Maybe we should all just stay home from now on.
On the heels of Hollywood Beach losing roughly 800 parking spots to make way for Margaritaville comes the news that parking at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is about to get jacked up thanks to massive construction on Commercial Boulevard.
So if you want to take a leisurely stroll and stop by the shops and restaurants between the Intracoastal Waterway and the pier, you're going to have to probably kill another human being for a parking space to do so.
See also: Hollywood Beach to Lose 800 Parking Spaces to Make Room for Margaritaville Resort Hotel
Basically, a new midblock crosswalk with a traffic signal is being constructed on Commercial between East and West Tradewinds avenues. The sidewalks will be up to 22 feet wide, dotted with trees, and will offer pedestrians more sidewalk dining options and a better view of the ocean. You know, for tourists!
To make room for this promenade, parking spaces on Commercial are being wacked, making the already pain-in-the-ass process of finding parking in the area more pain-in-the-assy.
Construction crews will start installing pavers on the south side of the street this week, beginning a two-pronged job from the Intracoastal to west of Seagrape Avenue, as well as west of A1A and one from A1A to the beach.
According to the Sun Sentinel, the project will cost $5 million.
Traffic is not expected to be affected by the construction.
As for the parking woes for the moment, town officials say they've added a dozen new parking spots at the A1A lot and an additional 26 spaces along the median on South Bougainvillea Drive.
It's not much, but it'll make do. At least until construction is finished, which the city says should be in December -- right when the snowbirds arrive to take up the parking spots.
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