Motion for Park in South Park on AEG’s Grand/11th Lot

AEG’s venerable parking lot at Grand Ave. and 11th Ave. (home of A Taste of South Park) may become a much-needed park space in the center of South Park according to a motion introduced on September 20 by 14th District Council Member Kevin de León.

The lot, which has been parking for AEG’s Desmond Office Building, had been approved for a mid-rise hotel building featuring 160 guest rooms and ground floor restaurant space. While the plan was approved several years ago, AEG has not followed through with permitting for the building’s construction.  According to the motion, AEG is now willing to sell the .31-acre parcel to LA City and de León’s motion argues for directing city staff to negotiate a purchase agreement.  Although the motion does not specify the source of the funds to complete the purchase of the property, District 14 recently elected to dedicate its nearly $6 million allocation of Transfer of Floor Area Rights payments to the acquisition of a park site in the South Park Area.

South Park, one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in the city, was originally named for an intended large park that was never constructed.  The area is “under-parked” by a long shot.  The current median ratio in Los Angeles for park area per resident is 3.3 acres per 1000 residents.  With South Park’s residential population currently estimated to be 12,000 residents and more to come, this formula would suggest a necessity for at least 36 acres of public park for South Park. There is currently less than two acres of park area in the district to meet this need.

SPNA applauds District 14’s effort to purchase this parcel.  The establishment of the park would work nicely with the successful Farmer’s Market which it adjoins and provide more reason to approve and proceed with the SuperBlock proposal in the immediate area that suggests the closure of Grand Avenue to thru traffic.  A combination of these two efforts would go a long way to making this residential area more vibrant and a draw for the entire city.

By John Nilsson