LOS ANGELES : Union Station Site for MWD Gets Major Boost

A proposal to build a new headquarters for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California next to Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles received a major boost with the endorsement of an MWD site selection task force. The full MWD board is scheduled to vote Dec. 14 on the recommendation to start formal talks with Catellus Development Corp., which proposed a 14-story MWD building just south of the transit center.

The strongest rival was a proposal to rebuild MWD headquarters at its current Sunset Boulevard location near Dodger Stadium. Previously eliminated were plans to build on vacant land in LaVerne, to buy space in the California Plaza complex on Bunker Hill and to buy and rehabilitate Times Mirror Square, the home of the Los Angeles Times.

MWD spokesman Jay Malinowski said proximity to the new subway and commuter train lines that cross at Union Station was key to the task force. Members, he added, wanted a more prominent location than the current Sunset site, where structures need seismic strengthening. No cost has been established for the Catellus plan, but MWD officials have said they are willing to spend between $100 million and $120 million. Catellus has suggested turning the Sunset facility into housing.