Activating Economic Opportunity and Growth

Economic revitalization is essential to long-term stability. 

With retail vacancies near 16 percent and office vacancies around 35 percent, the city's Realignment Plan pairs safety and infrastructure improvements with policies to attract investment and visitors. 

Highlights include:

• Launch of a large-format Santa Monica Music Festival in 2026 in partnership with Goldenvoice, along with monthly Promenade activation events and community programming supported by Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). 
• Modernizing permitting to achieve the following plan-review timelines:
  • Residential Plan Review Turnaround Times: 
  • ADU conversions – 1 week 
  • ADU new construction – 2 weeks 
  • Single Unit Dwelling new construction – 3 weeks 
  • Single Unit Dwelling remodel – 2 weeks 
  • Non-Residential & Mixed Use Plan Review Turnaround Times: 
  • Nonresidential or mixed-use building new construction – 5 weeks 
  • Retail/Office structural tenant improvement – 2 weeks 
  • Restaurant tenant improvement – 2 weeks 
  • Commercial non-structural tenant improvements – 1 week
• Implementing an AI-based Archistar pilot program for single-family and ADU plan-checks. 
• Reducing outdoor dining fees to $1 per square foot for sidewalk dining and $2 per square foot for parklets, while eliminating city wastewater capacity charges. 
• Temporarily suspending Transportation Demand Management survey requirements for businesses. 
• Reopening all branch libraries by 2026 as neighborhood learning and workforce-development hubs. 
• Exploring expansion of Entertainment Zones Downtown, at the Pier, and within other BID corridors.