A plan that could place the Port of Long Beach headquarters in
the city’s downtown for the first time ever was approved this week by the Long
Beach City Council and Harbor Commission.
After several months of public meetings, study and debate, the
Long Beach City Council on Dec. 9 unanimously selected Plenary-Edgemoor Civic
Partners to build a new Civic Center. In addition to a new port headquarters
building, the project includes a new main library, park, City Hall and new
housing, retail and a hotel.
The city has said that retrofitting the existing facilities
is prohibitively expensive and would be impossible without finding new
financing through bonds or taxes.
“Partnering with this team to build a new Civic Center is
the right decision, and provides an opportunity to add residential development
and other uses to the site, and to create a modern, sustainable project that
will last for generations, without additional cost to our residents,” Long
Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said.
The port has been looking for a new home for years due to
age-related problems with its former base of operations, located near the
waterfront, south of downtown. In February, the port’s administrative staff of
about 350 moved out of its 54-year-old, seven-story seismically deficient
headquarters over to a 27-year-old, eight-story interim building located about
a dozen miles inland.
On Dec. 8, the Long Beach Harbor Commission voted to
participate in the nearly $358 million project. The approval means the city is
authorized to begin negotiations on contract specifics with Plenary-Edgemoor.
“I want to thank our Harbor Department for partnering with
us on this project,” Garcia said. “The port’s participation means savings for
the city and greater efficiency from shared facilities. It also means our Civic
Center – and downtown – will be that much more active thanks to their
participation.”
