Open space development is a challenge especially in a built out compact city such as Santa Monica. The city purchased a major lumberyard site back in the year 2004, and is currently working on getting existing properties. The objective is to develop these into parks and open spaces. At the same time, the city is undertaking a substantial remodel of the open space and this is to make them even more accessible and sustainable. As such, the recently remodeled Virginia Avenue Park community center is certified by the authority LEED.

The goal for housing in the city is to provide a mix of affordable and livable green housing projects that is available for people socioeconomic, cultural as well as household groups.The current progress is such that, in a truly sustainable city, the affordable housing as such is available to people and households of various income levels. In this way, it requires variety in the means of housing stock meaning, this has to meet the variety of the housing income levels for the entire community. Having said this, the percentage for the new and existing rental housing that is available to the low as well as the very low income families that were based in Santa Monica fell quite drastically in the recent years.

As such, in the late 90s only 86 percent was affordable while in the year, 2003 only 54 percent of this statistic was affordable. The percentage dropped exponentially within a period of 5 or so years. In addition to the already sky rocketing property values within the area since the late 90 when the changes to the state controlled laws resulted in the extreme loss of a significant percentage of the affordable units that came through the city. On the other hand, even though Santa Monica has continued to actively fund and encourage the development of affordable housing, the efforts in this regard have become increasingly affected by forces that are beyond the initiatives control, in this perspective.

As such, the city has recently completed a 44 unit affordable housing complex that is situated within the heart of the city. This initiative received a LEED gold star rating. On the other hand, this facility only addresses a small fraction of the affordable housing requirements but the project represents the city’s initiative that is loyal to the integrated solutions that are geared toward funding affordable housing within the community.

As such, the community goal in this perspective is that community members participate actively toward the effective civic affairs within the community improvement efforts. A sustainable community should be active and vibrant as an important facet of its character. The city residents are not just engaged and involved in the community development and volunteer efforts but the regular interactions that entail interaction with each other. As such, most people that are familiar with the Santa Monica community would surmise that is a very engaged populace. The community education as well as the civic participation factors will allow for the first time, for a study to focus and measure resources that are meant to maintain opportunities that are driven for engagement.