INGLEWOOD – The Inglewood City Council will begin the process of relocating long-time business in preparation of the construction of the 1.6 mile automated Inglewood Transit Connector.
The City Council accepted $149,540,000 in grant funds under the Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP), during the October 21 city council meeting.1
“Adopt a resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget to include $149,540,000 (TIRCP Grant), to reflect $125,000,000 in funding to be used to acquire real property, facilitate relocation activities, and other eligible expenses associated with implementing the ITC Real Estate Program and $24,540,000 for Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) to initiate ITC design activities.”
In August, the City Council adopted the Real Estate Acquisitions and Relocation Plans and Policies for the Inglewood Transit Connector Program. By adopting the policies, it will enable the ITC relocation team to formally notify property owners of the intent to acquire their properties and to initiate the process of determining the scope of assistance that the impacted business tenants are eligible to receive. It will also authorize eligible business tenants to access up to $5,000 to initiate their planning efforts.
The policies coincide with plans related to Phase 1 of the project to address critical first/last mile gaps between the Metro C and K Lines and the City’s activity centers/venues, increase transit ridership by making transit options more attractive, and minimize single-occupancy vehicle usage.
According to the staff report, “The Phase I Improvements are designed to support the City’s ongoing economic revitalization efforts and opportunities for transit-oriented development (TOD) within the Downtown TOD Plan area, including creating public parking and park-and-ride facilities. The ITC Project will connect Los Angeles County’s residents and visitors to jobs, education, entertainment, shopping, and housing through public transit. Phase I Improvements will be designed in a manner that plans for the future implementation of an automated people mover (Phase II).”2
The updated relocation policies are designed to transition small businesses who are being displaced by the project. The first round of businesses that will be impacted are located within a dilapidated shopping center that borders Florence Ave, Market Street and Regent Streets.
Also on the agenda are real estate acquisition negotiations related to the impacted properties located in a shopping center across the street from the Metro K Line.
“To construct the ITC Project, the City will need to acquire real property located at the Inglewood Shopping Center and on the northeast corner of Market Street and Manchester Boulevard, and relocate all eligible businesses on the properties. Approximately 23 businesses are currently operating at the Inglewood Shopping Center and will need to be relocated. No residential property is required for the implementation of the ITC Project, and therefore, no residents will be displaced. Eligible businesses displaced because of the acquisition of real property required for the ITC Project will be provided advisory assistance in relocating to a replacement business location and be entitled to financial assistance in relocating their personal property and re establishing business.”
The impacted properties are identified as: 300 and 310 East Florence Avenue, 224 and 240 North Market Street, 210 North Market Street, 200 North Market Street, 325 and 329 East Regent Street, 234 North Market Street, 230 North Market Street, 222 North Market Street, and 150 S. Market Street.
All of the properties will enter into purchase negotiations with City Manager Luis Atwell, during closed session.
“The mayor and city council received a briefing from its negotiating parties as to the subject properties identified on the agenda,” said City Attorney Rick Olivarez. “The mayor and council gave unanimous direction to its negotiating parties regarding price and terms concerning the subject properties but no final action was taken in closed session.”
- Acceptance of TIRCP Grant Funds, Approval of Budget Amendment for Real
Estate and Design Costs, and Reallocation of Measure R Funds for the ITC
Project https://www.cityofinglewood.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/19965?fileID=26919 ↩︎ - Updates to the Real Estate Acquisitions and Relocation Plans and Policies for the Inglewood Transit Connector Program https://www.cityofinglewood.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/19659?fileID=26785 ↩︎