Valet service to be tested in North Manhattan

The Manhattan Beach City Council Tuesday night unanimously approved a pilot valet parking program in North Manhattan Beach, in hopes of increasing traffic flow and boosting businesses in the area.

The service will cost $8 and will be provided from 7:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Cars will be dropped off and picked up at two metered parking spaces near the intersection of 36th Place and Highland Avenue. Cars will be parked at Verandas on Rosecrans Avenue.

“My main concern here is the traffic and the circulation,” said city traffic engineer Erik Zandvliet. “I’ve looked at the benefit to the whole area. The purpose of valet is to get more cars off the street.”

A valet program in North Manhattan was first proposed in 2008 by the North Manhattan Business Improvement District and Mike Quagletti, owner of Upper Manhattan Lounge. At that time, a two-night pilot program was implemented.

Quagletti contacted staff in April to revisit the idea.

City staff proposed a plan that would route valet drivers through residential areas on 36th Street and Manhattan Avenue. However, several nearby residents expressed concern that the service would increase congestion near houses, as well as pose safety and noise issues that may come with from late-night party goers waiting to pick up their cars.

After evaluating several options, City Council members voted to allow the service with a drop-off point on the east side of Highland Avenue — in front of Upper Manhattan Lounge — and with and a pick-up point on the west side, in order to avoid the need for valet drivers to be routed through neighborhoods or forced to make U-turns.

Quagletti will pay for the two metered spaces used during the hours of valet service. ER

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