Much of the city's waterfront development momentum has focused on the LA River recently, whether its impending redesign, the Sixth Street Bridge's replacement, a proposed music festival or the up-and-coming Frogtown. But follow the river all the way down to the ocean and you'll find that another one of LA's waterfronts is in the midst of a massive makeover.
San Pedro, a section of the South Bay long ago annexed to keep an ocean port within LA city limits, has found itself the focus of a number of design proposals looking to shed some of the area's industrial skin. The neighborhood has seen redeveloped cruise terminals, docks and parks in recent years, as well as the arrival of Crafted and the Battleship Iowa. Here's a look at what's still to come—and a few items that've already arrived—to try to turn San Pedro into a bustling waterfront.
Ports O' Call Village is set for a $100-million makeover.
The half-century old harbor village has seen better days, but that's nothing that a few million dollars of development money can't fix. Plans for a new San Pedro Public Market will include 16 acres of restaurants, shopping, markets, office space, a waterfront promenade and the revival of the Red Car Line, with construction set to begin in 2017 and wrap up in 2020.
Photograph: Courtesy Ratkovich Company/Jerico Development
AltaSea, a massive marine biology campus, is coming.
The 35-acre marine research campus is set to take over a vacant century-old pier with a mix of public plazas and private research facilities. The plans call for everything from a new green space at the corner of Signal and 22nd streets to a lighthouse-like observation tower. The project is expected to roll out in phases between 2017 and 2023.
Photograph: Courtesy Gensler
San Pedro's downtown is primed for multiple city-owned mixed-use developments.
The City Council commissioned a study to explore adding hotels, apartments and condos to the San Pedro and Wilmington waterfronts, with an additional retail-residential project already on the way.
Brouwerij West finally opened.
It's been a long road for Brouwerij West. After teasing a summer 2015 opening, the brewery finally opened this past February. Its 120,000-square-foot warehouse space (with solar panels and water efficient filters) has finally created a home for its Belgian-inspired ales.
Photograph: Courtesy Brouwerij West
The Warner Grand Theater could see a big revival.
This one has been a rumor for awhile now, but it appears that city officials are moving forward with the possibility of putting the stunning Art Deco theater in the hands of a major concert promoter. City councilman Joe Buscaino's motion on the idea was approved earlier this month and it's said that promoters are already showing interest. We have to say, we'd certainly be in favor of more shows like Miguel, Beach House and Neutral Milk Hotel, all of whom have played the venue in recent years.
The Griffith Park Teahouse popped up... temporarily.
Even after a trip to the South Bay, the Griffith Park Teahouse just couldn't ditch its name. The beloved guerrilla art installation found a temporary home atop Knoll Hill, near the Vincent Thomas Bridge, last March.