Taking a Sit on Main
Ed Fuentes
Main street shop owner Stella Dottir tests out a new bench near her shop.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES —
There was an unusual amount of excitement on Main street last Wednesday afternoon when a city crew rolled up with benches to be placed in front of the Regent Theatre building, specifically Metropolis Books. The big city turned small town as shop owners gathered to watch a crew of six carefully position the new street furniture, adjusting until it was just right.
The two benches are half of a four-piece installation. The seating is a component of the Main street streetscaping project funded by Community Development Block Grant funds. The project also includes the stamped pedestrian crosswalks and new lighting installed along Main.
Westsidelife on March 21, 2008, at 11:05PM – #1
Shouldn't the benches be facing the street?
Tim on March 21, 2008, at 11:30PM – #2
Benches should face the street if they are for sitting on while waiting for the bus. Since these benches face inward, towards the pedestrians instead of the traffic, it seems like people want to turn Main Street into a sort of open air living room. Bravo.
walter melton on March 22, 2008, at 03:10PM – #3
was wondering why those benches were there on Thursday morning. they should get more of them.
Angel on March 25, 2008, at 08:44AM – #4
I highly doubt that any patron will be able to or even want to after the trasients get to them.
To answer the other questions above, the benches aren't for those waiting at bus stops. They're to benefit the businesses. They are that way in Chicago and NYC.