Huntington Beach considers more outdoor options for businesses

Huntington Beach is considering closing a block of downtown to vehicular traffic for the summer to help businesses expand outdoors and bounce back from pandemic closures.

The proposal, which is up for City Council consideration Monday, would make Main Street between Walnut and Olive avenues for pedestrians only so several decks known as “parklets” could temporarily jut into the road, allowing adjacent restaurants and shops on both sides of Main to expand. The parklets would make up some of the interior space lost to physical distancing requirements still in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus as businesses reopen after weeks of shutdowns.

With council approval, the city would spend $175,000 to have a private vendor, Torrance-based Choura Events, build out and furnish the decks. The project would be covered by Huntington’s $1.7 million share of federal CARES Act recovery funds. The Downtown Business Improvement District could also chip in funds.

Seven decks would offer extra space for shopping and communal take-away dining for the several eateries on the street from July 1 through Labor Day, Sept. 7. In doing so, the decks would temporarily knock out 19 curbside parking spaces — although city staff say that the area can absorb the parking loss because even with the increased activity, downtown won’t be back to pre-pandemic normal just yet. Planter boxes, string lighting, artworks and performances would soften and spruce up the setting.

The plan could also use the parking lot of the still-closed International Surfing Museum for small-scale events.

The parklet stimulus could generate about $76,000 for the city through parking revenues and sales taxes just from the block’s restaurants, according to a staff report.

The parklet proposal is in addition to a permitting program that allows businesses to temporarily expand onto sidewalks or other adjacent private or public property to maintain their usual occupancy.

Monday’s meeting starts at 5 p.m. and will be broadcast live on huntingtonbeach.legistar.com and the HBTV-3 cable television channel.

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