Port of Los Angeles A proposal by the INTERNATIONAL SPORTS COMPLEX SAN PEDRO YOUTH COALITION To widen the horizons of the Youth of the Harbor area and to promote Economic Health of the Local business community. April 1, 2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Project Purpose & objectives...1 II. III. Iv. Project Location...2 Project Venues...3 Project Costs, Financing, and Operational considerations...4 V. Project Benefits...5 Vi. Vii. Project Constraints...6 Endorsements...7. -i-
I. PROJECT PURPOSE & OBJECTIVES The Port of Los Angeles International Sports Complex is being proposed by the San Pedro Youth Coalition to provide an international multipurpose youth/community sports oriented facility. The objectives of this proposal are to: Provide venues that can incorporate youth cultural/sports exchange in support of the maritime trade mandate of the Port. Provide high quality facilities that provide a variety of guided/directed opportunities for youth recreation and community activities. Provide a resource that will enhance economic vitality in the local business community and integrate with the bridge-to-breakwater redevelopment including a community center. -1-
II. project location The proposed sports complex site is located in the community of san pedro in the los angeles harbor district of the city of Los angeles, in Port master Plan area 2 - West Bank. The long term uses within this area include commercial, recreational, restaurant and tourist oriented facilities. the site is bounded on the south by 22nd street, on the northwest by crescent avenue, on the northeast by signal street and is bisected by miner street and railroad tracks. land uses surrounding the project site include the cabrillo marina and maritime warehousing to the south, the commercial fish markets and slip 5 to the east and residential area and the ymca s bloch field to the north. the parcels to the west of miner street include the vacated unocal tank farm site, warehouses and an existing parking lot on the corner of miner and 22nd street. the parcels to the east of miner include the long vacant 22nd street GATX annex site and an additional vacant parcel. The gatx annex site is a state superfund site with land use restrictions. -2-
III. project venues Baseball fields, at least one of which, would be pony league size, and softball fields. Multipurpose fields to serve a variety of field sports such as junior football, field hockey and soccer. Skate park including components for skateboarding, and roller blading Bocci court and walking/training paths Olympic aquatic/water sport center and community/conference meeting rooms. The Port of Los Angeles International Sports Complex concept could comprise the following venues: -3-
IV. PROJECT COSTS, FINANCING AND OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS Construction Costs: Total costs are estimated at $18 million. Of this, the aquatics venue would cost approximately $10 million and the remaining facilities would cost up to $8 million. Financing: Preferred financing is a matching grants program supported by the harbor revenue fund, state park funds, block grants, port international partners, major league sports and sport industries, and granting foundations. Failing this, a public-private for profit partnership could be established as has been done in other municipalities. Operations: Operations would be overseen by a San Pedro Youth Coalition Foundation, whose membership would comprise representatives from established local youth programs and funding partners. The facilities would be operated and maintained by paid staff through user fees and proceeds from special events. The fee structure would be ability to pay sliding scale with unpaid volunteer, non profits paying least and for-profit organization holding special events paying the most. For-profit events would also be subject to revenue sharing. The facility would be marketed specifically for for-profit organizations for a certain portion of the year to generate funds. -4-
V. PROJECT BENEFITS Maritime Commerce/Cultural Exchange. Provide an opportunity to conduct youth international friendship competitions and youth exchange programs among U.S. trading partners, with an emphasis on Port tenant countries and sister ports. This would also support maritime commerce. Local Youth and Community Benefits. Provide year-round affordable recreational activity for the children of the harbor area and the general community. New Venues. Provide sport venues presently lacking in the area including an aquatic sport center, a skate park and large baseball venue. Economic Benefits. Provide major financial benefit to the local economy, particularly hotels, retail stores and restaurants in San Pedro. A similar facility in Cathedral City hosted more than 400,000 visitors in one year, bringing an estimated $13 million economic benefit to the city. The Sports Complex would also be an anchor for commercial opportunities being considered for the area. -5-
VI PROJECT CONSTRAINTS Environmental. The proposed facilities will have the potential to generate significant environmental effects, including traffic, noise and lighting, and it is anticipated that there will be significant opposition from residents in the area. Tidelands Trust Issues. The legality of using harbor revenue funds for such a facility would need to be tied to maritime commerce. Such expenditures would seem appropriate in light of the benefit to international trade relations and previous port expenditures on the TopSail Program, Maritime Museum, Port Boys and Girls Club and Cabrillo Aquarium. Existing Plan Conflicts. Elements of the Sports Complex may overlap areas proposed for other uses such as the Phase II Cabrillo Marina Development and would conflict with other plans being proposed such as a salt water lagoon/marsh and residential housing. -6-
VII. ENDORSEMENTS The following individuals/groups are supporting the development of the proposed sports complex. ILWU Local 13 Italian-American Club San Pedro Lions Club San Pedro Elks Andy Simon - Dalmatian-American club San Pedro Boys and Girls Club American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) Eastview Little League San Pedro Girl s Softball Association Candy Saenz - South Bay Latino Chamber of Commerce San Pedro Lady Pirate Boosters Bob Nizich - Waterfront Business Association Marina Hilton San Pedro Sheraton Other San Pedro businesses -7-