Supporters of housing at the Santa Monica Airport are mounting a last ditch effort to influence the City Council ahead of Tuesday’s discussion with the release of a new survey paid for by a local union.
According to the survey, two-thirds of Santa Monica voters believe the city's airport site is large enough to accommodate both affordable housing and parks if the facility closes in 2028.
The poll, commissioned by UNITE HERE! Local 11 and conducted by Goodwin Simon Strategic Research, found that 65% of voters want at least some housing included in the 191-acre airport property's future development. Nearly half — 46% — support dividing the space evenly between housing and parks.
The survey also revealed that 67% of voters support using part of the airport land for workforce housing designed for essential workers like teachers and firefighters.
While 49% described Santa Monica's shortage of parks and open space as a serious problem, 76% said the lack of affordable housing for working people represents a serious issue. Nearly half — 46% — called affordable housing shortages a "very" serious problem, compared to 19% who said the same about parks.
Three-quarters want making housing more affordable to be a high priority, while 73% want the city to focus on helping workers afford to live where they work.
"Voters clearly recognize that a lack of affordable housing is an urgent problem for Santa Monica, one which threatens to make the city inaccessible for all but the wealthy," wrote Kurt Peterson of UNITE HERE! Local 11 in a memo summarizing the findings.
The telephone and online survey reached 449 active Santa Monica voters between June 26 and July 1. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.61 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
The surprise survey comes as momentum has shifted in recent weeks towards a parks only plan and both sides are expected to come out in force to voice their opinions during the council meeting.
In response, there has been a flurry of lobbying activity including email campaigns drumming up supporters for the meeting, an in-person rally scheduled for Tuesday night and a mobilizing of various groups who all have an interest in the outcome.
The Santa Monica City Council will debate the future of Santa Monica Airport at a study session Tuesday night, reviewing three scenarios for transforming the 192-acre site into public parkland if the facility closes Dec. 31, 2028.
The three conceptual plans, developed through community engagement involving nearly 5,000 survey participants, offer different approaches to balancing open space, recreation, housing and financial sustainability on one of the city’s most valuable properties.