The Council's 9 to 2 vote essentially affirmed the approval that the Central Area Planning Commission gave the project last month. Locally based Majestic Realty Co. says the business park could create up to 1,000 jobs, but some community activists want to see the land used for a park, school and affordable housing. A few environmentalists have said the land should be left the way it is.

The site, known simply as "the cornfield" because it resembles a giant ear of corn, is located between North Broadway and North Spring Street. Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan's economic team came up with the idea to develop 32 acres of the cornfield as part of the city's efforts to revitalize certain neighborhoods. Majestic, which has been working on the proposal for about two years, would set aside eight additional acres for parkland and other community-related uses.

Despite the City Council's approval of the project, opponents say they'll go to court next month in another attempt to stop Majestic from building.