A Closer Look at Parking on San Vicente

If you live in Brentwood, then you may be familiar with the parking situation on San Vicente Boulevard. Some in the community have expressed concern over how difficult it can be to find a spot.

A study commissioned by the Brentwood Community Council (BCC) and conducted by Civic Enterprise Associates (CE) found that even during peak parking hours there are hundreds of available spaces along the scenic corridor and on side streets.

The study did factor in spaces that the general public technically can't use—such as ones that require permits—but those are spaces that a car can physically fill, nontheless, said Mott Smith, principal of CE.

The bottom line is that street parking is "over-subscribed," said Smith. On weekdays at lunch, those spaces in the area surveyed are 90 percent full. They are also full at the dinner hour, especially on weekends.

CE surveyed almost every available parking space (approximately 4100) in the San Vicente Business District, both public and private. It found that during the hours when the on-street parking was most full, the off-street parking was most under-utilized. Hundreds of usable spaces that already exist are empty during the lunch hour and after businesses close.

Another key finding was that retail and restaurant employees use about one third of the available on-street parking—an estimated 200 cars. It is a significant drain on the limited spaces available for residential parking. That is especially true on street cleaning days, Thursday and Friday, when parking is at a premium.

Marylin Krell, South Brentwood Residents Association chair (SBRA), was surprised at the findings.

"One manager told us his employees sometimes drive around for 15 minutes looking for a parking space," said Krell. "That not only affects parking in the area; it affects traffic."

Another key finding was that for metered parking, an hour is not enough time for most patrons. Meters along San Vicente Boulevard only allow for parking one hour at a time, requiring a driver to move her vehicle each hour. This disrupts business and discourages visitors from visiting Brentwood, Smith said.

An important quality for a successful business district is the "stroll factor," Smith said. With "walkability," like the Third Street Promenade, guests typically have a meal and shop the neighborhood. Stress over parking eliminates the "stroll factor" on San Vicente Boulevard.

What can Brentwood residents do with this information? First, they can become educated. There is available parking but most residents won’t use expensive, private garages. There are some simple, inexpensive ways to ease the problem, according to Smith's report:

• Petition LA-DOT to lengthen the time limit on metered parking.

The one-hour limit is discouraging business. Both Krell and BCC Chairwoman Nancy Freedman agree that parking meter times should be lengthened. Though it is important to keep a flow of traffic for business, it is also important for visitors to have enough time to do business and enjoy leisure shopping, Smith said.

• Employee parking is another issue.

Smith’s company interviewed many restaurant employees. A significant number would be willing to pay about $5 per day for parking while at work. And with even a small percentage of employees off the residential streets, Smith said, it would take pressure off the visitor parking. Underused private parking could conceivably be negotiated for discounted use, as he has done with some other neighborhoods, said Smith.

• And then there is the option of sharing valet parking.

In Culver City, Smith cited the . To do that, a neighborhood would negotiate with the private owners to rent the spaces and hire a single valet service with kiosks in multiple locations. It’s a win-win for the garage owners whose spaces are empty, and also for the business district and its visitors, said Smith.

CE implemented the West Third Street public valet program currently in use in the Beverly Grove area of Los Angeles, a similiar program with a successful outcome.

To build a new parking lot could cost up to $60,000 per space, take several years for the lot selection, permit, environmental impact report and building. It can be prohibitively timely and expensive, Smith said.

"Act on the things we can have an influence over with the tools we have access to. That can make a difference," said Smith.

A previous version of this article stated incorrectly that Mott Smith and CE implemented the program at Westfield Culver City.

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