City of Santa Monica Economic Development Division (EDD) News: July 2008

The Economic Development Division (EDD) manages some of the City’s most loved and visited areas. Working closely with our partners, we strive to maintain and improve the City to meet the growing demand and needs of our residents, visitors and local businesses.

Pier Central Restroom Project: The Santa Monica Pier is one of Southern California’s premiere attractions, drawing over 3 million visitors annually.  The existing restrooms are inadequate and are slated for replacement.  The Pier Central Restroom project will include a new restroom facility with over thirty stalls, a retail space facing the main pedestrian walkway, and vending cart storage areas.  Construction is due to begin fall 2008 and is expected to be completed by summer 2009.

Traffic circulation around the City is a continuing concern and providing convenient, accessible parking is one element of the entire transportation system.. The EDD team is managing a study being conducted by Walker Parking that will reconfirm future parking demand in the Downtown and recommend a financing plan for the construction of additional parking facilities.

Public parking structure improvements: Six parking structures providing 2,983 parking spaces serve the downtown area. Three structures are slated for reconstruction and three are being seismically upgraded. In addition to the structural improvements, the City of Santa Monica is updating the façades of all the six public parking garages by introducing a unique color identification system, new signage and dramatic art element/light feature over the automobile entry/exit. The Façade Improvement is anticipated to start in fall of 2008.

Sunday Main Street Farmers Market offers alternatives: Shoppers at the Main Street Farmers Market now have alternative transportation means available to them. There is a free bike valet used weekly by over 200 bicyclists. For those who arrive by car, Farmers’ Market validated parking is available at the beach parking lot at 2600 Barnard Way, provided the vehicle exits by 1:30. Free parking is also available on the parking lot of John Muir/SMASH School, on Ocean Park at 5tth Street. But, motorists who park on Main Street on Sunday morning should beware; the parking meters now charge for parking on Sunday mornings. Reduced parking congestion on Main Street should also improve access to local businesses and churches on Sundays.

Welcome new businesses. The EDD team manages the leases for a number of city-owned properties, including the Santa Monica Pier and the 3^rd Street Promenade. We’d like to welcome the following new businesses:

• Bar Pintxo: Spanish tapas bar, located at 109 Santa Monica Blvd, with an outdoor dining area.

· Cabo Cantina: Mexican restaurant and bar, located at 1240 3^rd Street in the Promenade.

Outdoor dining helps to promote active, vibrant streets and stimulates business activity. The EDD team is available to assist local businesses with the outdoor dining application process. For more info, visit here or contact us at (310) 458 8906.

For more information on any of these projects or for general economic development enquiries, please contact us at (310) 458 8906.