Plan to Overhaul Downtown Santa Monica Clears Panel
A plan to turn downtown Santa Monica into a Third Street Promenade-like area has received approval from a committee of city and planning officials and is on its way to the City Council for final adoption next month.
The $17-million plan calls for widening streets between Lincoln and Ocean boulevards and Wilshire Boulevard and the Santa Monica Freeway, redirecting traffic on one-way streets and widening sidewalks.
The plan will allow restaurants to have cafe-style dining, provide space for pushcart vendors and kiosks, and give downtown streets a uniform appearance.
Councilman Paul Rosenstein said that if the council approves the project, construction would begin in early 1998. He said the city plans to use a $5-million federal transportation grant to build the first phase, which would include redirecting traffic and opening one-way streets to two-way traffic. The city still must secure funding to complete the remainder of the project.
“We’re looking at making improvements overall and making the downtown more accessible,” Rosenstein said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
