April 1, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Los Angeles City Council Considers Proposal as Part of LA River Restoration

A Los Angeles City Council committee will consider today a proposal to pay $59.3 million for a piece of Union Pacific Railroad property in Glassell Park that has long been considered key to the city’s Los Angeles River restoration goals.

The city has plans to turn the Taylor Yard G2 plot — currently 42 acres of industrial rail yard land — into recreational and passive park space, restoring a wildlife habitat to a river that has more of a reputation of being a storm channel.

The cost of the full project, including the purchase price, is expected to come to about $252 million, of which $120 million would be for remediation.

The Arts, Parks and River Committee is scheduled to consider the proposed purchase agreement for the Taylor Yard G2 parcel at a special meeting this afternoon.

The purchase of the parcel, at 2850 Kerr St., was negotiated in anticipation of the $1.5 billion U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan to revitalize an 11-mile stretch of the river running through the Elysian Valley.

The Army Corps plan focuses on widening the river next to the yard but does not actually detail improvements on the Taylor Yard G2 plot, which is a complementary project.

The city would need to pay nearly $1.2 billion of the Army Corps plan’s river restoration cost, as well as $2.5 million annually for ongoing maintenance and operations, according to estimates released by City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana. City leaders had initially hoped the costs would be split between the city and federal government.

Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, who chairs the Arts, Parks and River Committee, said that if council members agree to open escrow on the purchase of the Taylor Yard G2 land, they would still have time to look more closely into the deal, and if necessary, back out before the end of the escrow period.

O’Farrell said that while the rail yard parcel is tied to the Army Corps project — which has increased in cost since it was first proposed — the plot of land has also long been the “lynchpin” of the city’s own Los Angeles River restoration plans.

“What I want to do is make sure we don’t get distracted by what is sort of an abstract exercise” of contemplating the city’s estimated $1.2 billion share of costs in the Army Corps plans, he said.

O’Farrell said he plans to consider the immediate $252 million costs of improving on Taylor Yard itself.

The purchase of the yard would be “an enormous investment in a space that has a high value for the future of the Los Angeles River,” he said.

Under the tentative deal, the purchase amount would include setting aside $14.7 million for part of the soil remediation costs.

The city is also counting on the state providing $25 million of the purchase cost, which would need to be funneled through a potential agreement with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, according to the CAO.

The state’s portion would likely not be available to the city when it comes time to purchase the land, according to the CAO.

The CAO’s report also gives City Council members the option of forgoing purchase of the property at this time.

 

136737008

Related Posts

Union Workers at UCLA to Strike April 1 Over Staffing Shortages, Labor Disputes

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Healthcare and Research Staff at UC to Strike, Alleging Unfair Labor Practices More than 20,000 healthcare, research, and technical professionals...

School of Rock Students Shine in Winter Performance Despite Widespread Fires

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Summer Camp Registration Opens Now By Susan Payne Wildfire devastation wreaked havoc in areas of Los Angeles this January with...

Full House Creator’s Cielo Drive Estate Returns With Massive Price Drop

March 30, 2025

March 30, 2025

Franklin’s Mansion, Once the Site of the MansonTragedy, Back on Market Full House creator Jeff Franklin is returning to the...

Santa Monica, Beverly Hills See Real Estate Shifts After L.A. Wildfires

March 30, 2025

March 30, 2025

Beverly Hills and Brentwood Listings Triple in Wake of January Fires Home sales and listings have shifted dramatically across Westside...

Deputies Open Fire on Suspect in West Hollywood, Triggering Street Closures

March 30, 2025

March 30, 2025

Suspect Shot by LASD in West Hollywood Domestic Violence Response Authorities are investigating a shooting that occurred Saturday evening in...

West Hollywood Resident Returns, Vandalizes Property, 30 Minutes After Eviction

March 30, 2025

March 30, 2025

“Neighbor From Hell” Tried to Re-Enter His Apartment and Damaged Property Valentino Lopez, a 41 year old, male Hispanic, was...

New Deadline, More Access: LA County Debris Program Expands Scope, Extends Signup

March 30, 2025

March 30, 2025

Officials Broaden Scope to Help More Residents, Encourage Early Submission Los Angeles County officials have announced that FEMA has agreed...

Judge to L.A. Leaders: ‘I Am Your Worst Nightmare’ in Scathing Homeless Spending Rebuke

March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

Carter Warns of Court Intervention if City and County Fail to Fix Broken Systems U.S. District Judge David O. Carter,...

Expect Delays: LADWP Launches Repaving Project on North La Cienega

March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

Santa Monica and La Cienega Among Areas Affected by LADWP Road Work City officials announced this week that the Los...

Mayor Karen Bass Texts Sent During the Palisades Fire Have Been Released

March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

Newly Recovered Texts Were Recovered After Sharp Criticism Over Deletions As wildfires swept through Los Angeles in early January, Mayor...

Serial Fraudster Swindled $18M From Investors in Fake Hemp Ventures

March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

Feds Seize Ferrari, Real Estate as Judge Jails Beverly Hills ‘Con Man’ Mark Roy Anderson, 70, of Beverly Hills, was...

Music Mogul Convicted, West Hollywood Co-Defendant Heads to Trial

March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

West Hollywood Talent Executive Awaits Trial in Multi-Count Kingpin Act ​A federal jury has convicted José Ángel Del Villar, 44,...

LAPD Sets Weekend DUI Checkpoints and Saturation Patrols Across West Los Angeles

March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

Checkpoints Begin Friday, March 28; Patrols to Follow Throughout the Weekend Officials announced that the Los Angeles Police Department will...

Film Review: A Working Man

March 27, 2025

March 27, 2025

By Dolores Quintana A Working Man is the second collaboration between director David Ayer and actor Jason Statham, in which...

Cocktail Season Arrives in Brentwood While Beverly Hills Hosts Wine Dinner Affair

March 27, 2025

March 27, 2025

Bar Toscana Unveils Spring Cocktails as Nerano Prepares Wine-Paired Feast Bar Toscana is welcoming spring with a lineup of vibrant...