The City of Inglewood is actively transforming into a major activity center
in the Los Angeles region with several new development projects and transportation improvements either already approved by the City or under construction. These transformations have spurred an economic renaissance in the City. We must work to connect the City to the Metro Rail System to continue to unlock the opportunities associated with the City’s new developments.
METRO CRENSHAW/ LAX LINE
Metro is building a new light rail line that will connect the regional Metro rail system to the City of Inglewood. The transit line will include three new stations in Inglewood; the Fairview Heights station near the intersection of Florence Avenue and West Boulevard; the Downtown Inglewood station near the intersection of Florence Avenue and La Brea Avenue, and the Westchester/Veterans station near the intersection of Florence Avenue and Hindry Avenue. The Crenshaw/LAX line is anticipated to open in 2021.
REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN INGLEWOOD
Downtown Inglewood, once the heart of the City and commercial center of activity for the community, is now actively in the process of returning to its former self. The City recently adopted a transit-oriented development (TOD) plan for the neighborhood which modified zoning and parking regulations to encourage the construction of new housing opportunities, and economically robust mixed-use developments. The plan focuses on transforming Downtown Inglewood into a pedestrian friendly hub for diners and shoppers. As part of this effort, the City has also awarded developer Thomas Safran & Associates the rights to construct a new mixed-use retail and residential development at the southeast corner of Florence and La Brea Avenues. The City has also partnered with the LA Phil, which relocated their Youth Orchestra of LA (YOLA) headquarters, designed by world renowned architect Frank Gehry, to the corner of Manchester Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.
THE FORUM
Constructed in 1967, The Forum is a multi-purpose indoor arena which for decades has served as one of the region’s premier sports and entertainment venues. In 2014 The Forum completed a multi-million-dollar renovation and was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Forum now actively hosts some of the largest entertainment programs in the country and is scheduled to host events during the 2028 Summer Olympic games.
SOFI STADIUM AND HOLLYWOOD PARK DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
The Hollywood Park development project, a new mixed-use, master planned community on the site of the former Hollywood Park Racetrack and Equestrian Center started construction in 2014 and is slated for completion by 2023. The Project will transform underutilized asphalt lots and the former racetrack into a vibrant mixed-use community. The Project includes a number of new uses including 2,500 residential units, 890,000 square feet of retail, 780,000 square feet of office and a 300-room hotel, as well as 25 acres of new recreational and park amenities for the city. The centerpiece of Hollywood Park is the new $5 billion, 70,240 seat National Football League (NFL) SoFi Stadium to be shared by both the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. The SoFi Stadium will host Super Bowl LVI in Winter 2022, and the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. The Hollywood Park development project includes roadway infrastructure upgrades, modernized traffic systems with intelligent traffic signals (ITS), a state-of-the-art traffic management command center, and improvements at various intersections along Prairie Avenue and Century Boulevard.
INTUIT DOME AND THE INGLEWOOD BASKETBALL & ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
In June 2017 the National Basketball Association’s Los Angeles Clippers announced a proposal to construct a new arena and sports facilities in Inglewood designed to host the team’s events and other non-sporting programs. In August 2020, the City approved the final environmental impact report for the Inglewood Basketball and Entertainment Center (IBEC). The IBEC project, which includes the Intuit Dome, is located on approximately 27 acres and includes an 18,000 fixed seat arena, five full-sized basketball courts, an 80,000 square foot outdoor plaza complete with retail and restaurants, and a team practice facility with 86,000 square feet of training, medical and player spaces. The Intuit Dome is billed as a technologically advanced and basketball-obsessed arena, entertainment venue, outdoor plaza, with full-sized indoor and outdoor courts community and charity uses.