Mayor Bob Foster, 2nd District Councilmember Suja Lowenthal, Promenade residents and business owners cut the ribbon on the newly completed Promenade. Photos by Sarah Bennett.

Three weeks after the construction fences came down around the third and final phase of Downtown Long Beach’s Promenade, City officials gathered at its northern terminus to celebrate the stretch’s long-awaited transformation. Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony of the block between Broadway and 3rd St. not only marks the completion of construction work that began on the site six months ago, but puts a cap on the estimated $11.7 million Promenade overhaul originally started by the late Redevelopment Agency in 2007.

Upgraded storm drains, community chess tables, a dog rest area and clusters of bike racks are just some of upgrades installed to the Promenade North during the latest round of construction, adding to the Bikestation, Promenade Square Park and other amenities already incorporated into the Promenade’s lower regions. Harvey Milk Park, located across the street from the Promenade’s northernmost end, will be open within the month. 

“The Promenade combines commerce and open space to make a place that will attract residents and tourists to Downtown,” said Mayor Bob Foster. “This is modern urban space as it ought to be.”

The three-block long pedestrian walkway–which connects the Convention Center and Ocean Blvd. to the City Place shopping center on 3rd St.–has been a work in progress for more than a decade, starting in 2000 when proposals were first gathered for the residential buildings that currently line the strip.

Today, restaurants like Wokcano, Congregation Ale House and the soon-to-opened Michael’s Pizzeria line the transformed Promenade, which officials hope will not detract from Downtown’s core on Pine Ave., but add to it. 

“We are here to celebrate the grand opening of a cohesive mix of usable areas in what used to be an incohesive mix of underutilized sites,” said 2nd District Councilmember Suja Lowenthal, thanking both the residents and business owners for their patience in seeing this project through to completion. “The Promenade now captures the essence of urban lifestyle…It has made way for a more inviting personal space where we can connect as a community.”

To celebrate the completed Promenade, Downtown Long Beach Associates’ annual Celebrate Downtown event will be held on the newly re-opened northernmost block Thursday night from 5PM to 9PM. The public is invited to the free event which will feature live entertainment from Delta Nove, food from Promenade restaurants, beer from Beachwood BBQ and Brewing and pet-friendly giveaways from Pussy and Pooch.

Millworks’ John and Michelle Molina, Lauren Limbaugh and Kasra Esteghamat, as well as Jim Danno and Kathleen Irvine of the Willmore City Heritage Association will also receive the Spirit of Downtown Award at the event.

The event is free, but space is limited and an RSVP is required. Please email [email protected] or call (562) 436-4259.

Read more:

• Groundbreaking On Third and Final Phase of Promenade Revamp
• Long Beach Breaks Ground On Harvey Milk Park
• Promenade Square Opening Saturday In Downtown Long Beach

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