The Street Seen: Ocean Park Garage
171-177 Pier Avenue @ Neilson Way
In 1926, Pacific Electric on its property of the North East Corner of Neilson and Pier, builds a new automobile parking garage and offices, replacing a demolished 1914 parking garage.
In 1926, Main St from Hollister to Marine is widened by 40 ft to a width of 80 ft. This is accomplished by moving buildings on the west side of Main St 40 ft west onto the Pacific Electric right-of-way. The Pacific Electric property is mostly vacant land - except for the ground lease Pier Ave Auto Inn Garage (1914 - 1926).1
To allow for the Main St widening, Pacific Electric demolishes the 1914 Auto Inn Garage, and builds a similar automobile garage,2 30 ft to the west (closer to Neilson). The new $17,700 building is ‘designed’ by Pacific Electric and built for them by Rose Ave contractor Houghton and Anderson. The new garage is, for the most part, the building that we see today.
The exterior walls are brick with stucco over brick at the front 2-story structure. J.C. Williams (1882–1960), Goodrich tireman, who is the lessee of the old garage in 1925, returns and remains until 1950.
In September 1932, Kinney St is extended across Neilson to Main St. The north end of the Ocean Park Garage, which would extend 10 ft into the new Kinney St, is demolished. Advantage is taken of the demolition to add a new decorative entrance to the north end of the building on Kinney St.
The Ocean Park Garage continues to provide automotive services at least until 1940. In 1953 Pacific Electric sells its entire facilities, including the Ocean Park Garage, to Western Transit Systems for $8.0 MM.3
The Ocean Park Depot (1910 - 1955) on the south side of Pier Ave is also on the Pacific Electric right-of-way - but the depot is built closer to Neilson. There is enough space for the 40ft expansion - although an adjacent billiards building on the south side of Pier Ave has to be demolished.
Pacific Electric demolishes the 1914 Auto Inn Garage to make way for the widening of Main St. It is not clear why Pacific Electric re-builds the automobile garage in 1926. Was it part of the requirements of the 1914 ground lease (which expires in 1929)? Or did Pacific Electric believe the automobile garage concept was a profitable venture?
Pacific Electric abandons the dual-track Venice Short Line along Neilson in 1950, and the single-track Santa Monica Air Line along the right-of-way just west of Main St in 1953. The Pacific Electric Ocean Park Depot on the South East Corner of Neilson and Pier Ave is demolished in 1956.