A task force on Tuesday recommended to City Council ways to make Atlantic Avenue more appealing to visitors, including adding public art, raising crosswalks, more parking and converting a trolley lane to bike lanes on the east side of the avenue.
Parts of the west side between 17th and 24th streets could become “micro-commerce” or “parklet” areas that extend into the lane that is now there.
There would also be some street parking south of 16th Street, infrastructure improvements, repaving and an effort to unify lighting along the avenue.
The recommendations follow years of discussions and could guide the allocation of $35 million. Previous recommended changes were well over $100 million.
“Our vision for Atlantic Avenue is to make it attractive, memorable and navigable,” said Michael Mauch, the co-chairperson of the task force, who presented the ideas.
The issue is expected to come back to the council after more discussion of one of the ideas to create “micro-commerce“ areas or “parklets” within parts of the trolley lane on the west side of the street. This would be limited to the Central Beach area and there would still be places for the trolleys to stop and for deliveries. Several council members had questions. They want the task force to meet and explain how they would work and the impact on surrounding businesses.
The recommendations prioritize improvements in the Central Beach area “because for those visiting Atlantic Avenue, Central Beach is the focal point,” the task force report states.
The South Beach area, 5th to 16th streets, is next, and the North Beach area above 25th Street is the third priority because it is in better shape.
“We wanted to focus on the Central Beach area too, which we think needs really some love these days,” said Councilmember Worth Remick, who represents part of the resort area and served as a liaison to the task force with Vice Mayor Rosemary Wilson.
If this moves forward, Wilson said work could start in the fall, so some improvements might be completed for the following season.
Another recommendation is to include year-round, on-street parking on the west side of Atlantic south of 16th Street, adding about 70 spaces. However, some businesses want more along the avenue.
While the task force unanimously supported most recommendations, one member didn't approve one part of the plan because on-street parking wasn't included in the North Beach area.
The Atlantic Avenue Association, which represents businesses and others, wants the council to consider year-round on-street parking south of 17th Street and north of 23rd Street, adding perhaps 200 spaces, including about 125 in-season metered spaces.