After it opened in 1989, Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade became one of the most popular shopping destinations in the world. The three-block stretch was closed to cars, and visitors flocked to its stores, movie theaters, restaurants and street performers. But around three years ago stores started closing.
“As those three industries — movies, dining and shopping — have been turned upside down by the Internet era, we really have to rethink why people want to come to public space and what they're doing.” — Alan Loomis, urban designer for the city of Santa Monica
City leaders teamed up with urban design firm Gehl People and Rios Clementi Hale Studios to embark on what they are calling Promenade 3.0. Among the changes that could come to the promenade are using the alleyways as front facades for new vendors, smaller and more unique stores, lawn games, public seating, and ‘Instagram moments.’ 🤳
“With the changing retail environment, with the increased competition, and frankly the sort of boring retail that can happen in traditional malls, the evolution of the downtown area has to be more than just changing out who the tenants are.” — Kathleen Rawson, head of Downtown Santa Monica
We wanted to know: Will the famous topiary dinosaurs survive the redesign? Or will they face extinction? The designers say their fate has yet to be decided.
Hear the full story on @kcrwdna.
>> What would you like to see at Promenade 3.0?
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📸 and reporting: @heyavishay
#santamonica #laarchitecture #thirdstreetpromenade #3rdstreetpromenade #laurbandesign #kcrwdna #kcrw #tactileurbanism #urbandesign #publicspace #lapublicspace
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original pic and post by @kcrw for this week's DnA program
