Residents warn South Street narrowing will worsen congestion, restrict deliveries

Residents and several board members raised strong objections to a planned narrowing of the 400 block of South Street, saying it would reduce vehicle lane width, complicate deliveries, and increase congestion in an area with heavy commercial activity.

Marcela Gregory, who said she has been blocked from getting construction information, described the 400 block as a high-turnover commercial strip with food trucks, bars, deliveries and an active southernmost house with narrow frontage. She said the engineer's plan calls for reducing the driving lane from about 25 feet to 20 feet, and warned: "This street is being taken away from us for what? For who?" Gregory noted the project could be paused but asked residents to speak up.

Leon Moyer said online project materials described the Southernmost Point Plaza work as starting Sept. 14 with a 180‑day schedule and that the proposal would narrow the vehicle roadway from approximately 25 feet to 20 feet. He also said deliveries to the 400 block would be allowed only if pre-scheduled and approved by the city and asked whether required CRA audits were being performed.

Commissioner Lopez and others pointed to past problems on nearby United Street, where lane narrowing and added bike lanes created difficulties for drivers, and urged care to avoid repeating mistakes. City staff and commissioners noted that some aspects of the project — including specific funding and procurement — may fall outside the advisory board’s purview and that the CRA/city commission and engineering would make detailed decisions.