Plans for Growth in San Pedro Stir Heated Debate : Construction and Population Surged During This Decade

Population estimates released this week by the city of Los Angeles show that San Pedro has been the city’s second-fastest-growing community this decade, but local officials say it is likely that the boom has reached a plateau.

Officials attribute much of the population increase--from 62,336 in 1980 to an estimated 76,267 in mid-1988--to a surge in apartment construction throughout San Pedro, a large condominium and townhouse development in Capitol Canyon and construction of more than 800 units of military housing along Pacific Avenue, Palos Verdes Drive North and at the intersection of 25th Street and Western Avenue.

Officials said they expect new and proposed building restrictions in the community and dwindling open space to put a cap on future population growth. And although the Air Force and Navy continue to be interested in building more housing in the South Bay, officials say it is unlikely they will find any place for it in San Pedro.

“It is probably the last major growth of this proportion that you’ll see in San Pedro,” said Leron Gubler, executive director of the San Pedro-Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. “There are no more Capitol Canyons to develop.”

The most dramatic growth has occurred since 1986, when the city issued its last population estimate. That year San Pedro ranked 10th in population growth among the city’s 35 planning areas, according to statistician Jeffrey Beckerman. The new estimates, which rank San Pedro second only to relatively undeveloped Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley, show that half of the population increase this decade occurred between 1986 and mid-1988.

The statistics show that the recent surge in population was fueled by a building boom. During those 2 1/2 years, the number of housing units in San Pedro increased from 27,500 to 32,000. In 1980, the community had 25,053 housing units.

“We have a saying here in San Pedro that San Pedro is the best-kept secret in Los Angeles,” said Harbor area Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores, who lives in San Pedro. “These figures certainly belie that. I don’t think it is true anymore.”

San Pedro’s population increase, although significant in a local context, had little effect on the city’s overall growth. The city of Los Angeles grew by 322,027 residents between 1980 and mid-1988, with San Pedro accounting for just 4% of that growth, according to the statistics.

Wilmington and Harbor City, which are considered one planning area for statistical purposes, grew from 60,438 residents in 1980 to 68,250 residents in mid-1988, making that area the city’s 11th-fastest-growing planning area. Restrictions on new apartment construction in those communities, however, seem to have slowed growth since 1986. Only 400 of the area’s 22,700 housing units were built since 1986, according to city statistics.

Population in the Harbor Gateway grew from 30,238 in 1980 to 35,416 in mid-1988, placing it sixth among the 35 planning areas. The entire South Bay portion of the city--which includes Wilmington, San Pedro, Harbor City and Harbor Gateway--was the fastest-growing of the city’s four regions. But city officials said that designation is deceiving since the South Bay region is the smallest in the city, accounting for 179,933 residents.

SAN PEDRO’S GROWTH BOOM 1980: mid-1988 Population: 62,336: 76,267 Housing units: 25,053: 32,000