Shore Project for Wilmington Gains Backing

Two members of the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners last week said they will press their colleagues to set aside additional land for waterfront development in Wilmington--although both stopped short of saying the development should include the Heinz Petfood cannery.

Commissioners Floyd Clay and Robert Rados made their remarks after touring the cannery, which is to close Sept. 1. Wilmington leaders want to convert the 71-year-old cannery building into a restaurant and include it in their plans for a community-oriented recreational and commercial development along the waterfront.

Although Rados is against the restaurant proposal and Clay said he is not convinced that it can work, both commissioners said they believe the port ought to spare some additional land to make the public-access project work. The Harbor Department has designated 29 acres for community access, but only a small portion is along the water.

Rados said he would like the land occupied by the cannery’s loading dock, which fronts the water, included in the development. “If we can get that, I’d be real happy,” he said.