_06_Sept_2017.jpg) A picture taken in the heart of the Promenade in 2017 | |
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| Location | Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Opening date | November 8, 1965; 60 years ago (1965-11-08) |
| Developer | The Hahn Company andThe Rouse Company |
| Management | Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. |
| Owner | Multiple owners, including Federal Realty Investment Trust,[1] and KLM Equities[2] |
| Parking | Structured |
| Website | Third Street Promenade and Downtown Santa Monica |
TheThird Street Promenade is apedestrian mallesplanade, shopping, dining and entertainment complex in the downtown area ofSanta Monica, California which originally opened as theSanta Monica Mall on November 8, 1965.[3] It is considered a premier shopping and dining district on theWestside and draws crowds from all over theGreater Los Angeles area. Due to easy access toDowntown Los Angeles via theBig Blue Busrapid transit service,E Line'sterminus station and thePacific Coast Highway-Santa Monica FreewayInterstate, the neighborhood'snorth-south thoroughfares connecting toMuscle Beach,Venice Canal Historic District,Marina del Rey,Ballona Wetlands andLos Angeles International Airport,[4] and its proximity to historicU.S. Route 66,Santa Monica Pier,Palisades Park,Tongva Park,Santa Monica State Beach and thePacific Ocean coupled with Los Angeles's mildmediterranean climate, it is also a popular tourist destination.
Third Street has been a center of business in Santa Monica since the town's inception in the late 19th century. The Promenade's roots date back to November 8, 1965, when three blocks of Third Street were converted into a pedestrian mall.[5] Although successful, by the late 1970s, the Santa Monica Mall (as it was then called), was in need of modernization and a redesign. A new enclosed shopping center,Santa Monica Place (1980–2007), designed byFrank Gehry was added at the Promenade's southern end. A citywide bond measure was issued and architectural firmROMA Design Group was hired to redesign Santa Monica Mall. The renamed Third Street Promenade opened on September 16, 1989.[6] The project was part of a larger redevelopment effort, encompassing several blocks of Downtown Santa Monica. Santa Monica Place has since been renovated into a new open-air shopping and dining venue, designed byJon Jerde, that re-opened on August 6, 2010.[citation needed]
The Third Street Promenade and Downtown Santa Monica are overseen by Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (formerly Bayside District Corporation), a private non-profit501(c)(3) that works with the City of Santa Monica to manage services and operations in Downtown Santa Monica that promote economic stability, growth and community life within Downtown Santa Monica.
A central feature of the Third Street Promenade are thepublic art topiary sculptures and fountainsThe Dinosaurs of Santa Monica by the French teamLes Lalanne. Located along three blocks of the Third Street Promenade, the dinosaur topiaries "spew" streams of water from their mouths.[7]
Surrounding the Third Street Promenade are several multi-level parking structures developed in tandem with the Promenade's 1989 renovation. These parking structures contain exterior building-mounted sculptures, exterior building-mounted murals, and interior murals by artists such asGilbert Lujan, Art Mortimer,Peter Shire, Cliff Garden,Ball-Nogues Studio, and Anne Marie Karlsen,[8][9][10]
Community sentiment and feedback during the 1989 planning phase expressed strong desire for public gathering space and "outdoor living room" space.[11] The redevelopment plans took this to heart and designed the public space for public life, shopping and entertainment.[12]Street performers and entertainers are a frequent sight on the street. On a typical Saturday night in the summer, singer-songwriters, classical guitar players, magicians, clowns, hip-hop dancers, lounge singers, session drummers, and other artists line up approximately 40 feet (12 m) to 50 feet (15 m) apart from each other[citation needed] all along Third Street.
The Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica is home to many iconic and popular shops, making it the perfect shopping destination. Visitors can explore stores such as Patagonia, Lululemon, Anthropologie, and Urban Outfitters. In addition, the promenade has several high-end designer outlet stores, including Coach, Kate Spade, Rolex, and Tiffany & Co. Beyond shopping, the Third Street Promenade is also a cultural landmark. Its picturesque setting has been the backdrop for many iconic films, including Heat, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Pretty in Pink, Twins, and Freaky Friday. It has also appeared in popular television series such as Curb Your Enthusiasm and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, further cementing its place in entertainment history.[13][14]
34°00′56″N118°29′46″W / 34.0156°N 118.4961°W /34.0156; -118.4961