing warned that failing to plan proactively could trigger state intervention under housing laws. The coalition’s proposal includes using a nonprofit land trust to lease city-owned land, generating revenue to maintain the park.
Yet potential legal challenges loom.
Environmental attorney David Pettit warned that any deviation from Measure LC or sale of land for housing could face litigation or invoke the Surplus Land Act, limiting local control.
As the city weighs its options, the Democratic Club’s committee will develop a recommendation in the coming months.
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