After years of delays, City Hall almost has enough money to pay for it
CITY HALL — Big steps to improve downtown sidewalk areas that aren’t part of the Third Street Promenade have been approved to the tune of $3.5 million.
The Santa Monica City Council this week approved an amendment to its contract with Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership (ZGF) for $39,000 to proceed with design development and construction drawings for a series of sidewalk improvements set for Second and Fourth streets between Colorado Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard.
ZGF, an urban design firm, is spearheading the $3.5 million project, which the City Council originally adopted in 1997. The project has been put off due to a lack of funding, officials said.
The plan calls for replacing every other ficus tree within the designated area with two gingko trees, a move that planners anticipate will lighten the sidewalks and increase visibility of nearby businesses. In addition, modern lighting with a single-headed fixture pointing down at the sidewalks, intended to improve sidewalk visibility at night, will replace existing cobra-headed street lights. Landscaped curb extensions at the six mid-block crosswalks also will be added to shorten the exposure of pedestrians to traffic while they cross the streets.
Since 2003, a combination of grant funds have trickled in to support the project, including $2.2 million from the federal government and $1 million from the state. City Hall already has allocated $280,000 from its general fund. However, City Hall still needs to raise $1 million to complete the project it wants, according to a staff report. In addition, City Hall will have to secure $61,000 per year in its budget for project maintenance, according to a staff report.
On Tuesday, the City Council asked staff to figure out how to raise the additional funds. One suggestion, made by Councilman Bobby Shriver, was to ask businesses that may benefit from the improvements to consider an assessment to subsidize them.
City Manager Susan McCarthy said she would look into the possibility but seemed hesitant that the approach would pave success.
“Property owners in that area already have goals for an assessment, not including the streetscape,” McCarthy said.
Currently, the Bayside Business District — a nonprofit organization that regulates downtown in conjunction with City Hall — is considering an assessment on property and business owners, as well as expanding the business improvement district. The new revenue would fund a litany of services and revitalization projects in the downtown areas.
McCarthy also indicated that Second and Fourth streets are public domain, drawing high volumes of pedestrian traffic. As such, she implied it might be City Hall’s responsibility to ensure the difference needed to support the improvements is obtained.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 15, 2005. Read the original PDF.