Playa Vista is a new city that is essentially a project, selected by former President Bill Clinton as one of five P.A.T.H communities in the U.S.A. P.A.T.H stands for Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing and is under leadership of the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America program. Playa Vista has recently been recognized as a model "smart growth" project and was awarded the Ahwahnee award.

Playa Vista sits on 1,087 acres located south of Marina del Rey, with Playa del Rey and Westchester to the south, I-405 on its east side, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Howard Hughes owned large sections of Playa Vista in the early 1940s and utilized the land for his aviation empire. This site was the aerospace facility housing helicopters, airplanes, satellites, and was the center for radar and missile systems. In 1994 Hughes and McDonnell Douglas moved their site to other facilities.

Phase One of Playa Vista is in full effect; 3,246 new residences will be available in a variety of housing types. As a result, this will create many jobs for the citizens of the neighboring areas. The housing will range from luxury condominiums to affordable apartments. Parks, recreational amenities, and The Campus--an entertainment, new media, and technology complex including production facilities and sound stages will all be developed.

Much of the project, however, will be focused on restoring the Ballona Wetlands which will restore the habitat for many endangered species. Regarding humanitarianism, Playa Vista has sponsored a program called PVJOBS, that helps at-risks youths and adults find construction jobs in the area.