By: Emilie St. John
The city of Inglewood estimates they will spend $36 million to relocate 44 businesses to make way for the Inglewood Transit Connector project according to the Relocation Plan released on Feb. 1.
The report is buried deep inside the Envision Inglewood website which makes it difficult for those looking for it to find it.
The plan estimates 454 employees will lose their jobs after the holiday season due in part to Inglewood receiving a federal funding award at the close of 2023.
(Photo: 2UrbanGirls)
The City has outlined the affected businesses are a grocery store, 12 food restaurants, 6 offices (medical), and 25 retail stores. The businesses with the most job losses will be Vons grocery store and the retail sector which will lose a combined 346 full and part-time employees.
The Relocation Plan includes a dedicated relocation consultant being assigned to each displaced business who will provide “relocation advisory assistance and relocation referrals” ahead of being issued the 90-day notice to vacate.
According to the Relocation Plan, “…contact will be made with major property owners to advise them of the businesses that will be seeking new leases in the Inglewood area and to encourage the owners to work cooperatively with the businesses displaced by the project”.
Vons will make out the best of all affected businesses as they will be afforded the opportunity to construct a new store once theirs is demolished. Planet Fitness, Starbucks, and Vons’ gas station will also be demolished. Starbucks and stand-alone kiosks (Coinme, Keyme, and Redbox) will be invited to return to the store once it’s constructed.
All of the businesses at the proposed transit stops will also be relocated.
At the Florence / Market Street stop all of the businesses in the plaza will be forced to relocate. That includes CVS, Red Flavor’s Table, Fiesta Martin, Antojitos Martin, House of Tacos, and Randy’s Donuts.
At the Florence / Hindry stop, the entire shopping plaza will be affected including Sweet Red Peach, Lees Caribbean, Fishbone, Casa Rios, the smoke shop, and the nail shop and it appears the plaza will be acquired under eminent domain.
All of the subsequent check-cashing businesses, optometry and dental offices, and beauty supplies will also be affected.
The acquisition will be performed in segments: Market Street, Manchester Blvd., and Prairie Ave/Hardy Street.
What remains untouched along the transit route are Kelso Elementary School, a childcare center, 7-Eleven, and the shopping center occupied by multiple businesses owned by Snoop Dogg.
There are also no plans to displace anyone living in residential properties along the route, however, they will all be impacted by the project with street closures and construction looming overhead.
Businesses will be eligible for reimbursement of “actual, reasonable, and necessary cost” of the businesses/organization’s move when it is performed by either a commercial or professional mover or if the owner elects to self-move.
Reimbursement must be supported by paid receipts or other evidence of expenses incurred.
To read the full language of how the relocation assistance breaks down click here.
