Reshaping Future of Inglewood
“The Lakers and Kings have decided to move to downtown L.A., but their departure will actually open up 100 dates at the Forum each year for concerts and other events,” said Donald H. Eiesland, president of Inglewood Partners for Progress. “That means the Forum will offer more seats for more dates year-round than any other entertainment venue in Southern California. For Inglewood, it’s not the end. It’s just the beginning.” oooBy shifting its emphasis to concerts, the Forum will serve as the L.A. home to a diverse array of headliners, from Elton John to Enrique Iglesias. As a result, the Forum will continue to tap the lucrative fan base in the coastal communities and westside of L.A., while attracting loyal audiences from throughout Southern California. Matching the Forum’s renaissance, Hollywood Park is planning a rebirth of its own on the strength of the region’s burgeoning entertainment industry and the projected increase in freight traffic at L.A.X. ooo With the advent of inter-track wagering, fans now enjoy thoroughbred racing on a daily basis at more than a dozen satellite facilities in Southern California. The popularity of satellite wagering has increased paramutual volume each year while reducing on-track attendance for all but the largest stakes races and special events like last year’s spectacular Breeders’ Cup at Hollywood Park. oooAs a result, racing has become a year-round proposition in a dozen cities across the region, reducing the need for massive parking areas at the tracks themselves. Hollywood Park is confident it can redevelop its vast parking areas without disrupting the day-to-day operations of its race track and card club. ooo“Hollywood Park encompasses 380 acres just two miles from the entrance to L.A.X,” said Norman Y. Cravens, senior vice president of community relations for Hollywood Park. “With cargo and passenger traffic expected to double at LAX by 2015, we are planning construction of a distribution center to meet this demand, along with a retail and entertainment complex, all on the grounds of Hollywood Park. And true to our show business name, we are also exploring the development of several sound stages to serve the region’s booming movie and television industry.” oooCravens added that Hollywood Park is also investigating additional uses for its existing facilities during racing’s off-season, including the possible use of its 1 1/8-mile track for auto racing, a spectator sport that has become very popular in Southern California. oooIn addition to the parcels available at Hollywood Park, the Inglewood Redevelopment Agency is offering special incentives for new construction in several designated areas of the city. For example, a new auto mall is being planned on La Cienega Boulevard along the I-405 Freeway, and a new Home Depot is being planned for Century Boulevard. The agency is also providing a boost to the economic viability of Inglewood’s downtown shopping area through a commercial facade improvement program. ooo“Inglewood is bordered by four of the region’s principal freeways,” said Jesse Lewis, director of the city’s redevelopment agency. “The freeways link our city with the rest of the nation, and the nearby airport and harbor complexes connect us with the rest of the world.” oooIn addition to the Forum and Hollywood Park, Inglewood is home to two of the most respected medical complexes in Southern California, Centinela Hospital Medical Center and Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital. They have joined forces with the Inglewood/Airport Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Inglewood and Inglewood Park Cemetery to form a marketing partnership known as Partners for Progress. The group works to improve visitor facilities and services for the benefit of the city’s 116,000 residents and the 8 million people who travel to Inglewood each year for its sports, entertainment and medical facilities. oooThe Inglewood Redevelopment Agency is located at One Manchester Boulevard, Inglewood, CA 90301, and can be reached by calling (310) 412-5290
