County supervisors OK NBCUniversal’s expansion plans
After a bumpy 17-year process that once proposed developing thousands of homes on its famous Hollywood back lot, NBCUniversal won unanimous approval Tuesday from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for a plan that lets it expand its Universal Studios theme park.
The $1.6-billion project will include nearly 2 million square feet in office and production space, a bike path along the adjacent Los Angeles River that would eventually allow cyclists to pedal to Studio City, and a Harry Potter-themed attraction. Executives say that they will break ground this summer and estimate the work will bring 30,000 jobs and an extra $15 million in annual tax revenue to the county.
“In all my years, I’ve never had this kind of [positive] relationship with a developer,” said Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who was a critic of earlier NBCUniversal proposals.
--Jason Song, Los Angeles Times