Marina del Rey is on the verge of its biggest transformation in decades, and the question now is whether that change will serve all Angelenos or reinforce an exclusive enclave for the few.
The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors (DBH) has launched “Marina del Rey for All: The Next Wave,” a planning process to guide redevelopment as 26 county-owned waterfront leases expire over the next seven years. These leases, many signed decades ago, have locked up prime coastal land in private hands, often for luxury-oriented uses that offer little public benefit. Their expiration is a rare chance to reset the balance between public access and private profit.
DBH says the new plan will reflect community priorities gathered over years of engagement, including more affordable housing, expanded open space, low-cost access to the water, climate resilience, and honoring Indigenous histories. But past marina redevelopments have often tilted toward high-end restaurants, luxury boat slips, and market-rate apartments, with promises of public benefit diluted in negotiations.
The political stakes are clear. Supervisor Holly Mitchell’s 2022 motion directing DBH to align the marina with the County’s equity and inclusion goals was a direct response to criticism that L.A.’s only marina had become a playground for the wealthy. Now, with PlaceWorks and other consultants leading studies on market demand, mobility, and open space, the county is deciding how far it’s willing to push against entrenched private interests.
Developers and leaseholders are already positioning themselves for the next round of deals. DBH has issued an RFP for the first 100% affordable housing project in the marina, but that is just one parcel out of dozens. Expiring leases near Admiralty Way, Fisherman’s Village, and other high-visibility areas are likely to attract proposals for commercial and mixed-use development. Without strict requirements, the risk is that “equity” will be reduced to marketing language while public land is again locked into private control for generations.
Environmental advocates are watching closely too. The marina’s redevelopment could address long-standing water quality issues and climate risks, or it could greenwash over them while adding more high-impact uses. And for communities historically excluded from the coast, the stakes are about more than amenities; they’re about whether the public can truly reclaim and shape its own waterfront.
By the end of 2025, DBH plans to produce a “development toolkit” that will guide lease negotiations and serve as a checklist for evaluating developer proposals. If it’s strong, it could lock in real public benefits and set new standards for transparency, accountability, and equity in coastal redevelopment. If it’s weak, this “once-in-a-generation” opportunity could slip away.
The fight over Marina del Rey’s future has already begun. Whether the next wave brings a more inclusive, accessible marina or a deeper entrenchment of private control will depend on how the public engages — and how much political will county leaders are willing to spend to stand up to powerful leaseholders and developers.
Public feedback is open now at www.mdr4all.org.