Tussle Over Little Tokyo Garage

Posted: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 5:45 am | Updated: 2:56 pm, Fri Aug 10, 2012.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - Akerfuffle over a parking garage in Little Tokyo has come to an end.

In February, the Aiso Parking Garage opened at First and San Pedro streets. Although the garage that stayed open until midnight was lauded by local merchants, the Department of Transportation recently and unexpectedly shortened the hours to close the facility at 10 p.m. That angered some area stakeholders. Brian Kito, a board member with the Little Tokyo Community Council, said the organization had printed flyers and other materials to promote the 300-space underground lot with the late-night hours. He said they had also been working with the DOT to create a validation program with the surrounding businesses. “The DOT conducted a survey that said usage was low while we were still waiting for the validation program,” Kito said. “So the survey is irrelevant because once the merchants are given a validation program, the lot will fill up.” The issue was resolved on Thursday, Aug. 8, when the City Council’s Transportation Committee approved a motion that reinstated the regular Monday through Thursday midnight hours. The Committee gave the DOT 30 days to report back with a plan for implementing a validation program.

©Los Angeles Downtown News.