Amid numerous urbanization projects in Downtown Santa Monica, it’s easy to see the entire city being swept up in a more developed and modern look and feel. However, Santa Monica’s Recreation and Parks Commission is recommending that some development space is allocated toward a large park.

The Santa Monica Lookout reported that the commission asked that a public park is created on two-thirds of the “Plaza at Santa Monica” site on Arizona Avenue between 4th and 5th streets. Currently slated to be a 12-story mixed-use property, the 2.73-acre plaza would include a new hotel — a big revenue driver for the project and city. However, this recommendation could change portions of the current plans, as the public land’s use is ultimately dictated by the city, rather than any private owner and developer.

The recommendation also stands at a crossroads with citywide needs. On the one hand, the hotel construction and opening bring new jobs to Santa Monica. Plus, the mixed-use structure also includes affordable housing units. 

However, the city is also park-poor according to commission chairman John Cyrus Smith. He reports that Santa Monica only has 1.4 park acres per 1,000 residents — a mark less than every other coastal city in LA. Los Angeles County itself has just 3.4 park acres per 1,000 residents. Portions of Los Angeles’ park shortage are due to current tax protections for the area’s private golf courses.

The recommendation makes the park far from a done deal, however. It’s likely that more will come of this ask — and other portions of the overall Plaza proposal — when an environmental impact report is complete.