Perhaps developers will now flock to Redondo Beach.
City officials announced a plan to shut down the massive AES Power Plant and redevelop the 50 acres into a public park with a “coastal resort,” Curbed reported. AES was already planning on replacing the 1950s-era power plant with a more energy-efficient facility.
The city and county would seek a private developer to partner with on the project, which is likely to restore wetlands in the area and create a “coastal recreational facility.” The developer’s proposal would be subject to Redondo Beach voters, who tend to oppose anything that will increase traffic congestion. Residents voted against closing the plant in 2015 because it would have allowed a 600-unit residential project to rise in its place.
But the project is already seeing great support from elected officials. Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said county resources could be used to speed up the project, while both California Assembly member Al Muratsuchi and State Sen. Ben Allen said that if approved, state park bond funding that voters could be used to finance aspects of the redevelopment and the wetlands restoration.
Redondo Beach recently imposed an 11-month moratorium mixed-use development, despite warnings from the state government that it could exacerbate California’s housing crisis. If approved, the plant redevelopment opportunity could prove one of the few chances that developers have at building in the coastal city. [Curbed] – Natalie Hoberman