Ventura city leaders consider reopening Main Street to traffic

VENTURA, Calif. (KABC) -- The COVID-19 pandemic transformed Ventura's Main Street into a free-flowing public space for pedestrians after the road closed to traffic.

Some business owners said the closures turned downtown Ventura into a popular destination spot, allowing businesses to survive.

In five years, the area has completely transformed, allowing residents and visitors to explore.

"They can just kind of park and wander and there's a lot of options for shopping, eating, drinking, just hanging out outside," said Tina Thayer, who owns Paradise Pantry on Main Street.

However, the popular street may soon reopen after some property owners said the closures are hurting their businesses.

"Some people are saying that it's taking business away, that people can't drive up right next to the building and go inside and get something and leave," said Ventura Deputy Mayor Doug Halter.

After the city failed to pass a proposed pedestrian mall, some people believe a hybrid model could work. It would allow cars to move down Main Street during the week and close the road on the weekends.

However, some people feel that would create more problems.

"It costs money to close the streets, to put in barricades, to get a fire inspection, to get the permits. You have to pay for each parking spot that is being occupied if you do a hybrid model, or if the street is open altogether to cars and you have to close it off," said Edith Espejo with Venturans for People Oriented Places, a group that advocates for "citizen-centric development" in Ventura.

Thayer hopes the city considers the positive changes the closures have brought to the city.

"It would be such a shame for the community to lose this as a place to go and visit and wander," she said.

The Ventura City Council is set to vote on reopening Main Street in September.