October 7, 2009

SBACC Supported San Pedro Waterfront Project Approved

The SBACC expressed its support at an October 6, 2009 Port of Los Angeles Harbor Commission hearing of the San Pedro Waterfront Project. The our support of the San Pedro Waterfront Project. The Harbor Commission unanimously approved the project.

The SBACC supports this Project because it will create jobs, improve quality of life and enhance the community and visitor-serving commercial opportunities in and around the Port.

The Project is a major 400-acre waterfront infrastructure and revitalization initiative that will allow the Port to meet the increasing cruise industry demands. As other Ports up and down California continue to expand and entice new business from the cruise industry, it is only prudent that San Pedro continues to keep pace with these other Ports. That is why this is the right project at the right time.

Allowing the Port to position itself now to seek and secure new cruise business while at the same time creating multiple job opportunities and increasing state and local revenues is exactly what the San Pedro economy needs. Annually, cruise operations at the Port facilitate more than 2,500 jobs and generate about $87.5 million a year in regional wages, $281.9 million in business revenues and $11.2 million in state and local taxes.

Once the Port is revitalized and has adopted the expanded cruise operations with increased commercial development throughout the Project, a variety of economic benefits would be anticipated such as:

• 1,083 new jobs (in addition to current cruise-related jobs and retail/restaurant related jobs);

• $37.9 million in new wages;

• $30.8 million in passenger spending;

The Project also meets the need of sustainability as outlined by the Los Angeles Harbor Department’s (LAHD) sustainability program and policies.

The San Pedro Waterfront Project is a win-win for the both the business community and surrounding residential communities. The area will be revitalized; removing blight, enhancing overall aesthetics for the community to enjoy and attracting potential new business customers to Port’s O’Call.
 

December 15, 2008

SBACC Supports San Pedro Waterfront Project

The South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce (SBACC) supports the proposed San Pedro Waterfront Project provided that local concerns regarding traffic, parking, and downtown San Pedro business access and exposure as well as regional transit solutions such as the Harbor Subdivision line that the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has under study are considered in the final plan.

We believe that the proposed project is vital to the area’s business community and local economy. The proposed project is estimated to create over 1,000 new jobs and much more as the cruise ship industry is expected to expand. With more jobs coming on line in the San Pedro area, this can only be a positive start to an already slumping economy in both our area and statewide.

The SBACC also sees the need for a transportation related solution in and around the proposed project. By considering Metro’s Harbor Subdivision line and coordinating efforts with Metro to ensure reliable methods of transportation to the waterfront, we believe this will enhance the overall project. As the area begins to flourish after completion, the need for reliable transportation to and from the proposed waterfront will be crucial to the continued growth of the project. The surrounding community, along with local businesses, will need to depend on this transportation solution as way to continue to attract visitors and tourism to the waterfront as proposed in the current project.

We strongly believe the San Pedro Waterfront Project is long overdue and by approving the proposed draft EIR/EIS will be a step in the right direction which will benefit all involved.

Click here for more information on the project.