Parking Garage to Open for Shoppers, Beachgoers

City officials will open a multilevel 400-space downtown parking structure tonight in hopes of boosting business and improving beach access.

The $3.3-million structure on Hermosa Avenue just north of the recently renovated Pier Plaza, less than a block from the beach, was paid for by county recreation bond funds and by the owners of the adjacent Beach House hotel, which will use 100 of the parking slots.

For the next couple of weeks at least, there will be no charge for use of the new facility, as it becomes part of Hermosa Beach’s tradition of providing free parking downtown during the holiday season.

Fees will be set soon by the City Council, and revenues will be shared between the city and Los Angeles County, said Assistant City Manager Mary Rooney.

Rooney said she expects the building to remain open late in the evenings to accommodate downtown restaurant-goers. For the summer, the city will establish all-day rates to encourage beachgoers to use the structure, keeping street parking places open for people patronizing downtown shops, offices and restaurants, she added.

Plans call for a two-story retail development to be built at the front of the structure, facing Hermosa Avenue.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony, featuring city officials driving classic cars into the structure, will begin at 6 p.m.