Grand Avenue JPA Meeting Offers Little Insight Into Timetable

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — After a closed session meeting that lasted roughly forty-five minutes, County Supervisor Gloria Molina offered a quote many might see as a summation of the Grand Avenue Project's current status.

"I can report that there was no reportable item," she told those in attendance.

While construction documents and behind the scenes work continues to move forward, most attention on the project has focused on its slipping date for beginning construction. If the project has not broken ground by February 15, 2009, developer Related owes the Joint Powers Authority $250,000 for each month of delay.

While no detail was given on the closed session discussions, indications are that the developer may be trying to renegotiate some of the terms of the lease on the Grand Avenue parcels. The Grand Avenue Authority today gave the committee supervising the project authority to negotiate amendments based on instructions given in the closed meeting. In open session, several minor dates on the performance schedule were pushed back.

Related Companies President Bill Witte said that the firm is currently focused on planning for the Civic Center Park. "We're all ready to move to the next step," he said. He reported that most schematic design has been finalized, and that a draft business plan for the park is complete.

The next meeting of the Grand Avenue Authority will be on March 23.