Pet Food Cannery to Be Demolished

The Los Angeles Harbor Commission has approved a permit allowing demolition of the old Heinz pet food cannery in Wilmington amid complaints that the building’s most historically valued equipment was not passed on to the community as promised.

Three weeks ago, the Los Angeles City Council abandoned plans to designate the cannery, on South Fries Avenue, as a historical and cultural monument. Instead, at the urging of Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores, city lawmakers called for the port to provide Wilmington with a new waterfront museum or plaza.

But several Wilmington residents complained last week that the cannery’s equipment, including a conveyor, was sold by Heinz to a salvage company before residents had an opportunity to tour the plant. Port officials said they set aside items from the cannery that were pointed out by several residents who toured it June 13.