A plea for a pedestrian walkway

DANETTE GOULET

A couple weeks ago I was Downtown eating lunch at the new Irish

place, Killarney’s. We were in the outside eating area because it was

a gorgeous day -- the sun was shining, but a light breeze kept it

cool.

But nothing spoils a great meal in the sunshine like car exhaust,

thumping, competing bass from stereos and the braggart revving of

motorcycle engines. Those things all have their place, but it

shouldn’t be Main Street Downtown.

My friends and I have this discussion all the time when we go

Downtown. Why does anyone choose to drive that section of Main

Street, that is not the quickest way to get anywhere and where

pedestrians have no compunction about stepping in front of your

moving car?

It must be to show off their rides.

That always leads to a discussion of how much better it would be

as a pedestrian walkway, where you would no longer be crammed on the

sidewalk with tons of people, pets and parked bikes. If it was

blocked off, you could stroll, window shop and enjoy the area.

So as we sat there -- scoffing at rather than admiring the muscle

cars and jacked--up trucks that overpowered our conversation and

polluted our food -- we talked about how cool it could be.

Personally, I always picture Lincoln Road in South Beach, Miami.

Everyone else equates it to Santa Monica. Both are destinations,

places that tourists and locals alike go to spend a day or afternoon.

Those places also draw local visitors.

How many people do you think leave Newport or Corona del Mar to

visit Huntington right now? I’ll bet you they more readily drive up

to Third Street Promenade for an afternoon.

It would be a place not just for the young surfer community, but

for couples, families and visitors.

I see no significant detriment to this. It would benefit

businesses -- trust me, as a consumer, it would.

When it came up in 2001 I remember a woman saying that when you

need a T-shirt it’s convenient to whip in, park and buy one. But how

often does that happen?

The few parking spots on Main Street are usually full anyway. When

I want a gyro on the fly from the Surf City Market (they make the

best gyros around for some reason) I either have my boyfriend drop me

off and circle the block while I run in (and then wait for him while

he’s stuck in the Main Street traffic) or I park out on Orange Avenue

and walk in to avoid that traffic.

But closing it would be a draw for people that would far outweigh

the rare quick stops.

This idea has come up again and again over the years and is always

put off.

It’s time to stop putting it off. With the Strand coming with even

more shops and restaurants, let’s do the area up right.

Council members Dave Sullivan and Pam Julien Houchen plan to bring

the idea before the council again next month.

It’s time to make it happen.

* DANETTE GOULET is the city editor. She can be reached at (714)

965-7170 or by e-mail at danette.goulet@latimes.com.