In an effort to enhance access from the Strand to the beach, Manhattan Beach will undertake a new project to replace or rehabilitate twenty beachside staircases in late 2014, city officials said.
Since recently securing $1.4 million in federal funds to enhance access from the Strand to the beach, the city’s Public Works Department has hired a consultant and is now seeking design input from the community, said Edward Kao, the project manager.
Project management staff and design consultant representatives are inviting the public to discuss planned improvements next Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Joslyn Community Center. The meeting will also discuss the installation of two wheelchair ramps leading from the Strand to the Marvin Braude Bike Path immediately south of Marine Avenue and 26th Street.
The project will remove and replace seven worn-out staircases, located at 21st, 25th, 29th, 30th, 32nd, 33rd and 35th Streets and rehabilitate 13 existing stairs and balusters at 8th, 10th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 23rd, 24th, 26th, 31st and 34th Streets, as well as at Marine Avenue and Rosecrans Avenue.
The renovations will most likely standardize one style for the staircases, Kao said.
“We’re in the design process, but before we move forward, we’d like to get input from the public, mainly the Manhattan Beach residents,” he said. “The meeting will collect input for all the design elements.”
After next Thursday’s meeting — the first of four scheduled for this project — Kao said the staff will use the public feedback to sketch out conceptual drawings. He said he expects to present the final plans for approval to City Council in April or May. Construction is slated to begin in the late 2014 after the peak summer months, Kao added.
For more information about the project or meeting, contact project manager Edward Kao at (310) 802-5358, ekao@citymb.info.
