Hayden Tract housing, Future of the Vincent Thomas Bridge, and more

Last year, a proposal to raise the height of the Vincent Thomas Bridge to allow ever-larger cargo ships to pass below was rejected by state officials. Maybe the second time will be the charm.

This week, officials with the Port of Los Angeles, the California State Transportation Agency, and the California Department of Transportation announced an agreement to explore long-term options for either replacing or modifying the bridge. Completed in 1963, the bridge is a well-known landmark for communities surrounding the port, and also serves as a key link between Terminal Island and San Pedro. 

As the shipping industry continues to employ larger and larger ships, the height of the bridge has become an issue. The largest ships used today cannot pass below the bridge, leaving 40 percent of the Port of L.A.'s terminal capacity out of reach.

“The Vincent Thomas Bridge has long been a beacon of connection for the state of California and this Port,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka in a news release. “We have a responsibility to ensure that connection endures for decades to come. Working together with our state partners, we will evaluate solutions that strengthen safety, improve goods movement and ensure the Port of Los Angeles remains competitive. Cargo does not move itself. This Port is home to the greatest workforce in the world who deserve every opportunity to do what they do best on both sides of our iconic bridge. This is about making smart investments today that will support jobs, cleaner operations and a stronger supply chain for future generations.” 

On the opposite side of Terminal Island, the Port of Long Beach encountered a similar issue, and has already taken action. The $1.5-billion replacement of the now-demolished Gerald Desmond Bridge opened in 2020.

Here's what we're reading this week:

Trust, not tracking: Inside the L.A. company that got workers back to the office "Riot Games scrapped its three-days-a-week office mandate for a much more flexible model, and attendance and productivity at its Los Angeles campus have climbed." (LA Times)

Act II: historic Jamison-owned Westlake Theatre floated for acquisition, restoration "Koreatown-based developer previously attempted sale in 2023" (TRD)

Hayden Tract Specific Plan to Prioritize Housing Needs "When Culver City adopted the updated General Plan 2045 in September 2024, it designated the Hayden Tract for mixed-use redevelopment. Single-use low-rise office space no longer pencils out for developers amid high regional vacancy rates. Culver City’s office vacancy sits at 25.7%, with 17 listings in the Hayden Tract alone, while nearby Santa Monica sits at 20.4%." (Culver City Crossroads)

Family homelessness is officially down in LA. Why so many don’t believe it "Providers have long said that family homelessness is hard to quantify because families with children aren’t always a visible population living on the streets. They’re more likely to experience homelessness by staying in their cars, motels, or by couch-surfing." (LAist)

Selection Committee Fails to Approve Santa Clarita Councilmember Jason Gibbs for Metro Board "Cities throughout L.A. County rejected Gibbs appointment to the Metro Board. The decision sends the appointment back to the North County and San Fernando Valley subregion." (Streetsblog LA)

Downtown L.A.’s infamous graffiti towers are finally getting cleaned up "Crews have begun cleaning the giant graffiti off the abandoned Oceanwide Plaza skyscrapers in downtown Los Angeles that added a stunning — and, many say, embarrassing — splash of color to the downtown Los Angeles skyline." (LA Times)

SpaceX Millionaires Are Coming for L.A. Homes "The IPO has agents bracing for bidding wars in a soft market — and Palisades Fire families caught in the middle" (The Ankler)

Follow us on social media: 

Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Threads / Instagram / Bluesky