> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Economic engine due for a tune-up - URL: https://www.smdp.com/economic-engine-due-for-a-tune-up/ - Published: 2008-01-09T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T22:58:32.000Z - Author: Guest Author - Tags: Environment, Promenade, #archive-import *Damaged sidewalks on long list of repairs* *By Brandon Wise STREETS TAKE A POUNDING: City Hall is looking to give downtown a face lift. The sidewalks along the Third Street Promenade have become worn-out due to the massive amount of foot traffic.* DOWNTOWN To ensure that the Third Street Promenade and the surrounding streets continue as a popular destination for locals and visitors alike, City Hall will need to invest at least $10 million to repair cracked sidewalks, add ambient lighting to street trees and enhance existing outlets and electrical wiring. That’s according to an infrastructure assessment study conducted by independent consultant NBCE, Inc. on behalf of City Hall. “The sidewalks along Third Street Promenade are in need of transformation,” the study states. “There are too many patchworks, various textures, conflicting colors and score marks.” The study, which was reviewed by members of the Bayside District Corp. board on Tuesday, also looked at curbs and gutters, the alleys, possible streetscape improvements along Arizona Avenue, from Ocean Avenue to Fourth Street, and up-lighting street trees along Wilshire Boulevard. The sewer and water system was also reviewed and found to be in good condition. City Hall paid for the study after Bayside, a public-private management company that advises City Hall on issues affecting downtown, raised concerns about the condition of concrete sidewalks on the promenade. Members of the Bayside board said investing $10 million is a drop in the bucket compared to the amount of money the promenade and surrounding businesses contribute to the local economy. They said the promenade is one of the economic engines that drive Santa Monica, attracting 3.8 million visitors annually from outside Los Angeles County for pleasure, vacation or business. It’s been 15 years since the last major overhaul of the promenade, which opened in 1989, according to the study. “The promenade really drives a lot of what we do as a city,” said Patricia Hoffman, a Bayside board member.“A lot of the programs that we have could not be possible without the sales tax revenue generated by the promenade. When we first came to the city, there was not a lot of spending going on down here. It was a dead street. Now it is a model that is studied by people from all over the world.” Rob York, a consultant for Bayside, said before the promenade was created, Santa Monica had a hard time attracting hotels and other businesses. Now, many people in the entertainment and hospitality industries are located here because of the popularity of the downtown shopping district. “Now, the issue is: Can we maintain it?” York said. “Many of these shopping districts are cyclical. This is a good time to take a fresh look to see how we can enhance services and stay on top of our infrastructure needs.” York said downtown faces stiff competition from other shopping destinations, such as Century City and The Grove. City maintenance staff will use the study to see where they can make immediate repairs and improvements, and Bayside staff will use it to make recommendations to the City Council for capital improvement projects. Barbara Bryan, a Bayside board member and operator of the Interactive Café on Broadway in downtown, had one suggestion for the council — more lighting. She said the cafe draws plenty of tourists who often comment on how dark downtown is. “They view Santa Monica as being dark and unsafe,” Bryan said. “That is not good.” Bryan said she would like to see a study done on what it would cost to add lighting to Broadway and Santa Monica Boulevard. One issue that will need to be addressed is how will the improvements be made without significantly impacting businesses. Would the work be done in phases or in one fell swoop? Should it be done at the same time the owners of Santa Monica Place remodel the mall? The study states that the average time necessary to construct the sidewalk within one block of Third Street is estimated at two months. The construction time could vary depending on urgency of the project. Just patching broken sidewalks will not achieve the uniform look and consistency expected, according to the study. “The new uniform and fresh look will bring a positive characteristic to the pedestrian environment,” the study states. There is also the question of financing.Will City Hall issue a bond and will businesses contribute in the form of an assessment? “The study does not address financing,” said Miriam Mack, economic development manager for City Hall. “This is a superficial look at needs at this time. A number of issues still have to be looked at in more detail.” *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 9, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/010908.pdf?ref=smdp.com)