Laguna Beach’s Promenade on Forest becomes permanent downtown fixture
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Laguna Beach’s downtown area has a fresh look, and city officials joined the public Friday evening to mark the official opening of the Promenade on Forest.
The recently completed project ushered in the permanent conversion of Forest Avenue into a pedestrian plaza, bringing people together for a mix of dining, entertainment and shopping.
Mayor Mark Orgill said in an interview Saturday said the promenade in its new configuration is going to “allow a different experience.”
“You go to the [Laguna] Playhouse, you’re in seating,” Orgill said. “You go to the Cultural Arts Center, you’re primarily seated. It’s a different experience. [At] the promenade, you can listen to music and you can socialize at the same time. You could be at one of the restaurants.
“We know that people love being outdoors, right? I mean, all of the restaurants in town are doing whatever they can to create an outdoor space. People like being outdoors in California, so it provides a wonderful outdoor social space that can also be used for entertainment from time to time.”
A live music performance by the 133 Band followed Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, adding to the atmosphere enjoyed by those dining at tables under the cover of umbrellas.
In conjunction with the dedication ceremony, promenade-based businesses Bushard’s Pharmacy (80 years) and Moulin cafe (10 years) celebrated their respective anniversaries.
Originally billed as a pilot program to provide relief to downtown businesses dealing with restrictive protocols during the coronavirus pandemic, city officials later pushed to permanently shut down the lower portion of Forest Avenue — from Glenneyre Street to Coast Highway — to vehicular traffic.
In January, the City Council awarded a $5.5-million construction contract for the promenade to Superb Engineering. The overall cost of the conversion of the street into a permanent pedestrian plaza, including the construction, has been estimated to be $7.3 million.
Businesses remained open during construction, even as a fenced-off area for work crews left narrow walkways for residents and visitors to find their way around the project.
At a Sept. 22 City Council meeting, City Manager Dave Kiff said the brickwork had been laid at the northern part of the project, with work still to be concluded at the Coast Highway end looking out toward Main Beach. Full electrical service — activating a fountain, audio system, and Wi-Fi — was also anticipated to be finished by that Wednesday, Kiff said.
The promenade had its share of opposition, with the project being appealed to the Coastal Commission. Appellants argued it could not mitigate the loss of parking spaces in the downtown area, account for flooding risks, and that it was not a fit with the character of the community. Ultimately, the commission found no substantial issues with the project.
When a tree fell into the working area during construction, the city had additional trees removed — citing public safety and insurability reasons — that sparked further protests.
Orgill said he was pleased with the final product.
“I talked to a lot of people,” the mayor said. “I didn’t hear anything negative about it. It was a lot of excitement, a lot of energy. I think a lot of people were happy to see it behind us ... and figure out all the different ways we can use it as a community.”
