It took a pandemic but Forest Avenue is finally closed to cars. Now city officials are scrambling to make it permanent.
They better. Seriously, it would defy math and culture to change it back.
It’s been proven time and time again in cities throughout the world that pedestrian zones make businesses money. (Read L.A. Times column.)
Modern, creative pedestrian zones work. Hell, ancient, creative pedestrian zones worked.
But in Laguna Beach, it’s always a battle. Some businesses are upset over the loss of parking – a few perhaps rightfully so. (See sidebar on the newsstand.)
Generally speaking, however, the parking issue is not a deal breaker. Does Laguna’s parking stink? Yes. Does the closure of Forest significantly change that? No.
People like to meander and socialize. They get off their phones and talk face to face, neighbor to neighbor, friend to friend.
A village — a real village — nurtures the vitality of a downtown core because it’s the lifeblood of its residents.
Is Forest there yet? Maybe not. But it’s getting closer.
Downtown revitalization never comes easy. Mistakes can be made, including this one: the closure of the newsstand. The owner, Heidi Miller, said the final straw was the elimination of some loading zone parking. The city is trying to find alternatives. Either way, it might be the end of an era. Read this profile on the newsstand and ask yourself: As a village and culture, what is worth saving?
