Lot 3 Parking Crisis Called "Emergency" for Manhattan Beach
Sep 05, 2024 10:49PM ● By Jeanne Fratello
The shuttered Lot 3 parking structure. Photo via city of Manhattan Beach.
The drama over Manhattan Beach's doomed Lot 3 parking structure reached a fever pitch on Tuesday night, as City Council members deemed the situation an "emergency" for the downtown and its businesses.
In fact, the council made it official, formally declaring the situation a "local emergency," a designation allowing the city to move forward on a fast track to get bids for the demolition of the structurally unsound Lot 3.
According to city staff, it will take approximately eight months and $3 million to demolish Lot 3 and repave it as a single-level parking lot with 70 parking spaces (for temporary use until another structure can be planned and built).
City staff had proposed to alleviate the parking crunch by proposing options such as the continuation of the Manhattan Village-to-downtown shuttle, or possibly entering into a contract with rideshare companies to offer vouchers for rides to downtown.
But councilmembers said that the situation would necessitate more direct and immediate efforts to create more downtown parking. Those efforts could include changing parking patterns and regulations, adding valet parking, and/or talking with state and local officials about getting aid to help with the crisis.
"If this was an earthquake, [state and local officials] would say, 'No problem,'" said Councilmember Richard Montgomery. "Well, this is our earthquake."
Council Approves Immediate Measures
The City Council on Tuesday night adopted a resolution directing and delegating
authority to the city manager to take emergency action to secure
demolish
and replace Lot 3; and determined that the project is exempt under
CEQA. Additionally, City Council directed staff to do the following:
- Extend the work hours to expedite demolition and construction.
- Explore transportation options for large events.
- Temporarily suspend the parking permits and two-hour parking restrictions in the Hill Section.
- Identify as many potential parking opportunities as possible including the use of valet, parking attendants, stacked parking spaces in the downtown area, etc.
- Consider alternative locations for the Farmers’ Market during demolition and construction.
- Discontinue the use of the current shuttle program after September 8, 2024.
Businesses Have Suffered
Due to the shortage of parking spaces, downtown businesses have suffered, said Jill Lamkin, executive director of the Downtown Manhattan Beach Business and Professionals Association.
Lamkin
told the council that while just the top level of Lot 3 was shut down, 67% of downtown businesses had reported a 10% to 50% decrease
in business.
In August, when the entire
Lot 3 was shut down, 84% of businesses had reported between a 10% and
50% decrease in business, said Lamkin.
"This
is an emergency," confirmed Lamkin, who added that anytime the city
holds special events downtown and shuts down streets it further
compromises parking and impacts businesses.
Demolition of Lot 3
Meanwhile, the demolition of Lot 3 is expected to be extremely complicated, due to the large amount of steel and concrete that needs to be offloaded in a pedestrian- and car-heavy area.
The current plan would allow for one month to get the project started; four to five months for the demolition and clearing out the debris; and two to three more months to get a new ground-level lot in place (which would involve grading, installing asphalt, striping, and lighting).
A replacement lot is probably two to three years away from beginning construction, according to city staff.
(Editor's note: While MB News' graphic design department was listening to the City Council debate on Tuesday night, they used AI to whip up this quick concept for “The Lofts at Lot 3” featuring underground parking, two floors of downtown dining, and loft living spaces above. Whaddya say, City Council?)
(NOT THE OFFICIAL PLANS - Just an AI illustration dreamed up by the MB News Art/Graphics Department)Lot 3 Drama Recap
The nondescriptly named City Parking Lot 3 is located on
Morningside Drive between 12th and Center Place. It was built in 1971, before modern
building codes that include crucial seismic safety measures.
In July, the city declared the lot "unsafe in its current condition" and fully closed all levels of Lot 3.
In August, the city shut down vehicular traffic on Center Place next to the garage for "safety reasons."
The city has arranged for several other parking options in the meantime, including parking at a US Bank lot, earlier parking on Fridays in the city employee lot, and a free shuttle that now goes from Manhattan Village to downtown Manhattan Beach.
That shuttle will end on September 8 and will not be continued.
