LAWA Says Future of the LA Waterfront is Coming

By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor

 Recently, Councilman Joe Buscaino revealed that the Los Angeles Waterfront Alliance was going to bring back the Red Car as part of their redevelopment plans for Ports O’ Call Village. It turns out that that wasn’t the only bombshell in redevelopment news.

On March 2, hours before the public meeting on the Ports O’Call redevelopment plan at the Warner Grand Theatre, Wayne Ratkovich, of the Ratkovich Company and Los Angeles Waterfront Alliance announced that they will break ground on the project in 2017.

The other piece of news was that it will no longer be called Ports O’Call Village. Instead, it will be called the San Pedro Public Market.

Ratkovich described the fruition of the Ports O’Call development, despite the fits and starts over the past decade or so, the result of an aligning of the stars, citing the support of the mayor, councilman and harbor commission board.

Buscaino noted during his comments that Ratkovich’s interest outlasted three administrations and two commissions to get to this point.

During the short press conference ahead of the public meeting at the Warner Grand, Ratkovich explained the six principles that guided redevelopment plans of Ports O’ Call, including:

1. The site is publicly owned. Therefore it has to be very public in its use. Open to all, to residents and visitors alike.
2. The redevelopment of the site should serve to improve the quality of life in San Pedro, Wilmington and beyond.
3. It should have high aspirations. It should become a landmark of lasting stature in Southern California.
4. The development should attract entrepreneurial tenants that collectively create a unique experience in Southern California. A special emphasis is to be placed on those foods and products that relate to the ocean front location.
5. The development should connect the Waterfront to downtown San Pedro and serve as a stimulant of revitalization of downtown San Pedro.
6. The use should begin to connect various attractions and activities along the San Pedro and Wilmington waterfront.

Councilman Buscaino called the Ports O’ Call redevelopment an opportunity to change the landscape in San Pedro and said the new plan could put San Pedro Public market on par with other Los Angeles assets such as Sunset Strip, L.A. Live and Hollywood.

This bit of development news follows announcements of Boeing and Catalina Sea Ranch, an aquaculture company that raises farm fresh mollusk shellfish such as clams, oysters and scallops, partnering with AltaSea.

Other redeveloping plans include the repurposing of the courthouse property on Sixth Street in downtown San Pedro and Los Angeles bid to host the 2024 Olympics, in which San Pedro will host the sailing competition.