Major Street Redesign Could Transform Redondo Beach's Riviera Village

REDONDO BEACH, CA — One of Redondo Beach's best-known shopping and dining districts could look considerably different in the coming years, as plans advance for a major redesign of Riviera Village that could bring wider sidewalks, bicycle lanes, expanded outdoor dining areas and changes to existing parking.

The proposed improvements are outlined in the Riviera Village Business Improvement District's 2026–27 annual report, which is scheduled for consideration by the Redondo Beach City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The report identifies the Riviera Village Pedestrian and Multi-Modal Enhancements Project as a major priority for 2027, with proposed changes intended to make the commercial neighborhood more accessible and inviting for pedestrians, cyclists, shoppers and restaurant patrons.

The project focuses on South Catalina Avenue between Avenue I and Palos Verdes Boulevard, where the city is exploring improvements to sidewalks, intersections, bicycle facilities and the overall streetscape.

According to city documents, the project has received $4 million in regional Measure M transportation funding for planning, environmental review and design. A proposed engineering agreement with Chen Ryan Associates, doing business as CR Associates, was brought before the City Council on Oct. 6 for an amount not to exceed approximately $2.69 million.

The city anticipates presenting conceptual design alternatives to council members in spring 2027, with construction documents potentially completed by the end of that year. Additional funding would be needed before construction could proceed.

Wider Sidewalks, Bicycle Lanes And Parking Changes

Among the most significant possibilities are changes to the angled parking spaces that currently occupy portions of South Catalina Avenue. The Riviera Village Association, which manages the business improvement district, supports reconfiguring those spaces to create wider sidewalks and dedicated areas for outdoor dining and retail displays.

The city's broader planning effort also contemplates bicycle lanes, improved pedestrian crossings, traffic-calming measures and potentially curbless streets, which could allow pedestrians and vehicles to share portions of the roadway in a more integrated environment. Parking remains a central consideration. City planning documents call for studying alternatives to offset any spaces lost through the redesign, including the feasibility of constructing parking beneath the Village's triangle parking lot.

The association also identifies a possible roundabout at Catalina Avenue and Avenue I as a traffic-safety priority, arguing that such an improvement could help streamline vehicle movements while making the intersection safer for pedestrians. None of those features has been finalized, and the eventual design will depend on further engineering, public input and City Council consideration.

Outdoor Dining Program Sees Changes

The annual report also sheds light on the challenges facing Riviera Village's outdoor dining parklets, which have become a familiar feature of the neighborhood. While the association describes the program as beneficial to the district, it acknowledges difficulties collecting fees from participating businesses, with overdue payments resulting in the transfer of one parklet location and the dismantling of another.

The removed structure was formerly associated with Redondo Beach Brewing Company at 1814 S. Catalina Ave., with the association paying for its removal. The report notes that the City Council authorized the outdoor dining program to continue through May 19, 2031, although individual permits and fees remain subject to separate administrative requirements.

The association's proposed 2027 budget anticipates reduced parklet income and reimbursements, reflecting a reduction in the program's size. Meanwhile, the association plans to devote a greater share of its operating budget to beautification, with additional landscaping and potential public art projects, including decorative street and crosswalk paintings, among its priorities for the coming year.

What Happens Next?

Although the streetscape redesign represents one of the most substantial changes being contemplated for Riviera Village, Tuesday's council meeting will not determine its final appearance. Instead, Item H.6 on the Nov. 3 agenda concerns the business improvement district's annual report, advisory board and proposed assessments for 2027.

The council is also being asked to schedule a public hearing for Nov. 17 at 6 p.m., when objections to the proposed business assessments can be considered. The proposed assessment structure would remain unchanged, with participating businesses paying a base annual fee of $125 plus $34 per employee, capped at $1,400.

For merchants and visitors, the more consequential decisions about Riviera Village's streets will come as the city develops its design alternatives and weighs how best to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, outdoor dining and the parking needs of the businesses that give the neighborhood its character.