OCEANSIDE — Free public parking in downtown Oceanside will shift two blocks south, and further west in the months ahead.
Rick Brown, city interim development services director, shared news on downtown building projects on Cleveland Street that will begin this
summer, eliminate two blocks of free public parking forever and close one lot during construction of a mixed-use facility at the May 20 City Council meeting.
The two Cleveland Street lots on either side of Mission Avenue that will permanently close will reduce downtown parking by 276 spaces this June.
The city hopes to open two temporary free lots and add back 250 parking spaces a week prior to the start of the GF Properties construction project and closure of the first two lots.
The proposed temporary lots will be located on Pacific Street on the site of the Top Gun house, and behind the Wyndham Oceanside Pier Resort where the former skate park was located.
Free parking is also permanently available at the above-ground parking structure adjacent to the NCTD Transit Center, and there are a handful of street spaces on Cleveland Street.
Construction of the Pelican Properties mixed-used facility is expected to start in November and temporarily close the Cleveland Street lot furthest north that holds 181 parking spaces.
Once the project is completed 355 free public parking spaces will be available.
According to numbers shared, changes along Cleveland Street will result in 102 fewer free parking spaces on that street than currently exist.
Councilwoman Esther Sanchez asked for a tally of how many parking spaces will be added and lost downtown.
City staff said they will work on getting those numbers, but said it depends on when you start counting.
The three Cleveland Street lots that residents, workers and visitors have become accustomed to parking in, were established as temporary lots as part of the downtown redevelopment plan.
At the same time free street parking spaces were designated on Cleveland Street.
The new temporary lots on Pacific Street and behind the Wyndham hotel are expected to close within two years. This will leave free parking at the above-ground parking structure, new mixed-use site and include street spaces along Cleveland Street.
Downtown beach parking is also available at paid lots and metered spaces.
