The city of Inglewood continues to inch forward with accumulating funding needed to build a billion dollar plus transit connector that could decimate small businesses in its path.
The Inglewood Transit Connector received $5 million through Sen. Alex Padilla securing over $60 million in federal funding for 33 transportation projects in California.
“Federal dollars will support projects to modernize our transportation infrastructure and spur economic growth by better connecting the Valley and Inglewood to the rest of Los Angeles,” Padilla said.
- $5 million for the Inglewood Transit Connector Project
This project will provide residents and visitors with a state-of-the-art elevated guideway connecting the Crenshaw/LAX Metro Line directly to destinations in the City of Inglewood, including The Forum, SoFi Stadium at Hollywood Park, and the future Inglewood Basketball and Entertainment Center.
The transit connector route is expected to begin at the intersection of Florence and Market Street, and extend down Market Street, around Manchester Blvd., then head South on Prairie Ave. Stops are planned for Pincay and Hardy.
It continues to be suggested a stop is planned for the Clippers Arena, although it is only scheduled to stop a few blocks short of Century Blvd.
The Inglewood City Council named the officers of the Inglewood Transit Connector Joint Powers Authority during the Mar. 1 city council meeting.
Noticeably absent from this body is Councilman George Dotson.
https://www.cityofinglewood.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/12801?fileID=10914
There has been no mass investment along either Market Street or Prairie Ave., that many expected to take place once SoFi Stadium opened. Former Asm. Autumn Burke is alleged to have awarded $8 million to Inglewood for improvements along Market Street, although there is no official announcement on her official website to corroborate this.
Buildings on these thoroughfares remain either vacant or for sale, and the ones that are occupied have thriving businesses in them, many of which have been featured in news broadcasts as benefiting from the NFL coming to town.
Only problem is they are all renters.
Where will they go once the transit connector project is fully funded?
Hollywood Park is believed to be offering businesses space in their upcoming project, except the prices being quoted are alleged to be “out of touch” with the financial realities of the small businesses looking to permanently remain in the City.
The Inglewood Chamber rarely, if at all, promotes availability of funding available to sustain the small business community, and funds provided under the Biden Recovery Plan allows the City to use the money towards sustaining housing and small businesses. Read for yourself in the attached staff report beginning on Page 9.
