Councilmember Hutt seeks to convert 8th Street spur at Western into a 15,000-square-foot parklet in Koreatown

# Proposal summary

# Why this site

The motion notes the spur currently provides vehicular access and street parking but does not provide vehicular access to any adjacent properties. Because it does not serve buildings directly, the City is being asked to consider converting the public right-of-way into a parklet.

# What the motion requests

The motion directs the Bureau of Engineering, the Department of Recreation and Parks, and other relevant city agencies to study the site and report back with recommendations for converting the 8th Street spur into park space. The council item was referred to the City Council's Parks and Public Works Committees for review.

# Context in Koreatown

Koreatown is described in the reporting as a neighborhood with relatively few parks. The proposed 8th Street parklet is one of several recent or proposed efforts to add open space in the area. Other projects or proposals mentioned include new open space at the Pio Pico Library and a parcel at 4th Street and Kingsley Avenue, along with Councilmember Hutt's separate proposals to acquire nearby properties for preservation as open space.

# Site surroundings and development pressure

The 8th Street spur sits along a busy corridor that has recently seen multiple large mixed-use apartment developments. The motion references nearby development activity, including an adjacent property at 800 S. Western Avenue, indicating the parcel sits in an area with active redevelopment.

# Process and next steps

The City departments named in the motion will prepare recommendations and analysis, which the Parks and Public Works Committees will review. The motion does not set a timeline for the report-back or for committee hearings. Any conversion of public right-of-way into a parklet would require coordination across engineering, parks, and other city agencies and likely further Council action.

# Practical considerations the City will need to review

• Whether vacating the spur is legally and logistically feasible given circulation, parking, and utility needs.
• Design options to convert right-of-way into usable community open space and the resulting footprint compared to the 15,000-square-foot estimate.
• Costs for conversion, construction, and ongoing maintenance and which city entity would fund and operate the space.
• Effects on nearby traffic flow and on-street parking supply.

# Bottom line

The motion launches a formal review of converting a short segment of 8th Street at Western into a parklet of roughly 15,000 square feet. The proposal moves next to the Parks and Public Works Committees while city engineering and parks staff prepare recommendations for how, or whether, the right-of-way can be repurposed for public open space.