Council approves parts of Little Tokyo redevelopment package, continues proposed recreation-center siting to July 6
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Summary
The City Council approved most components of an agenda package that would clear space for cultural projects in Little Tokyo but continued the specific item that would fix the proposed site for a new Little Tokyo recreation center to July 6 so stakeholders can negotiate location and parking arrangements.
The Los Angeles City Council on June 8 approved sections of an agenda package related to redevelopment of the First Street North block in Little Tokyo but delayed a decision on the proposed location for a recreation center. The council voted to adopt paragraphs 1 through 5 and paragraph 7 of agenda item 55 and continued paragraph 6 to July 6 for further discussion.
Community leaders and residents urged the council to delay the siting decision so they could work with the Children's Museum, the developer of the former St. Vibiana site and city staff to ensure the recreation center and museum could both be accommodated.
"We support item number 55, all of the articles, except article number 6," said the Rev. Mark Nakagawa, senior minister of Centenary United Methodist Church and a representative of groups advocating for a Little Tokyo recreation center. Nakagawa and other speakers said the recreation center is a long-standing community priority and that alternative museum siting or parking arrangements should not preclude the rec center.
Bill Watanabe, director of the Little Tokyo Service Center, described a technical obstacle: the city's plan to place a gym on top of a new parking structure depends on securing fee title to two adjacent parcels. "If we had 30 days, we could use that 30 days," Watanabe said, asking for time to negotiate with the Children's Museum and the developer of the St. Vibiana site.
Dean Toji of the Little Tokyo Service Center CDC urged a pause so the community planning process already underway for the First Street North block can proceed without a piecemeal relocation of facilities. Amy Miyako Phillips, a project supporter, told the council the recreation center has broad backing and submitted more than 1,200 community handprints gathered in support of the project.
Councilmembers agreed to approve the items that did not determine the recreation-center site and to return paragraph 6 on July 6. The council directed that discussions continue among the city's offices, community organizations and the Children's Museum in the meantime.
By approving items 1'5 and 7 of the package and postponing the site selection vote, the council preserved the city's ability to advance parking and other preparatory work while giving stakeholders time to resolve how a gymnasium/recreation center could be sited in coordination with the Children's Museum and the planned parking structure.
