Downtown roads remain open after approval of Main Street Moves

On Sept. 16, the city council voted 6-1 in favor of continuing the Main Street Moves Project. Over 150 people attended the meeting and while three spoke out against the closure, 74 business owners and residents spoke in favor of downtown streets staying closed to cars.

The Main Street Moves Project is a proposed preservation of the temporary closure on Main Street. It was initially approved on May 18, 2020 by Ventura City Council and was prolonged six times until Jan. 31. The project strives towards the permanent closing of Main Street.

Mayor Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios said, “We knew Main Street’s future was something the community cared deeply about, so we expected strong participation. Still, seeing so many people show up—neighbors, students [and] business owners—really showed how much downtown means to everyone. It was a powerful reminder that decisions like these aren’t just about traffic patterns; they’re about the character of our city and the kind of place we want to live in.”

The downtown street closure originated in response to pandemic restrictions in 2020 in order to help businesses. Business owners were given a permit issued by the City of Ventura to the Downtown Ventura Organization. This permit allowed businesses to extend their storefronts out onto the street as a way for residents to be able to be part of restaurant culture and the downtown scene without putting themselves at risk and violating pandemic regulations.

Emely Prado ‘29 said,  “I feel better about downtown staying permanently closed. You’ll see me there about three times a week.” 

Main Street Moves could result in the total loss of 171 parking spaces downtown, making quick access to stores more difficult. This inaccessibility has caused business owners to speak out against the permanent closure, as they feel it is exacerbating a lack of access and customers to downtown stores.

In a City of Ventura Staff Report, city manager Bill Ayub quoted anonymous property and business owners, with one property owner who said, “Lack of vehicle access is severely impacting our retail tenants. Multiple businesses have failed at our property. It’s virtually impossible to find new tenants that want to open a new business on a closed street. PLEASE open the street to vehicles.” 

While there are property owners who have been negatively affected by the lack of vehicles, the street closure allows for economic growth elsewhere, specifically within businesses that benefit from the increased foot traffic.

Sanchez-Palacios said, “Many businesses, especially restaurants and cafes, have benefited from the extra space for outdoor dining and events. It creates a unique downtown experience that attracts both residents and visitors, which helps support our local economy…The goal is to make downtown Ventura a place where everyone—shoppers, diners and business owners—can thrive.”