By Daily Press staff
SANTA MONICA BLVD. — More public parking in downtown Santa Monica might be on the horizon. City Hall is eyeing two properties here that could be turned into parking garages.
City officials and elected leaders tonight are expected to discuss possible negotiations to buy two pieces of land — one at 101 Santa Monica Blvd. and the other at 129 Santa Monica Blvd. Both are currently surface parking lots.
The properties could be used for a variety of purposes, but city officials are leaning toward using them as public parking structures.
The City Council in 2002 adopted the Downtown Parking Plan, which calls for the replacement of three parking garages. While those structures are demolished and rebuilt to accommodate more parking spaces and to meet seismic standards, the city has to create interim and alternative parking facilities, according to city documents. While viewed as temporary, the garages on Santa Monica Boulevard could become permanent, officials said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 11, 2004. Read the original PDF.