With development projects the order of the day in Century City, the Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of the City will take on the topic Thursday morning as politicians, civic leaders, business people and residents join together for an open panel discussion.
Representatives from high-stakes projects Century Plaza Hotel, Fox Studios, Westfield Century City, One Beverly Hills, and California Rehabilitation Institute, will all weigh-in on the future of the city, alongside other involved industries.
“From residential to retail to healthcare, Century City is transforming and actively growing,” said Susan Bursk, president and CEO of Century City Chamber of Commerce. “All of these projects are great investments for the area, and we are proud that Century City continues to be an economic engine for the city of Los Angeles.”
Organized by the Business, Entertainment, & Law (BEL) Council of the Century City Chamber, the State of the City event is in its second year and will be held March 24 from 7:30am-10:30am at Century Plaza Towers.
Along with panelists from Century City’s development projects, several civic leaders will serve as special guests, including Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti, who will provide welcome remarks.
Presentations before the panel and Q-and-A will come from Councilmember Paul Koretz of District 5, L.A. City Controller Ron Galperin, and Eric Geier of Metro.
Attendees will learn more about such projects from the highest authorities and inform themselves of local real estate trends and Century City construction, the Chamber explained.
John Marshall of Westfield will discuss Century City’s mall and its current $800-million overhaul, expected to generate an estimated $1.4 billion in economic output and create about 10,000 new permanent retail and construction jobs, according to Westfield.
Rohan a`Beckett, deputy general manager of Wanda Beverly Hills Properties, LLC, will talk One Beverly Hills, a luxury hotel and residential project located at the former Robinsons-May property at the western gateway of Beverly Hills. One Beverly Hills is currently approved for 42 residences and a 134-room luxury boutique hotel.
Chief Executive Officer John Behzad of the soon-to-open California Rehabilitation Institute will discuss the 138-bed acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital located in the former Doctor’s Hospital in Century City. Once fully operational sometime this year, California Rehabilitation Institute will employ approximately 300 people.
Talks will also encompass the now-shuttered Century Plaza Hotel, with Michael Rosenfeld, CEO of Woodridge Capital Partners who is leading the $2.5-billion redevelopment project, expected to explain upcoming construction plans. The new Century Plaza Hotel project features two 46-story luxury residential towers, restaurants, retail shops and a newly designed 400 room 5-star hotel.
Bill Christopher of 20th Century Fox will represent the city’s entertainment component, discussing the studio’s plans for its 52.9-acre lot. Last year Century City’s namesake filed for new facilities with the Los Angeles Department of City Planning, indicating that improvements include creative office space; a specialty stage; and facility support, retail amenities and utility buildings. Fox has also applied for a master conditional-use permit that would allow the sale of alcoholic beverages at three new restaurants planned on the lot, as well as four existing venues.
State of the City will take place at Century Plaza Towers, level 15, at 2049 Century Park East in Century City. Registration is still open, call 310.553.2222 or visit centurycitycc.com.
Agenda
• 7:30am to 8:10am: registeration, networking, and continental breakfast.
• 8:15am: Mayor Garcetti will present welcome remarks followed by presentations by Councilmember Koretz, L.A. City Controller Galperin, and Metro’s Geier.
• 9am-10:30am: Panel discussion and Q-and-A.
Tickets are $55 for Chamber members, $75 for non-members, and $95 for those purchasing at the door. Continental breakfast and discounted parking are included in the price. No refunds will be given for cancellations or no-shows.
