Third Street Promenade: Difference between revisions
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Third Street has been a center of business in Santa Monica since the town's inception in the late 19th century. The Promenade's roots date back to the 1960s when three blocks of Third Street were converted into a pedestrian mall. Although successful, by the late 1970s, the Santa Monica Mall (as it was then called), was in need of modernization and a redesign. A new enclosed shopping center, [[Santa Monica Place]] (1980–2007), designed by [[Frank Gehry]] was added at the Promenade's southern end. A citywide bond measure was issued and architectural firm [[ROMA Design Group]] was hired to redesign Santa Monica Mall. The renamed Third Street Promenade opened on September 16, 1989.<ref name="Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade: the failure and resurgence of a downtown pedestrian mall">{{cite web|url=http://www.palgrave-journals.com/udi/journal/v13/n3/full/udi20088a.html|title=Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade: the failure and resurgence of a downtown pedestrian mall}}</ref> The project was part of a larger redevelopment effort, encompassing several blocks of Downtown Santa Monica. [[Santa Monica Place]] has since been renovated into a new open-air shopping and dining venue that re-opened on August 6, 2010.{{cn|date=December 2017}} |
Third Street has been a center of business in Santa Monica since the town's inception in the late 19th century. The Promenade's roots date back to the 1960s when three blocks of Third Street were converted into a pedestrian mall. Although successful, by the late 1970s, the Santa Monica Mall (as it was then called), was in need of modernization and a redesign. A new enclosed shopping center, [[Santa Monica Place]] (1980–2007), designed by [[Frank Gehry]] was added at the Promenade's southern end. A citywide bond measure was issued and architectural firm [[ROMA Design Group]] was hired to redesign Santa Monica Mall. The renamed Third Street Promenade opened on September 16, 1989.<ref name="Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade: the failure and resurgence of a downtown pedestrian mall">{{cite web|url=http://www.palgrave-journals.com/udi/journal/v13/n3/full/udi20088a.html|title=Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade: the failure and resurgence of a downtown pedestrian mall}}</ref> The project was part of a larger redevelopment effort, encompassing several blocks of Downtown Santa Monica. [[Santa Monica Place]] has since been renovated into a new open-air shopping and dining venue that re-opened on August 6, 2010.{{cn|date=December 2017}} |
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The Third Street Promenade is home to many major retail brands, from GAP and Urban Outfitters to Adidas and Volcom, as well as unique entertainment and dining options, many al fresco. |
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Although wildly successful{{cn|date=December 2017}}, many long-time local residents of Santa Monica have mixed feelings about the Third Street Promenade, particularly about the homogenized stores and restaurants and the loss of the distinct personality and individuality provided by such independent stores as the [[Midnight Special Bookstore]], present in the original mall.{{cn|date=December 2017}} This "clone" aspect makes Third Street Promenade almost indistinguishable from any other outdoor plaza in the Los Angeles area (such as [[Americana at Brand]], [[Old Pasadena]], or [[Universal CityWalk]]). Other points of contention for locals center on the increased traffic along Santa Monica Blvd, Wilshire Blvd. and Arizona Avenue, and over-crowded parking structures. Parking appears to be a continuous issue for the residents and visitors of the Third Street Promenade. Startups such as ParkMe.Inc (a Santa Monica-based technology startup) have launched services to ease this ever-present problem.{{cn|date=December 2017}} |
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Third Street Promenade also hosts the largest and oldest certified organic [[farmers' market]] each Wednesday and Saturday on Arizona Ave. between 2nd and 4th streets. |
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There is ample parking in 10 public parking structures located on Second and Fourth streets, including two structures at Santa Monica Place mall. Visitors can also find parking at the Santa Monica Main Library, located at 601 Santa Monica Blvd. Visitors can also access the Third Street Promenade via public transit. LA Metro and Big Blue Bus have multiple routes into Downtown Santa Monica. There is also the Expo Light Rail Line, which terminates at the corner of Fourth Street and Colorado Avenue, allowing visitors to walk to the Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica Place and Third Street Promenade. |
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The City of Santa Monica also operates a bike-share program called Breeze, and there are other private mobility options, including electric scooters and e-bikes. |
