LOS ANGELES : Riordan Urges Scrapping Little Tokyo Office Project

Mayor Richard Riordan recommended Tuesday that the city scuttle a 6-year-old proposal to build a municipal office building in conjunction with a private hotel, apartment and retail development near Little Tokyo in Downtown Los Angeles.

In a letter to the City Council, Riordan called the $151-million office tower too expensive. He added that the plan does not coincide with guidelines to bolster development in the downtrodden historic core of the city and also provides too much space for a city work force that has been shrinking steadily.

A Los Angeles City Council committee voted Tuesday evening to give the so-called First Street North project, proposed for Alameda and 1st streets, more study.