EIR for Proposed Sports Complex Unveiled

Developers of a 22,000-seat sports arena complex proposed for downtown Los Angeles released a voluminous environmental impact report on Tuesday that examines the project’s likely effect on everything from traffic congestion on the adjacent freeways to residents and commerce in the neighborhood.

Sold-out weekday evening events would draw at least an additional 7,200 cars to Convention Center area near the intersection of the already-jammed Santa Monica and Harbor freeways. There are no ways to significantly ease the added smog and traffic the arena would bring, despite the public transportation lines nearby, according to the report, compiled by Planning Consultants Research of Santa Monica.

The privately owned and operated complex, which is to be built on city-provided land and is to house the Kings and Lakers, also would uproot 28 businesses and about 655 residents of 184 largely overcrowded, rundown homes and apartments.

The formal submission of the report today starts a 45-day period for public scrutiny and comment on the document, which will be available at the downtown offices of the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency and at major public library branches.