I recently attended the Southern California Development Forum (SCDF) breakfast, “New Development Opportunities Driven by Southern California’s Large Infrastructure Projects.” A panel of public leaders spearheading some of the largest infrastructure projects discussed plans regarding upcoming project opportunities and potential possibilities for developing companion projects.
The panel of public leaders included:
- Lisa Trifiletti, LAX Northside Project Manager, Los Angeles World Airports
- Roger Moliere, Chief of Real Property Management & Development, Metro
- David Mathewson, Director Planning and Economic Development, Port of Los Angeles
- Gary Lee Moore, City Engineer, City of Los Angeles
The overall tone was positive as each panelist discussed major projects in the works. Specifically, Ms. Trifiletti discussed her role in the LAX Northside revitalization which includes the development of nearly 340 acres of land adjacent to the airport. Once completed, the update will bring new restaurants, retail stores, residential housing, community/civic space, and mixed-use buildings to the Westchester and Playa del Rey communities while creating nearly 40,000 jobs.
Mr. Moliere of Metro, which is responsible for the improvement of the highways, roads, sound walls and bike trails in Los Angeles County, discussed several highway and transit projects under development, including the High Desert Corridor, a brand new 63-mile highway linking Los Angeles and San Bernardino; the Regional Connector Transit Corridor, a 1.9-mile fully underground Light Rail Transit Line that will connect two existing Metro lines; the widening of the I-710 corridor which connects the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach; and the Westside Subway Extension which will provide high-speed transportation for those traveling to and from Miracle Mile, Beverly Hills, Century City and Westwood and several more. You can view a full list of projects on Metro’s website: http://www.metro.net/projects/
Mr. Moore with the City of Los Angeles provided an optimistic outlook on the city’s municipal, sewer/waste water, and bridges and roads projects, stating that more than 1,000 have been completed since July 2005 and there are nearly 400 currently in the pipeline.
Mr. Mathewson of the Port of Los Angeles, which encompasses 7,500 acres of land and water along 43 miles of waterfront, discussed eight projects underway, including the creation of new wharfs and the redevelopment of existing terminals. Mr. Mathewson also weighed in on the Port of Los Angeles’ new focus on community projects including the development of the areas around the Red Car Museum in Seal Beach and the Ralph S. Scott Museum in San Pedro.
-By Berbay Account Manager Erica Hess
