By Don Gray Santa Monica
Sorry, but Michael Klein’s recent attempt to use “historical verity” to justify his shaky position on the development of the pier got all kinds of things wrong (“Pier issue has historical overtones,” March 5, page 4).
His statement that “the end of Route 66 has always been the pier” could not be more incorrect. The original Route 66 (circa 1926) ended in downtown Los Angeles. In its later incarnation (1930s to mid-1960s) the western terminus is universally recognized by historic groups as Lincoln Boulevard, at either Santa Monica or Olympic boulevards.
An even bigger error occurs in his fanciful idea that Route 66 was a “cross-country highway,” and that by taking it you had “crossed the entire continent to the sea!” The start of Route 66, from its first to its final day, was Chicago, Ill, an area still referred to today as the “Midwest.”
Harder to fathom is Klein’s contention that driving is somehow a “primary historical part of the pier.” Yes, you could drive on the SM Pier almost from its beginning — to park. Antique postcards and historical photographs demonstrate far better the pedestrian experience of the pier, with crowds walking and taking in the amusements: Not a single drive-up fishing area to be found!
Which leads us to the biggest mistake of Mr. Klein’s letter — the belief that making the pier more auto friendly will somehow diminish traffic. While a pedestrian-only pier (alternative 5) could lead to a more pedestrian friendly city, rarely (if ever), does it work the other way around.
Ultimately, we should be suspect of developing a tourist attraction that would keep people in their autos for a greater part of their visit and make it more convenient for them to leave. Klein notes “cars leaving the pier could exit onto PCH and the freeway instead of going back through town,” but pedestrian foot traffic (and the revitalized Promenade is a perfect case in point) can maximize the tourist experience, while enhancing the financial benefits to the city.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 6, 2007. Read the original PDF.