A Los Angeles City Council committee on Tuesday, April 8, voted to move forward with a phased expansion of the Los Angeles Convention Center after hearing overwhelming support for the project from union members, downtown business leaders and residents – even as city staff and some committee members raised concerns about the project’s cost and timeline.

The expansion, first proposed in 2015 to help the venue compete for major conventions and events, has faced repeated setbacks over the years, including cost overruns, COVID-19 pandemic and concerns about the project’s feasibility.

Supporters had hoped to complete the project before the 2028 Olympics, using the international event as a catalyst. However, city officials earlier this year acknowledged that ongoing wildfire recovery efforts would make it difficult to finish the work on time, prompting discussions about whether to pursue alternative options or scrap the project altogether.

The full City Council is expected to make a decision on the project at its meeting Wednesday, April 9.

The Economic Development and Jobs Committee approved a set of recommendations asking staff to reengage with the project’s developers and bring a homeowner’s representative to the negotiation table, among other things.

The committee also backed conditions proposed by City Councilmember Traci Park, including making sure that Caltrans signs off on allowing billboards on the freeways before the project can proceed, and instructing city staff to report back within 30 days on the phased construction plan

Under the plan, construction would begin in September, with major milestones completed before the 2028 Olympics and the remaining work would be finished after the Games.

The five-member committee was tasked with deciding whether to move forward with the phased construction plan or to scrap the project altogether. An earlier proposal to complete the entire expansion before the Olympics was deemed unfeasible.

At the meeting more than 50 people — including several union leaders, neighborhood and business associations, tourism officials, business leaders, and downtown residents — overwhelmingly spoke in favor of the project.

They argued that the project would bring significant benefits to jobs, tourism, and the economy.

Opponents, including Councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martinez and Ysabel Jurado, echoed concerns raised in a joint report by the City Administrative Officer and Chief Legislative Analyst about the feasibility of the project’s timeline, the risk that construction costs could balloon beyond estimates, and uncertainty around the schedule.

Many supporters warned that if the city doesn’t move forward with the phased construction now, they might lose the opportunity.

“This item was introduced in 2015, and it’s a decade later,” Claudia Oliveira, president of the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council, said in an interview before the meeting. “And so imagine if we pause once again, what would that mean?”

She added, “When the council proposes to pause, good luck, we’re not gonna see this again. It’s their way of making sure the initiative dies.”

Aaron Taxy, vice president of government affairs at the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that the project’s impact would reach beyond downtown.

“While this is certainly an investment in a Convention Center that is in Downtown L.A., it’s not just an investment in Downtown L.A. It’s an investment in Los Angeles, it’s an investment in our workforce, and it’s an investment in businesses across our city,” Taxy said.

But opponents raised concerns about the project’s financial risks.

“I just want the public and everyone to know that, as of now, it’s going to be over $40 million to the general fund if we approve this,” Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez said.

One risk is the uncertainty about allowing billboards on the freeways. City officials say freeway billboards could generate up to $60 million a year. But without approvals from state and federal agencies, much of that revenue could be lost.

The expansion would add up to 190,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, 55,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 95,000 square feet of multi-purpose space to the Convention Center.

The design would create 750,000 square feet of hall space and more than 1.2 million square feet of total usable space across the campus, helping Los Angeles better compete with cities like San Francisco and San Diego for large conventions.

The project would also connect the Convention Center’s South and West halls above Pico Boulevard with a New Hall building. Other improvements include modernization work, a redesign of the adjacent Gilbert Lindsay Plaza to enhance public amenities, and a new signage program installed throughout the Convention Center campus exterior.