Alamitos Bay Parking: Why It’ll Get Worse, and What the City is Doing About It

By: Tim Grobaty 

When the restaurants in Alamitos Bay Landing and along the stretch of Marina Drive south of Second Street are busy, parking is a nightmare. And they’re usually busy.

Ballast Point, at the seaward end of the Alamitos Bay jetty, has been packed since its opening two years ago, adding to the popularity of a rejuvenated Boathouse on the Bay and Malarkey’s Grill. Show up after 11 a.m. on the weekend, or early evening on any day, and you’re not likely going to be able to park near the restaurant of your choice in a 400-car lot serving restaurants with a combined capacity of more than 2,000 people coming to enjoy a nice brunch, lunch or dinner with the finest views in Long Beach.

The parking is free, and that’s both a convenience for those vehicle owners who manage to score a space and a huge problem for tenants, because to add to the scarcity of spaces are cars belonging to people who are taking advantage of the complimentary all-day parking without even patronizing the places in the area.

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