The latest updates on downtown Santa Monica economic recovery and public safety efforts
June 3, 2024 9:57 AM
by David White
There’s a lot happening in Downtown Santa Monica!
Millions of dollars are being invested here. New stores are opening and many others are in progress. We’re seeing fun and entertaining activations popping up. Hundreds of new apartments are being built and new residents are choosing to make Santa Monica home.
The city of Santa Monica continues to prioritize Economic Growth & Cultural Vitality, implementing innovative programs to support and attract businesses and boost economic recovery. This includes updated zoning and eased restrictions to allow a greater variety of businesses on the iconic Third Street Promenade.
We are also committed to keeping our city Clean & Safe, increasing law enforcement visibility in the downtown area, hiring more officers, expanding the city’s homeless multi-disciplinary teams and investing in maintenance of streets, sidewalks and parks.
Change takes time and patience.
Check out this video of Mayor Phil Brock sharing some exciting things happening on the Third Street Promenade.
And here are some more recent updates.
Clean & Safe
The Santa Monica Police Department has increased patrols, including both sworn and civilian personnel, to increase visibility and deter criminal activity on the Third Street Promenade and throughout downtown.
Downtown services officers, public services officers, and the Directed Action Response Team, or DART, are able to quickly address incidents that arise and provide a resource for shoppers and diners. The Homeless Liaison Program, or HLP Team, conducts regular outreach to those experiencing homelessness in public areas, offering shelter and services and addressing illegal behavior.
As we head into the busy summer season, we continue to put every effort toward enhancing security to ensure businesses and visitors feel safe in our city.
- New technologies: The drone program and increased mobile closed-circuit video are force multipliers in our ability to address crime.
- Increased visibility: The Mobile Command Post and the Mounted Police Patrol are deployed on key weekends for added presence.
- Overnight security: Public safety officers continue to perform overnight checks of the parking structures in partnership with private, contracted security officers.
- Neighborhood Resource Officer Program: The Neighborhood Resource Officers and Crime Prevention Coordinator for the downtown area are available to help businesses identify retail theft security risks and deter threats. Call (310) 458-8474 for more information.
- Public Safety and Homelessness: The HLP Team, in partnership with the L.A. County Department of Mental Health, the Salvation Army, and other social service providers, continues to connect with individuals experiencing homelessness to offer support, behavioral health care and resources.
Economic Growth & Cultural Vitality
Retail districts across the country – and globally – have seen changes in consumer habits, and Santa Monica is not immune. In the past several years, we've taken strategic action working with our local businesses, commercial real estate partners and Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. to adapt.
We’ve made important changes to help our businesses thrive and attract new businesses, including fun pop-ups to downtown and on the Third Street Promenade.
And it’s paying off. We have already seen progress, with many new entertainment, shopping and dining options opening and a more than 15 percent increase in foot traffic from 2022 to 2023.
There’s more to what meets the eye, with a lot of exciting work happening behind the scenes.
More than $1 billion is being invested in Downtown Santa Monica, including new hotels and more than 1,300 new apartments bringing new residents to the area to support downtown businesses.
Coming soon to downtown Santa Monica:
- Aja Vineyards
- Arte Museum
- Barnes & Noble
- Barry’s Bootcamp
- BODYROK
- Candles on Tap Scent Bar
- Club Studio
- Din Tai Fung
- Fogo de Chão
- Ghiradelli
- Health Nut
- Heated Room
- Hermanito
- Holey Moley
- JD Sports
- John Paul Mitchell Corporate Offices
- Luke's Lobster
- Maru Sushi
- MINISO
- Odd One Out
- Pacific Catch
- The Butter End Cakery
- Turn Dough
Hotels around the area have also made huge investments in updating their properties and introducing new brands and concepts to Santa Monica and the entire region, helping to welcome back visitors to Santa Monica from around the world.
The iconic Georgian Hotel recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation, The Pierside Hotel (formerly Wyndham Santa Monica) and Sonder The Beacon (formerly Shangri-La) also recently opened.
And coming soon and on the horizon:
- The Regent Hotel and Resort complete renovation and rebrand (formerly Loew’s Santa Monica Beach Hotel)
- A new hotel designed by architect Frank Gehry
- A Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows renovation and rebuild featuring a new Cesar Pelli-designed facility
It’s clear there’s a tremendous transformation happening in our city. Our work to facilitate economic recovery and increase public safety continues as we multiply and capitalize on the momentum and confidence in the Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica as a whole.
We are dedicated to making the city of Santa Monica a safe and welcoming place that offers the highest quality of life for residents, workers and visitors.
We look forward to sharing even more exciting updates soon.
Header image courtesy of DTSM, Inc.
Authored By
David White
City Manager