BUENA PARK : City Plans to Rebuild Beach Blvd. Alleys

Nancy McGregor says it’s a rocky ride down the alley behind her interior design business on Beach Boulevard.

“There are a lot of rut holes,” said McGregor, owner of Beauti Pleat of California. “It’s kind of dangerous for the cars.”

Calvin Wangrud, owner of Bernie’s Restaurant, said that every time it rains, there are more potholes in the alley and puddles of water collect in the roadway.

Beach Boulevard business owners whose buildings and parking areas abut public alleyways agreed that it’s about time the narrow thoroughfares are repaired.

The City Council at a study session Monday told the staff to finalize plans for the improvements to public alleys along Beach Boulevard between Manchester Boulevard and Franklin Street.

“It sounds like a good idea if it doesn’t take them six months,” Wangrud said. “That’s the main way to get into the restaurant.”

McGregor also said reconstruction of the alleys will be “a lot better for customers and our employees.”

City officials said that after years of patchwork here and there, the alleys need to be fixed. They hope to start the improvements this summer.

“The alleys along Beach Boulevard are in terrible shape--and we’ve been aware something needed to be done for the last two or three years,” Councilman Donald L. Bone said.

The council is expected to take formal action on the project at a meeting in April. If the project is approved, construction could begin in late June or early July with completion by October, said Donald K. Jensen, director of public works.

Construction will be done in segments so that people will still have access to businesses and homes, Jensen said.

Jensen said alleyways, also used to gain entry to home garages, have deteriorated.

“They’re in really bad shape--a lot of potholes,” he said.

The alleys also have drainage problems. Improvements would include putting a gutter down the center of alleys to handle the drainage, Jensen said.

He said the estimated cost to rebuild the alleys is $431,000. Jensen said the city is hoping to receive federal grant money to pay for the project. The city received $138,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds and applied for another $293,000 this year.

Gas tax money or sales-tax funds cannot be used under state law for the reconstruction of alleys that are less than 40 feet wide, Jensen said.

Jensen said the alleys are between 15 feet and 20 feet wide.