Santa Clarita officials broke ground Monday on the next phase in the Old Town Newhall project.

Mayor Cameron Smyth, the entire City Council and other Santa Clarita leaders participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new parking structure in Old Town Newhall.

“Growing up here all he had was the Newhall pet store and the general store where I got my two tone OP shorts — which I still have,” said Smyth. “It’s wonderful to see as someone who grew up here to see the changes — all so much for the better.”

The structure would add 372 spaces to Old Town Newhall to meet the expanding needs and marks the next step in the revitalization of the district.

The garage is set to be constructed on the corner of Railroad Avenue and 9th Street — right next door to the Laemmle Theater and Newhall Crossings.

“It’s happening,” said Gregg Laemmle, president of Laemmle Theatres, referring to the longtime efforts between the city and the family-owned theater chain, which dated back to before the state eliminated redevelopment funds several years ago.

Laemmle also said the theater company hoped to break ground by the end of the year on the theater, if all goes as planned with respect to the necessary preparation.

The new art house theater would show independent movies on seven different screens. The Newhall Crossings project is set to add 20,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, as well as 37 residential units.

The new Laemmle Theater and Newhall Crossings is all part of the ‘live, work, play’ balance we strive to have in Santa Clarita,” said Smyth.

Staff members of local legislators from the state and county, were in attendance of the groundbreaking ceremony.

Representatives from Senator Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, Assemblyman Dante Acosta, R-Santa Clarita, and L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger presented Mayor Smyth with certificates honoring this ‘momentive occasion.’

The new parking structure will have an event space the top level to accommodate events for organizations and the city.

“We used creative thinking to do things a little bit different — and a little bit better,” said Smyth. “This new event space is very unique. This is something that the council is so appreciative of having staff and partners thinking about how we can be more creative and bring more things more entertaining in Newhall.”

The new event space and Laemmle Theater are part of the city’s efforts to transform Old Town Newhall into a thriving arts district, according to officials.