One of the city’s most anticipated developments will usher in a new era of sustainable, pedestrian-oriented projects that major metropolitan cities are designing, or at least that is what Culver City leaders hope.
It will also take away a community asset that is prized in cities along the Westside and beyond: parking spaces.
The Ivy, a transit-oriented mixed-use development that will be located at the intersections of Washington, Venice and National boulevards near the Expo Line, is perhaps only second to the Town Plaza project in downtown Culver City that is considered among the most highly anticipated development ventures on the city’s radar.
It will have 500,000 total square feet of retail, creative office space, luxury residences, a boutique hotel and an open park, among other amenities.
But while city leaders will be welcoming the Ivy’s sales and business tax revenue at some point in the future, those who drive to and park at the parking lot at the Expo Line to take it downtown or west toward Santa Monica will be lamenting the loss of it 585 spaces.
As it was reported recently in The Source, a transportation blog written by former Los Angeles Times reporter Steve Hyman, the lot will close on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.
Adjacent to the Ivy on what is now the Expo Park and Ride lot will be Transit Plaza, a 2,900 square foot “hub” for Metro users, bicyclists and bus riders. After it opens Expo Line passengers who drive to the station will be able to use one of the plaza’s projected 300 parking spaces that will be set aside for light rail passengers.
The nearby Ice parking structure at 9099 Washington Blvd is the closet lot for those who drive to the Expo Line. The Jefferson/La Cienega station is not a long drive, just east of the Culver City station and it also has a park and ride lot.
Construction for the Ivy is scheduled to begin soon, which could make for months of slower traffic and potential detours.