Downtown L.A.Convention Centre Expansion Approved After Decade-Long Debate
After more than ten yearsโ of discussion and planning, the Los Angeles City Council voted Friday to approve โฃa major expansion of the Los Angeles โConvention Center. The project, estimated โto add 325,000 square โfeet of โคspace, passed with โคa voteโ of 12-2, with councilmembers Yaroslavsky and Nithya Raman dissenting.
The expansion will connect the Convention โCenter’s South Hall, recognizable by its โcurving green exterior facing the 10 and 110 โฃFreeway interchange, โwith the West Hall, currently fadedโ blue. A key component of the project involves constructing a new wing directly over Pico Boulevard, a factor described by projectโฃ officials as “extraordinarily complicated and โextraordinarily costly.”
the decision comesโ amidst โconcerns about โthe city’s โfinancial stability. Raman voiced fears that a newly upgraded Convention Center could be surrounded by increased homelessness,perhaps deterring tourists โand event attendees. She also highlighted theโฃ risk of losing state and federal fundingโฃ crucial for housingโฃ programs.
Despite theseโ concerns, proponents argue โthe expansion is vital for attracting large-scale national events and โฃbolstering downtown L.A.’s economic recovery following the pandemic. Nella McOsker, president and โฃCEO of the Central City Assn., stated the project offers “a model thatโ can work” for attracting conventions accommodating โฃtens of thousands of visitors.
The project is heavily supported by Southern California’s construction trade unions, โฃwho anticipate the creation of approximately 13,000 construction jobs, alongside 2,150 permanent positions. Sydney Berrard,โ a retired member of Sheet Metal Workers’ Local Union No.โ 105, testified in โขfavor of the project, emphasizing its importance for the economic security of localโ workers and their families.
Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez initially favored a less expensive choice plan, but ultimately shifted her vote to support the expansion,โ stating she would focus โขonโ securing “other people’s money” โ(OPM) to fund essential city โservices. Councilmember Bob Blumenfield,absent from the โvote due to โa pre-planned trip,expressed worry about the project’s completion timeline,fearing โฃit may not be ready for the 2028 Olympic Games,which would carry critically important financial โrisks for the city.
Construction is slated to begin almost immediately, with demolition work planned to start next month.Ernesto Medrano, executive secretary of the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, affirmed the readiness ofโข union workersโฃ to begin the project, calling it an investment in L.A.’s workforce.
