Culture

Public Space

Plazas, promenades, sidewalks, and the quality of the shared outdoor room.

Why it matters here

Public space is where a city becomes a community.

Where this matters

Pacific OceanSanta Monica PierSanta Monica BeachDowntown Santa MonicaThird Street PromenadeMain StreetMontana AvenueSanta Monica Airport AreaSanta Monica CollegePalisades ParkReed ParkMemorial ParkVirginia Avenue ParkAirport ParkCivic CenterOcean ParkPico NeighborhoodMid-CityNorth of MontanaWilshire / MontanaSunset ParkNortheast Santa MonicaDowntown ResidentialMajor CorridorsE Line Stations

Downtown Santa Monica

The dense core between the freeway and the ocean — offices, apartments, hotels, shopping, and the E Line terminus.

What we love:
Walkability · Restaurants & Cafés · Local Businesses
Key issues:
Local Business & Economy · Housing · Public Safety
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Third Street Promenade

Three car-free blocks of shopping, street performance, and public gathering between Wilshire and Broadway.

What we love:
Walkability · Public Spaces · Arts & Culture
Key issues:
Local Business & Economy · Public Safety · Public Space
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Main Street

A low-scale commercial street from Pico to the Venice border, lined with independent shops, cafés, and restaurants.

What we love:
Local Businesses · Restaurants & Cafés · Walkability
Key issues:
Local Business & Economy · Parking · Transportation
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Santa Monica Airport Area

A large, city-owned open area on the eastern edge — aviation history, creative and cultural tenants, Airport Park, and the city's biggest long-range land use question.

What we love:
Historic Places · Arts & Culture · Parks & Green Space
Key issues:
Development · Parks & Recreation · Environment
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Civic Center

City Hall, the Civic Auditorium, courthouse, Tongva Park, and the campus of public buildings between Downtown and the beach.

What we love:
Public Spaces · Parks & Green Space · Architecture
Key issues:
City Services · Public Space · Development
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Wilshire / Montana

A dense apartment district between Wilshire and Montana, walkable to downtown, the bluffs, and neighborhood shops.

What we love:
Walkability · Neighborhoods · Local Businesses
Key issues:
Housing · Parking · Public Safety
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Downtown Residential

The growing residential population living within the downtown core, above shops and beside transit.

What we love:
Walkability · Restaurants & Cafés · Public Spaces
Key issues:
Housing · Public Safety · Public Space
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What we value

  • Places to sit for free
  • Shade
  • Room for performance and gathering

Improving something shouldn't mean losing what people already love about it.

Challenges

  • Maintenance (community concern — not verified data)
  • Competing uses (community concern — not verified data)

Ideas & opportunities

  • Parklets
  • Street closures for events
  • More seating and shade

Related projects

No projects or initiatives have been linked to Public Space yet.