With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Union Station Has a New Owner: Metro
Photo by LU5H.bunny via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
It's only been a few months since Los Angeles' historic Union Station was sold to a Texas company, but today the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) today announced they have successfully negotiated the purchase of the transit hub property to the tune of $75 million.
Involved in the purchase, says Metro, is 38 acres of land and 5.9 million square-feet of entitlements that provide Metro the right to build on the property and draw lease revenues from both transit operators and businesses. Right now the station serves Metro buses, and their Gold, Red, and Purple lines, as well as Amtrak and Metrolink trains, and the LAX Flyaway shuttle.
With the purchase, Metro says they can "better meet the station’s current and future transportation needs." Already heavily used, the station will get a boost soon from more retail, Metro's Silver Line stopping on the plaza, the Regional Connector transit project through downtown, and long-range high-speed rail plans.
L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Metro Board of Directors says the purchase gives Metro "the ability to retain the historic nature of Union Station and prepare it to serve as a world-class 21st century transportation hub.”
Sponsored message
Once the sale closes, likely in April, Metro can review plans for development and expansion.
At LAist, we focus on what matters to our community: clear, fair, and transparent reporting that helps you make decisions with confidence and keeps powerful institutions accountable.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
