Commission approves parking expansion, improvements on San Pedro waterfront – Press Telegram

A $46.1 million project to expand and improve the 22nd Street parking area and Harbor Boulevard in San Pedro, and make other improvements received the green light on Thursday, March 26, when the Los Angeles harbor commission unanimously approved a coastal development permit for the work.

Designed to help prepare the area for anticipated crowds coming to the West Harbor waterfront and amphitheater opening this year — as well as the approaching 2028 Olympic Games that will bring sailing events to the port’s Outer Harbor — the improvements and roadway project will expand the existing parking lot from 650 to up to 2,350 spaces.

It will also add a new restroom and multi-modal path, according to the description in the board report.

The improvements have been long talked about and are now on a fast track to accommodate the crowds that are expected with new, major tourist attractions growing along San Pedro’s waterfront.

“Get her done,” said Commissioner Lee Williams after the 5-0 vote approving the needed permit for the projects.

In addition to the parking, a 2,400-linear-foot segment of Harbor Boulevard will also expand from two to four lanes with new sidewalks, bike lanes and street trees.

The Harbor Department is responsible for the costs associated with the projects. Construction is expected to take 12 months and begin at the end of the year.

The existing 22nd Street parking lot, 208 E. 22nd St., takes up 6.5 acres of the proposed project site. It was constructed in 2007 on a site where Warehouse No. 12 was located — demolished in the 1990s — and currently provides about 650 spaces, with 150 of those paved and striped.

The lot is open to the public and is used for special attractions and events.

The southeast corner of the project site contains two vacant buildings — 264 E. 22nd St. and 270 E. 22nd St. — adjacent to one another and last occupied by a boat engine repair shop.

The western portion of the site, taking up about 5.2 acres, was formerly the location of the GATX Annex Terminal, with above-ground chemical storage tanks, from 1968 to 1983.

The former Red Car Maintenance Facility sits along the western edge of the project site, providing parking and storage. It would be removed.

Harbor Boulevard is an existing four- and two-lane north-south roadway that joins State Route 47 via the Vincent Thomas Bridge to 22nd Street. In 2018, the Harbor Department realigned and expanded the newly designated four-lane Harbor Boulevard (formerly Sampson Way) from the new intersection at Minor Street to the SP Slip.

The new project proposal calls for the expansion of the lot and vehicle parking surface improvements that would total about 16 acres, with all spaces paved, striped, lighted and landscaped, according to Los Angeles’ standard. Accessible parking requirements also would be observed and provided.

New security fencing and automated gate arms would be installed to transition it to a paid lot. Rates are anticipated to match those existing throughout the San Pedro waterfront.

Electrical conduits would also be provided for future electric vehicle charging units.

The 4,330 square-foot, two-story building at 264 E. 22nd St. and the 3,000 square-foot, single-story building at 270 E. 22nd St. would be demolished.

The project calls for removing some 5,080 linear feet of rail and constructing a new, 805 square-foot, single-store restroom building at the northern end of the parking lot. Also, a new 20 foot-wide, 845 foot-long, multi-modal pedestrian and bike path would be constructed along the western boundary of the site, connecting Harbor Boulevard to Miner Street. A bus or shuttle turnout and covered bench would be built at the southern boundary of the site along 22nd Street.

In addition, three cast-in-place concrete staircases would be installed to improve site access.

Some 2,400 linear feet of Harbor Boulevard would be expanded from two to four lanes, with a pair of lanes in each direction and new pedestrian pathways along each side.

A 10-foot pedestrian path would be constructed on the western edge of the roadway and an 8-foot path along the eastern side of Harbor Boulevard. On that side, near the SP Slip, the path would be expanded to 16 feet wide.

About 74 new irrigated street trees will also be planted along each side of Harbor Boulevard, and standard bike paths would be on both sides. Overhead utilities will be placed underground.

The project cost of $46.1 million consists of $31.8 million for the 22nd Street parking lot improvements and $14.3 million for the 22nd Street roadway improvements, according to the board report.

The improvements were first assessed in the 2009 San Pedro waterfront environmental impact report, which the the Board of Harbor Commissioners certified on Sept. 29 of that year, and were found to be consistent with the area’s visitor-serving uses, including recreation, chartered fishing and whale-watching expeditions, and marinas.