✈️ What’s Happening with Santa Monica Airport?
- Residents have long pushed to close the airport due to concerns over noise, air pollution, and safety
- The airport sits on 227 acres, nearly 5% of the city’s total land area
- In 2014, voters passed Measure LC, allowing the city to close the airport after 2028 and repurpose the land for parks or public use
- Despite common reports, the city is not required to close the airport, it could still choose to keep it open
- A proposal to build affordable / dense housing on the site has sparked pushback from local residents, with concerns related to:
- Years of ongoing construction and disruption
- Increased traffic and congestion
- Changes to the character of the neighborhood
- Aviation supporters argue the airport should remain open and evolve:
- It’s a hub for innovation, community events and provides a unique infrastructure
- By 2028, they envision electric planes will be available to the city in the same way Ubers are now, making aviation accessible and affordable for everyday residents to beat the LA traffic
- Housing advocates say the site is a vital opportunity to help address LA’s housing shortage
- Others believe the land should remain mostly green space, becoming a major public park
- 👉 Bottom line: What happens at the Santa Monica Airport site will significantly shape the city’s future and impact the value of surrounding real estate for years to come.
