Sasaki Associates Selected to Plan and Design Waterfront Access and Recreation Areas along the Port of Los Angeles' Wilmington Border; Plans Now Set to Move Forward with Master Plan for 95-Acre Wilmington Segment of the Los Angeles Waterfront

Business Wire, Jan 5, 2006

SAN PEDRO, Calif. -- Following an extensive consultant selection process that involved members of the Wilmington community, the Board of Harbor Commissioners today awarded a three-year, $10.8 million contract to Sasaki Associates for the master planning and design of the Wilmington segment of the Los Angeles Waterfront development along the northern and western perimeter of the Port of Los Angeles.

"We're happy to be moving move forward with Sasaki to provide design for this area along the Port's northern border in Wilmington," said Stacey Jones, director of engineering development at the Port of Los Angeles, "for the benefit of Wilmington residents and visitors alike, this project will bring value to that area in the form of open-space, recreation, complementary development opportunities and improved quality of life."

"This is a historic day," said Ken Melendez, president of the Wilmington Improvement District and chair of the PCAC Wilmington Waterfront Development Subcommittee. "After four years, hundreds of meetings and thousands of hours of work by numerous community members from Wilmington, Harbor City and San Pedro, having this agreement in place keeps the momentum going, and we can't wait until the day Wilmington sees this project completed."

The 95-acre project footprint, running along Harry Bridges Boulevard and portions of Avalon Boulevard in Wilmington (see photo: http://www.portoflosangeles.org/Sasaki.htm), and along John S. Gibson Boulevard between Wilmington and San Pedro, will include landscaped open "buffer" areas for recreation, a commercial mixed use district linking the Wilmington's downtown district to the waterfront at Banning's Landing, and enhanced waterfront access and recreational opportunities.

In the year ahead, the Sasaki team and Port staff will work with Wilmington community members to complete a master plan and design for the project area. Based on that plan, project environmental assessments (EIRs) are targeted for completion in 2006/2007. Construction of the predominantly open space "buffer" area is scheduled for completion in 2008, with completion of the entire project scheduled for 2009 at a total estimated construction cost of $120 million.

"This project is an opportunity to shape the unique features of the site into a wonderful public outdoor space with complementary development opportunities for the entire community," said Owen Lang, principal-in-charge at Sasaki Associates. "We are excited about the initiative, the involvement of the community and the earnest support of the Port of Los Angeles."

Sasaki Associates' portfolio of waterfront projects includes the Embarcadero Promenade the San Francisco Waterfront, the San Diego North Embarcadero Alliance Visionary Master Plan, and Charleston Waterfront Park.

The project team will work with the EEK/Gafcon team currently spearheading the San Pedro segment of the Port's waterfront. The San Pedro segment of the waterfront project is currently going through environmental analysis, and two public promenade sections -- the Cruise Ship Promenade and Harbor Blvd. Parkway -- have already been completed. In its entirety, the Los Angeles Waterfront development incorporates more than 500 acres of prime land bordering the nation's busiest port.

The Port of Los Angeles is America's premier port. As the leading container port in the nation and a critical hub in the international supply chain, the Port generates thousands of stable jobs and billions of dollars in annual wages and tax revenues. The Port of Los Angeles also places a high priority on responsible growth initiatives combined with high security, environmental stewardship and community outreach. The Port of Los Angeles is a proprietary, self-supported department of the City of Los Angeles. The Port of Los Angeles -- A cleaner port. A brighter future.

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