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Port of Los Angeles Moves Forward With Plan for New Youth Sailing Center in Wilmington

Posted on: Friday, 1 July 2005, 15:00 CDT

Pending future study, the Port of Los Angeles has lent its support to the $1.5 million proposal submitted by Pacific Unicomm Corporation to develop a youth sailing center in Wilmington. With this support, the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners has directed Port staff to conduct a cost and feasibility analysis of the proposed center, including facility site and planning studies, evaluation of environmental factors and verification of project costs.

This project is the first proposal awarded as part of the Port's aesthetic mitigation program, an initiative to develop new public use areas on existing Port property where some residents consider the current use blight.

The proposed site for the sailing center is the Consolidated Slip in Wilmington, but the final location of the site depends on land availability. As proposed, the project includes a 4,000-square-foot community center, 8,900-square-foot parking lot and 240 feet of open dock space, with 30-35 public boat slips. The facility is designed to serve low-income and at-risk regional youth, with after-school, weekend and summer recreation activities and maritime educational programs.

"This educational facility will help Wilmington youth develop positive life skills and gain an understanding of the Port and its relationship to the world's economy," said Stacey Jones, the Port's director of engineering development. "It will also provide local youth with a source of recreation that is safe and close to home."

"This sailing center will give Wilmington greater public access and recreational use of its waterfront, broaden program offerings of many inner-city youth organizations and serve as a base for other sailing programs," said Donna Ethington, chair of the Past EIR/Aesthetic Mitigation Subcommittee. "It's a facility this harbor has needed for a long time."

The California State Lands Commission reviewed Pacific Unicomm Corporation's proposal and found it consistent with the public trust doctrine and applicable statuary grants that affect all of California's seaports. The project has also received support from the Port of Los Angeles Community Advisory Committee (PCAC) and Past EIR/Aesthetic Mitigation Subcommittee. Additional analysis of the project design, final site location, costs and schedule is needed before presenting a full recommendation to the Board for approval.

In November 2003, the Port implemented an unprecedented environmental mitigation program and earmarked more than $50 million from Port revenues to address significant impacts of Port-related activities. The Port is now working with the PCAC to review various air quality and aesthetic mitigation proposals to make the best use of this funding, which includes $23.5 million for community aesthetic mitigation projects.

The Port of Los Angeles is America's premier port. As the leading container port in the nation and a critical hub in the international supply chain, the Port generates thousands of stable jobs and billions of dollars in annual wages and tax revenues. The Port of Los Angeles also places a high priority on responsible growth initiatives combined with high security, environmental stewardship and community outreach. The Port of Los Angeles is a proprietary, self-supported department of the City of Los Angeles. The Port of Los Angeles ... Anchoring a bright future.

Source: Business Wire

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