A Bold Marine Project Aims To Keep The Economy Of LA Afloat
Welcoming sounds of progress will be loud and clear during the summer of 2015, when the 100-year-old pier on the Los Angeles Waterfront in San Pedro starts to transform into a massive science center. Although it may take between 15 and 20 years to complete the endeavor, the initial development of the innovative project, called AltaSea, will help nourish a recovering local economy. This crucial enterprise will also put lots of visionary minds and creative hands to work in coming years.
"This new world-class urban marine research campus is projected to generate thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in related economic benefits over the next decade," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Planning and design strategies to improve the aging wharf have already begun, with AltaSea's teeth-cutting stage of growth expected to wrap by 2018.
The planned 35-acre campus will serve as an adaptable lodestone to attract many of the world's top marine researchers, educators, philanthropists and captains of industry to the area in a united effort to help build a healthier and sustainable future. The $500 million collaborative initiative will include such state-of-the-art amenities as circulating sea-water labs and a marine life support system throughout the complex. At completion, AltaSea could be the site of the world's largest seawater tank, a huge holding structure intended to study tsunamis and other potentially deadly wave systems.
According to an economic impact study, conducted by Kosmont Companies, AltaSea is projected to create more than 6,500 construction jobs and an additional 1,350 employment opportunities for white-collar workers. The Port of Los Angeles, which currently generates more than 830,000 regional jobs, is the busiest container port in the nation.
AltaSea is being developed through a fraternity of private and public entities. To help offset the $82 million price tag it will take to complete Phase 1 of the project, a gift of $25 million was made possible by the Annenberg Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to education, and animal and human services. AltaSea's inaugural anchor tenant will be the Southern California Marine Institute, an alliance of 12 area-wide universities with existing marine science programs.
Sharon Raiford Bush is an award-winning journalist who covers topics of social interest in greater Los Angeles. Some news articles she has authored have been archived by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Sharon also contributes to Examiner.com.
