Neighbors Not Thrilled With Getty

The new Getty Center in Brentwood may be a cultural oasis and world-class attraction for Los Angeles, but it’s a royal headache for its residential neighbors.

Visitors to the museum, where parking is limited to 1,500 vehicles and weekend parking reservations are booked through April, have been parking their cars on residential streets up to a mile away and walking to the center. This is creating major traffic and parking problems for local residents.

Last week, the L.A. City Council approved a 30-day parking restriction on streets surrounding the museum. During its opening hours, only residents and their guests will be allowed to park on designated streets for more than two hours.

When the Getty’s art collection was housed at its villa in Malibu, museum officials forbade visitors from walking in, thanks to an agreement made with the villa’s neighbors. No such policy exists at the Brentwood center.