LOS ANGELES-The city government has acquired a 1.9-acre land parcel adjacent to Grand Park near City Hall, and plans to turn it into a public park.
The land, located at 1st St. and Broadway, was acquired for $7.5 million as surplus state property. The property was the site of the first state office building in downtown and is adjacent to the area where Occupy Wall Street's encampment once stood.
“This property has sat idle for far too long, needlessly costing taxpayers for maintenance and security,” said a statement from Dept. of General Services director Fred Klass. “This sale raises revenue needed to eliminate state debt and provides the city of Los Angeles park space to be enjoyed for generations.”
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has been promoting his 50 Parks Initiative which launched last summer. The initiative takes underutilized properties and turns them into neighborhood parks. Over the past seven years, almost 680 acres of park space has been added around the Los Angeles area, officials claim.
In 2011, Gov. Jerry Brown directed DGS to target any underutilized or surplus properties that could be sold to generate revenues to pay down state debt. Since that time, DGS has sold 12 properties, generating nearly $50 million in revenue for the state.
In 1976, the original 13 story state building on the parcel was demolished due to systemic damage suffered in the 1971 San Fernando earthquake. Since that time, the site was reserved as a possible location for future development of government office space, and for several years used as a parking facility.
Eventually, the state established office space in the Junipero Serra and Ronald Reagan buildings in downtown Los Angeles.
The City Hall lawn was damaged during the Occupy Wall Street protests, but reopened last summer after green space was restored. Future protests will be allowed only on the Spring St. and 1st St. steps of City Hall. The area is currently open from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
As previously reported by GlobeSt.com, the downtown area is booming, with new retail outlets being added to accommodate dwellers.
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