Surf City seeks to create a promenade

For years, city officials in Huntington Beach have toyed with the idea of closing part of Main Street to cars and turning the two-lane road over to pedestrians.

But while some entertained visions of Santa Monica’s thriving Third Street Promenade, business owners along the street worried that it would be little more than a cheap imitation that would hurt retailers and restaurant owners.

On Monday, the City Council went part way.

As part of a pilot program, which begins March 6, a two-block stretch of Main Street will be closed for 12 consecutive Tuesdays -- Local Tuesdays, city officials will call the weekly event. The program also will permit the street to be closed to traffic on five weekends for special events.

Merchants who initially opposed shutting down the street, which offers a view of the ocean and is dotted with surfboard shops, boutiques and sidewalk cafes, said it was a fair deal, especially after city officials came up with ways to spruce up the area.

“They just wanted to put barriers on the streets, and that’s not right. It’s a promenade -- you have to do some improvements and have a plan,” said Ron McLin, managing partner of the Longboard Restaurant and Pub. “Now they have come up with some ideas, so it’s a good compromise.”

The City Council, which voted 5 to 1 Monday night in favor of the road closures, had been exploring ways to transform Main Street into a pedestrian-only mall with performers, shopping and outdoor dining.

“We hope it makes it more family-friendly,” said Laurie Payne, spokeswoman for Huntington Beach. “We’ll see. We’ll work to make it the best we can.”

Some business owners and residents opposed any road closures, saying they would cause traffic nightmares. Traffic would be diverted to neighborhoods and cause noise, residents said.

The Tuesday closures would shut down two blocks of Main Street, between Walnut and Orange avenues, for a farmers market, festivals and performances by local groups. The weekend closures would involve three blocks, from Pacific Coast Highway to Orange Avenue, for events focusing on surfing, art and classic cars.

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mai.tran@latimes.com