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Council backs quick‑build expansion for Smoky Hollow parking, directs staff to seek Measure M grant for full rebuild
Summary
After reviewing a pilot project that increased local parking by 37%, the El Segundo City Council authorized staff to proceed with a quick‑build conversion for additional streets in Smoky Hollow and directed staff to pursue a Measure M multi‑year grant for a larger, permanent reconstruction if awarded.
El Segundo City Council on Feb. 4 authorized staff to proceed with a “quick‑build” expansion of the Smoky Hollow parking project — striping, signage and painted curb extensions with bollards — and directed staff to pursue a Measure M grant to fund a more permanent reconstruction if the grant is awarded.
The Smoky Hollow project seeks to convert selected two‑way streets to one‑way circulation and add angled parking to increase capacity. KOA consultant Giuseppe Canzonini summarized phase 1, a quick‑build pilot completed in December 2023 on California, Oregon and Nevada streets that produced a 37% increase in parking (about 40 additional spaces). During the current analysis the team modeled four alternatives for further expansion: (1) quick build (paint, striping, bollards); (2) quick build plus permanent concrete curb extensions; (3) option 2 plus road rehabilitation; and (4) option 3 plus landscaping and irrigation. Estimated costs rose from roughly $850,000 for the quick‑build approach to roughly $6.6 million for the most comprehensive option.
Council members debated tradeoffs. Some members urged waiting to pursue the full‑build alternative until a Measure M grant award is known; others argued the area is at near‑zero vacancy and needs additional parking quickly to support new businesses and conversions. Supporters of the quick‑build approach said it can be implemented faster, is reversible if problems arise, and can improve economic activity immediately while staff pursues grant funding for a permanent upgrade.
Council voted to proceed with quick‑build Alternative 1 and directed staff to return with grant applications for Measure M and to report back if the grant does not fund the full project. Staff said the city has applied for regional Measure M subregional competitive funds and that full construction would likely require a substantial local match if awarded. The council asked staff to return with budget scenarios and a timeline for pursuing larger funding sources.
Canzonini and staff noted community outreach on the pilot indicated general satisfaction with the pilots and positive responses toward permanent curb and landscaping. Speed data collected after the pilot showed the streets’ 85th‑percentile speeds remained within the 25 mph zone for most pilot streets. Canzonini said more detailed engineering drawings will be required to finalize counts and curb layouts for any permanent construction.
The council’s motion to proceed with Alternative 1 passed; council also directed staff to apply for Measure M funds for the larger alternative and to return with grant outcome and funding options.
