Expansion of L.A. Convention Center halted: City council committee recommends repairs over expansion
Los Angeles Convention Center Expansion Plan in Jeopardy
The Los Angeles Convention Center expansion plan, initially estimated at $2.7 billion, is facing uncertainty after a City Council committee voted to recommend repairs instead of expansion. The decision was made on Tuesday by the Budget and Finance Committee, with Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky proposing the repair plan.
The repair plan includes upgrades that would be completed in time for the 2028 Olympic Games, addressing immediate concerns about the facility's readiness for the event. However, Yaroslavsky expressed concerns about the expansion's cost and tight construction timeline, leading to the proposed repairs.
Sharon Tso, the Chief Legislative Analyst, shares Yaroslavsky's apprehension, fearing that the project's first phase might not be completed in time for the 2028 Games. Tso also warned about the ongoing cost of the project, which has increased to $2.7 billion, an increase of $483 million from six months ago. She emphasized that the high cost would make it challenging for the city to fund basic services like street repairs, hire more firefighters, and recruit more police officers.
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield and Eunisses Hernandez voted in favor of the repair plan, while Tim McOsker and Heather Hutt voted against it. McOsker compared the financial burden of the expansion to the city's financing of the Convention Center's South Hall 30 years ago. He argued that the cost of the expansion increases with every delay in decision-making, a sentiment echoed by Nella McOsker, president and chief executive of the Central City Assn.
Hutt expressed concern about last-minute changes to the plan and the lack of public comment on them. Despite these concerns, the repair proposal and the expansion plan will go before the full City Council on Friday for a final decision.
Business groups, labor leaders, and community organizations view the Convention Center expansion as a necessary economic catalyst for downtown L.A. The expansion is expected to create thousands of construction jobs and spark new business activity. California is preparing for Olympic events at the Convention Center, using the Games as an impetus for construction.
Councilmember Yaroslavsky's alternative plan calls for the city to request new proposals for expanding the Convention Center, while also exploring other strategies to maximize the site's economic impacts. If approved, the expansion plan would add an estimated 325,000 square feet to the facility, spanning both sides of Pico Boulevard.
The decision to repair or expand the Los Angeles Convention Center will have significant implications for the city's budget and economic development. The full City Council will make a final decision on the matter this Friday.
