City Council approves phased modernization of Los Angeles Convention Center, with conditions

The Los Angeles City Council voted to advance a phased plan to modernize and expand the Los Angeles Convention Center, authorizing staff to complete negotiations and return with a final project agreement in July. The council adopted the economic development committee report with amendments after a lengthy public comment period and in-chamber debate, approving the motion as amended by a 14–1 vote.

The measure directs the City Administrative Officer and the Chief Legislative Analyst to finalize a project agreement with the developer and to seek a firm fixed price and other special conditions before the council considers issuing debt. It also approves interim financing requests needed to continue the current “early works” phase and requires the city to pursue actions that reduce the general-fund impact of the project.

The council’s action follows more than an hour of public testimony that overwhelmingly supported the expansion from unions, downtown residential groups and business leaders who said the project would create construction and permanent jobs and boost local tax receipts. Leslie Ridings of the Downtown Los Angeles Residents Association told the council, “Residents want the Los Angeles Convention Center expansion. It gives us what we want out of downtown.” Several union speakers described apprenticeship placements and long-term careers attributed to convention work.

City Administrative Officer…