Facebook Twitter Twitter    Archive | www.aapa-ports.org June 24, 2014
   

Waterfront Redevelopment: Los Angeles

Print Print this Article | Send to Colleague

Los Angeles Unveils New Downtown Harbor and Town Square on the LA Waterfront

The Port of Los Angeles on June 20 unveiled the new centerpiece of the LA Waterfront, Downtown Harbor and Town Square. Situated between the World Cruise Center and Ports O’ Call Village at the foot of the San Pedro Historic Waterfront District, Downtown Harbor is a public harbor and plaza that connects downtown San Pedro to the LA Waterfront.

Downtown Harbor opens up 1.2 acres of existing waterfront between Fire Station 112 and the Los Angeles Maritime Museum. Previously a parking lot, the space has been transformed with a new harbor inlet for recreational vessels to dock free of charge for up to four hours. Surrounding the inlet is a public plaza and pedestrian promenade that features trees and landscaping, decorative lighting, a picnic area, and an overlook pier. Click here for a fact sheet on Downtown Harbor and Town Square.

Artistic elements accent the public open space. Mirroring the illumination of downtown San Pedro, LED lights are strung among the palm trees, identical street pole lights outline the plaza’s perimeter, and "Warner Grand" art deco pathway bollards dot the water’s edge. The area acknowledges its historic maritime roots, featuring 20 of the Maritime Museum's outdoor artifacts, including anchors, propellers, and a World War II torpedo.

The official public art installation, "The Ship Chandler" by artist Mark Dion, is an approximate 9-by-12-foot cabin comprised of salvaged materials that represent the Port of Los Angeles during the 19th and 20th centuries. Designed to be viewed from the outside looking in, the structure is located in the plaza area near the Los Angeles Maritime Museum. Bench seating and wood tables by local San Pedro artist Harold Greene feature inlaid nautical flags that correspond to a letter in the alphabet. At each table corner, flags spell out P-O-L-A for Port of Los Angeles.

Construction began in March 2012 at a total cost of $32 million.

The town square also features a public plaza and open amphitheater ideal for upcoming community events.

The LA Waterfront is a visitor-serving destination located in the Los Angeles Harbor area that includes more than 400 acres of property funded and maintained by the Port of Los Angeles. Featuring more than a dozen beautification and redevelopment projects utilizing open space with pedestrian promenades, walking paths, native landscaping, decorative lighting, and scenic views, the LA Waterfront attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

 

Share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn