Project Objectives

The project objectives are categorized into the three primary aspects of the project: public open space, development, and transportation.

Public Open Space

• Develop public access to the waterfront and new usable open space, including parks and other landscape amenities linked to the promenade.
• Create and expand the waterfront promenade as part of the California Coastal Trail to connect the community to the waterfront.
• Preserve, enhance, and, where possible, expand natural systems that are already within the Port complex (i.e., beaches, salt marshes, wetlands, shallow and deep water habitat, and bluffs).
• Perform modifications to the existing shoreline, including water cutouts to increase water area (up to 9.64 acres maximum) and fills as needed to reconfigure the site, so as not to impede navigation.

Development

• Develop an economically viable project that balances public open space with development.
• Develop new retail, commercial, cultural, educational, and artistic uses complementary to those found in downtown San Pedro.
• Preserve and enhance the history and authenticity of San Pedro’s roots as a seaport (including maintaining fishing-related uses), while supporting the revitalization of the area.
• Provide opportunities for a mix of uses in compliance with Tidelands law, including rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of historic structures and landmarks.
• Utilize and enhance the value of existing deep water in the Outer Harbor and Main Channel by upgrading two existing cruise vessel berths (located in the Piers District), and constructing up to two new cruise vessel berths (located in the Outer Harbor District), each approximately 1,250 linear feet, to accommodate projected future growth in the cruise ship industry. One of the new cruise vessel berths would operate approximately 120 days per year.
• Develop the project area in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner.
• Create a permanent berth for Catalina Express and Island Express.
• Provide for a variety of waterfront uses, including berthing for visiting vessels, marinas, tugboats, boating supportive facilities, and other recreational, commercial, and port-related waterfront uses;
• Establish unique waterfront districts, preserving existing uses that integrate with the new development.

Transportation

• Create a continuous boulevard and grand promenade to link the network of public open spaces and the neighboring community.
• Enhance key linkages to San Pedro.
• Provide a variety of transportation options that enhance public access to the waterfront and the operation of roadways within the vicinity of the Port.
• Provide opportunities for intermodal transportation throughout the waterfront including but not limited to rail (the Waterfront Red Car Line) and water taxis.
• Implement a comprehensive parking strategy by developing dispersed high-density parking sites linked to public transit stations including “shared-use” parking in downtown San Pedro.

Project Elements

Water Plan

The Water Plan may include up to 9.64 acres of new water harbors, wharfs, piers, and floating docks for a variety of waterfront activities, including berthing for visiting tall ships and other vessels, additional docks for pleasure craft, water taxi and ferry service, tugboats, and other recreational, commercial and port-related uses. Marina slips may be displaced by project construction and would be replaced within the port.

Land Plan

Promenade and Open Space Plan :
The plan calls for the creation of a 9.25-mile pedestrian promenade along the entire waterfront to increase and promote public access to the waterfront. Additionally, a combined total of 4.50 miles of on-street bike, roller blade, and pedestrian paths would be created along Harbor Boulevard and streets extending along and outward from the promenade. Where possible, the promenade would be a minimum of 30 feet wide, taking on different characters in different districts. The plan also provides for approximately 171 acres of public open space areas. New public open space could include up to 102 acres of parks, beaches, and recreational areas; 20 acres of landscaped areas; and 49 acres of promenades and plazas. The proposed open spaces include parks, beaches, landscape areas, waterfront promenade areas, and pathways, destinations, and upland connections to the community. The project description proposes to increase the existing amount of public open space (i.e., parks, promenades, plazas, beaches, and landscaped areas) by over 110 acres and decrease the amount of existing land development acreage by nearly 22 acres.

Promenade and Open Space Plan :
The plan also includes approximately 182 acres of development parcels and 55.5 acres of public streets and sidewalks. Where noted, existing parcels and buildings may be reused and rehabilitated or demolished. Otherwise, existing uses would remain. The total amount of new square footage proposed is approximately 1.5 million square feet. These development parcels are strung along the promenade and are categorized into uses appropriate for each district. Uses include visitorserving and maritime commercial1 in the Piers District; visitor-serving commercial2 uses including cultural, retail, and maritime office in the Downtown Harbor; visitor-serving commercial uses including restaurants and retail are predominantly in the Ports O’ Call/S.P. Slip District; maritime commercial and visitor-serving commercial are in the Outer Harbor/Warehouse District; recreational3 and visitor-serving commercial including marinas and hotel uses in the 22nd Street/Marina District; and primarily recreational in the beach district.

Transportation Plan

The overall transportation strategy is based on an improved Harbor Boulevard, extension of the Red Car, creation of multiple-parking facilities, and water taxi services spread throughout the project area. Parking locations will be coordinated with water taxi and Red Car stops. Harbor Boulevard would be realigned as a continuous thoroughfare from Bridge to Breakwater to provide an enhanced scenic route and improved access to the waterfront. The roadway would be improved to three lanes each way from Swinford to Minor Street,two lanes each way from Miner Street to 22nd Street/Via Cabrillo Way, and one lane each way from 22nd Street/Via Cabrillo Way to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. Old Harbor Boulevard (the existing upland street) from 7th Street to Gulch Road would be modified to become a local road, serving proposed development along the bluffs and on-street, overflow parking for Ports O’ Call Village below. Where possible, new Harbor Boulevard would accommodate the Red Car in the median or on a “side-of-the-road” alignment. The existing connection between Crescent Avenue and old Harbor Boulevard would be maintained. Improvements to Harbor Boulevard would occur during Phase 2. Other options that will be studied as part of the proposed project or as components of a project alternative include: (1) limiting Harbor Boulevard to two traffic lanes in each direction and (2) retaining Harbor Boulevard as it currently exists.

The Red Car Line would be extended to Cabrillo Beach along the realigned Harbor Boulevard, including spurs into downtown San Pedro along 5th Street (to Pacific Avenue); another spur along the East Channel to the Outer Harbor (cruise ship facility); and a third spur from the proposed Red Car Museum/Maintenance Building to Warehouse No. 1. Extensions of the Red Car Line are planned during Phase 1.

Parking encompasses a series of surface parking lots and parking structures, spread throughout the project area. Parking facilities are provided primarily for maritime-related commercial development (i.e., cruise ship terminal, Catalina Terminal, visitor-serving commercial, etc.) and will be phased and developed in conjunction with proposed development.

A water taxi system is proposed to connect several locations within the waterfront and stops would be coordinated with Red Car stations and parking areas. The water taxi service is proposed to begin during Phase 1, with additional stops and expanded service to other local and regional waterfronts in subsequent phases. An additional stop is proposed in Wilmington. >Back to Top