Rodeo Drive retailers come out in support of Beverly Hills subway stop

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Trying to dispel a wave of negative publicity, Rodeo Drive retailers say they don’t care if shoppers arrive by Rolls-Royce or subway.

A group made up of merchants, landowners and hotel operators from the famous shopping destination has come out in favor of a proposed subway station in Beverly Hills.

Rodeo Drive Committee President Jim Jahant said Wednesday that the association had voted its support for the station and believed it would increase tourism and shopping with less traffic in the area.

‘Simply put, the vast majority of merchants and landowners are not against a subway station and, in fact, welcome the concept,’ he said.

That’s a change from earlier news reports, which said many retailers were worried that the proposed station at Wilshire Boulevard and Beverly Drive would cause a construction nightmare and bring the wrong kind of crowd to the ultra-high-end area.

The long-awaited, 9-mile Westside subway extension is projected to cost $5.34 billion if completed by 2022.

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-- Andrea Chang