Los Angeles city officials started construction on the $2.6 billion expansion and modernization project for the L.A. Convention Center on October 1.
This initiative marks a significant effort to revitalize Downtown Los Angeles as the city prepares for the upcoming Olympic Games in 2028.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, however, Councilman Curren Price of the 9th District collapsed due to a health-related issue and was later confirmed to be suffering from dehydration.
He was transported to a local hospital for necessary medical treatment.
Mayor Karen Bass had provided final approval for the Convention Center expansion just a week prior, on September 24, after the City Council sanctioned the project.
In her remarks at the ceremony, Mayor Bass emphasized the project’s importance, saying, “I am signing the final approval to begin construction on the Convention Center, a transformational project for downtown and our entire city.
This project is more than just a building; it is about revitalizing the heart of our city and bringing good-paying jobs and tourism straight to downtown.
Thank you to the City Council for your partnership and dedication in moving this vital initiative forward with me.”
The Convention Center is anticipated to create more than 15,000 jobs over its duration, and it is expected to add approximately $652 million in tax revenue to the city’s general fund over the next 30 years.
Moreover, the project aims to generate over $150 million in additional annual spending from visitors.
Mayor Bass highlighted that the initiative will assist in revitalizing parts of Downtown Los Angeles that have faced economic downturns since the pandemic.
Doane Liu, the chief tourism officer and executive director of the L.A. City Tourism Department, praised the project’s potential impact on economic growth, stating, “I want to thank the mayor and the City Council for their bold leadership and commitment to this legacy project that will make the Convention Center a premier destination for decades to come.
This decision is the result of years of work with our city leaders and departments and I’m proud of the tremendous effort put into this project.
When the city of Los Angeles locks arms and shares a vision, we can successfully complete complex projects that make a positive lasting impact for Angelenos.”
The expansion will add 190,000 square feet of exhibition space, connecting the existing South and West Exhibit Halls to create more than 750,000 square feet of continuous space.
In addition, the project will include 39,000 square feet of new meeting room space and 95,000 square feet designated for multipurpose use.
PCL Construction and Webcor will be responsible for carrying out the construction work.
Funding for the Convention Center expansion will rely on bonds issued by the city.
Plans are also in place to implement digital billboards that could generate additional revenue to help service the bonds, though exact amounts have yet to be determined.
Completion of the project is targeted for June 2028, mere weeks before the start of the Olympic Games, which are scheduled to run from July 14 to July 30, 2028.
The Los Angeles City Council voted 11-2 in favor of the project on September 19, with City Councilwomen Katy Yaroslavsky of the 5th District and Nithya Raman of the 4th District voting against it.
Councilwoman Yaroslavsky, who chairs the Budget Committee, expressed concerns about the financial implications of the expansion, warning that it places excessive burdens on the city’s future finances, especially during a time of service cuts.
“The Convention Center expansion we voted on is unrealistic, unaffordable, and fiscally irresponsible.
The completion timeline is tied to the 2028 Olympics with almost no room for error, and the contract makes taxpayers responsible for nearly every delay.
Even small setbacks could drive up costs, leaving the city on the hook for overruns we cannot control.
If we fail to deliver the project by March 2028, we’re on the hook for any additional costs associated with relocating Olympic events now slated for the Convention Center to new locations,” Yaroslavsky stated.
She also mentioned the troubling initial contract cost, asserting that it locks the city into a minimum obligation of $100 million a year for the next 30 years.
According to the City Administrative Officer’s report, this financial commitment could consume all projected growth in the general fund for years to come, potentially exacerbating the existing challenges in city services.
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