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[[Busking|Street performers]] and entertainers are a frequent sight on the street. On a typical Saturday night in the summer, singer-songwriters, classical guitar players, magicians, clowns, hip-hop dancers, lounge singers, session drummers, and other artists line up approximately {{convert|40|ft|m}} to {{convert|50|ft|m}} apart from each other all along Third Street. |
[[Busking|Street performers]] and entertainers are a frequent sight on the street. On a typical Saturday night in the summer, singer-songwriters, classical guitar players, magicians, clowns, hip-hop dancers, lounge singers, session drummers, and other artists line up approximately {{convert|40|ft|m}} to {{convert|50|ft|m}} apart from each other all along Third Street. |
Revision as of 16:47, 4 October 2019
Location | Santa Monica, California, USA |
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Opening date | 1965 |
Developer | The Hahn Company and The Rouse Company |
Management | Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. |
Owner | Multiple owners, including Federal Realty Investment Trust[1], KLM Equities.[2] |
Parking | Structured |
Website | Third Street Promenade and Downtown Santa Monica |
The Third Street Promenade is a pedestrian mall shopping, dining and entertainment complex in the downtown area of Santa Monica, California. It is considered a premier shopping and dining district on the Westside and draws crowds from all over the Greater Los Angeles Area. Due to easy access to Downtown Los Angeles via the Expo Line's terminus station[3], its proximity to historic Santa Monica Pier and the Pacific Ocean coupled with Los Angeles's mild climate, it is also a popular tourist destination.
History
Third Street has been a center of business in Santa Monica since the town's inception in the late 19th century. The Promenade's roots date back to the 1960s when three blocks of Third Street were converted into a pedestrian mall. Although successful, by the late 1970s, the Santa Monica Mall (as it was then called), was in need of modernization and a redesign. A new enclosed shopping center, Santa Monica Place (1980–2007), designed by Frank Gehry was added at the Promenade's southern end. A citywide bond measure was issued and architectural firm ROMA Design Group was hired to redesign Santa Monica Mall. The renamed Third Street Promenade opened on September 16, 1989.[4] The project was part of a larger redevelopment effort, encompassing several blocks of Downtown Santa Monica. Santa Monica Place has since been renovated into a new open-air shopping and dining venue that re-opened on August 6, 2010.[citation needed]
The Third Street Promenade is home to many major retail brands, from GAP and Urban Outfitters to Adidas and Volcom, as well as unique entertainment and dining options, many al fresco.
Third Street Promenade also hosts the largest and oldest certified organic farmers' market each Wednesday and Saturday on Arizona Ave. between 2nd and 4th streets.
There is ample parking in 10 public parking structures located on Second and Fourth streets, including two structures at Santa Monica Place mall. Visitors can also find parking at the Santa Monica Main Library, located at 601 Santa Monica Blvd. Visitors can also access the Third Street Promenade via public transit. LA Metro and Big Blue Bus have multiple routes into Downtown Santa Monica. There is also the Expo Light Rail Line, which terminates at the corner of Fourth Street and Colorado Avenue, allowing visitors to walk to the Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica Place and Third Street Promenade.
The City of Santa Monica also operates a bike-share program called Breeze, and there are other private mobility options, including electric scooters and e-bikes.
Street performers and entertainers are a frequent sight on the street. On a typical Saturday night in the summer, singer-songwriters, classical guitar players, magicians, clowns, hip-hop dancers, lounge singers, session drummers, and other artists line up approximately 40 feet (12 m) to 50 feet (15 m) apart from each other all along Third Street.
The Third Street Promenade and Downtown Santa Monica are overseen by Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (formerly Bayside District Corporation), a private non-profit 501(c)(3) that works with the City of Santa Monica to manage services and operations in Downtown Santa Monica that promote economic stability, growth and community life within Downtown Santa Monica.
Photo gallery
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Trees along Third Street lit up for the Holidays.
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Broadway Theatre on Third Street.
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Businesses on Third Street, between Utah and Oregon (now Santa Monica Blvd.), 1880.
References
- ^ "Federal Realty Investment Trust Property Porfolio: Third Street Promenade".
- ^ "KLM Equities Property Porfolio: Overview".
- ^ "Expo Line:Phase 2:Overview". Buildexpo.org. Archived from the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-31.
- ^ "Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade: the failure and resurgence of a downtown pedestrian mall".