Los Angeles – Officials broke ground Thursday on a massive downtown sports and entertainment complex adjacent to the Staples Center that will include a West Coast headquarters for ESPN, Grammy museum, hotel and restaurants.
The l.a. live development, along with the Grand Avenue project planned near Walt Disney Concert Hall, is fueling hopes of reviving a downtown that lacks activity at night.
Supporters of l.a. live promised 20,000 well-paying jobs would be created as part of the $1.7 billion project.
“This will not be known as the Times Square of the West,” said City Council President Alex Padilla. “Times Square will be known as the l.a. live of the East.” The project is led by Denver mogul Philip Anschutz’s AEG Inc.
In May, officials approved plans for the privately funded, $1.8 billion Grand Avenue project, which will include four, 30-story condominium buildings, a 40- to 50-story hotel and a 16-acre park.
