By Christopher Palmeri
Howard Hughes built his Spruce Goose airplane there. Steven Spielberg once considered its 1,087 acres for a DreamWorks SKG studio. But for nearly 20 years, Playa Vista has been a battleground for environmentalists out to stop construction on one of the last wetlands in Southern California.
Now, at half its original size and with twice the open space, the Playa Vista development could become a landmark example of new urbanism, a planning philosophy emphasizing eco-friendly design. Playa Vista has townhouses rather than houses with yards. Parking is underground, and bike trails are plentiful. Residents can even tool around in $5,000 electric carts, with the cost included in their mortgages. The first 100 homeowners moved in last month. "It's a high-density development with a lot of attention to the environment," says University of Southern California professor Stuart Gabriel.
Demand for the 5,800 planned homes is strong. Of the first 305 available, all but 43 are spoken for, with prices reaching $900,000. If Angelenos will give up yards and driveways for a more eco-friendly lifestyle, can the rest of the country be far behind?