Businesses Oppose Conversion of Parking Structure Into Affordable Housing

According to multiple studies commissioned by the city, Santa Monica owns far too many downtown parking spots, reports Aaron Gordon. With more people using ride-hailing apps and the recently opened Expo Line train, the beach city has roughly 2,000 excess parking spaces at any given time, even during peak hours.

Now, the city wants to convert one of its 13 downtown parking garages into affordable housing, a plan that housing advocates praise for its promise to build up to 150 housing units in the city's dense and transit-accessible downtown, replacing unnecessary parking with much-needed housing in one of the country's most expensive metropolitan areas. 

Meanwhile, some business owners are protesting the proposal, arguing that the parking structure remains necessary to accommodate downtown residents, shoppers, and workers in spite of the city's studies. Gordon describes the opposition group's concerns about reduced sales tax and parking revenue, but reminds readers that "Many people enjoy downtown Santa Monica and it continues to be a popular upscale commercial and leisure destination." Urban growth experts, writes Gordon, say "the construction of mixed-use areas with both housing and stores that serve the needs of the people who live there" is key to promoting healthy economic development in downtown areas like the area surrounding Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade.