Study finds underused private lots in Alamitos Beach; city to analyze shared parking and funding options
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Summary
A city study found roughly 300 potential overnight parking spaces in Alamitos Beach that are underutilized; staff recommended exploring shared parking pilots (city-owned sites first), transit/mobility options and financing mechanisms including assessment or benefit districts.
Long Beach — A staff study presented Tuesday identified underused parking capacity in Alamitos Beach and recommended further analysis of shared off‑street parking, city‑owned site options and funding strategies to address chronic parking pressure in the neighborhood.
Community Development staff summarized a multi‑year effort that began with a 2018 study and a 2023 directive to pursue shared parking options. Their analysis examined ten candidate sites and several existing overnight parking programs (including a Fourth Street public lot, Grace United Methodist Church and a senior center). The study found more than 300 potential overnight spaces across the sites studied, but usage patterns showed that only about 30% were used overnight on average, indicating underuse that could be tapped for shared parking.
Staff said liability and insurance concerns are common barriers when private owners are asked to open lots for public overnight parking. Because private‑lot agreements can require commercial insurance and additional city indemnities, staff recommended starting with city‑owned property if the council wants a pilot, and specifically noted the Long Beach Museum of Art property as a potential candidate (staff said the museum lot is currently closed to overnight parking but was studied).
Next steps include additional travel‑demand and modal‑analysis, collaboration with Long Beach Transit to expand mobility alternatives, and evaluation of financing tools — such as parking benefit districts, preferential parking districts, an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) and parking pricing strategies — to fund new infrastructure or incentives. Staff said they will follow with a second phase of analysis incorporating data collection and funding scenarios.
Why it matters: Alamitos Beach is among Long Beach’s most parking‑impacted neighborhoods. Staff said shared off‑street parking and multimodal investments could reduce on‑street pressure but will require policy work around liability, funding and operations.
