'Grand' park for downtown L.A. is a step closer

Downtown L.A. is a step closer to its grand park.

City and county officials today announced that they expect to receive $26.4 million in state funds for a civic park between City Hall and the Music Center that would be built as part of the $3-billion Grand Avenue project.

The 16-acre park already has more than $50 million committed from fees paid by the project's developer, Related Cos., to the city and county, which own the land. But the addition of more funds to the park would allow additional enhancements to the park's initial design, officials said. The civic park must be completed before the rest of Grand Avenue's first phase, in part because agreements with the public agencies dictate that Related will not be given certificates of occupancy for the rest of the development until the park is complete.

The state funds were authorized by the state Assembly today as part of a bill allocating $150 million in Proposition 1C funds. Their disbursement still must be approved by the governor, who is expected to sign the bill Friday or Monday. If it is approved, the money would go to the county, which would administer the park funds.

Downtown residents have long complained about a lack of park space. News of extra money for the Grand Avenue park is likely to meet with cheers in some quarters.

—Cara Mia DiMassa

Comments

[PNW Trojan]

Great! More druggies, more homeless, more predators, more parolees, more filth... what are those politicians smoking???

[df]

What kind of park is this? I count 10 buildings, some trees, a few green areas(lawns, green cement??). How about one building (a restroom) and the rest trees and grass, a forest of trees. A park that will attract birds, suck CO2 from the air...this plan looks like an Aid for Developers project.