To the immediate north of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, the Santa Monica Civic Center is the site of a major redevelopment effort by the city. An 11.3-acre portion of the property was purchased by the Rand Corportation, across 4th Street to the west.

The Civic Center Specific Plan, which was adopted on June 28, 2005, encompasses the area bordered by Pico Boulevard, 4th Street, Ocean Ave. and Colorado Avenue. The area will become, after the decades-long redevelopment, a locus for community gatherings and major civic events.