San Pedro, Wilmington waterfront projects get boosts by LA harbor commission

Updates, and refinancing and funding revisions for both of the Port of Los Angeles’ recreational waterfronts got the OK during the Thursday, May 22, harbor commission meeting, as San Pedro’s West Harbor looks toward an early 2026 grand opening and Wilmington looks at a 2028 final completion of its vision, which will include a pedestrian bridge linking the waterfront to its historic Avalon Boulevard downtown district.

West Harbor senior developer Eric Johnson also said he hopes the planned amphitheater will have its first concert season in 2026. The music venue is awaiting the release of its final environmental report, which has drawn some community criticism surrounding parking, traffic and noise concerns.

Noe Preciado, a project manager and civil engineer for the Port of L.A., told commissioners that the Avalon Gateway Project linking the now-finished portion of Wilmington’s waterfront — which opened in February 2024 — to the rest of the community will advance to advertising for the final plan in September, with an award for the contract in February and project completion in September 2028.

“No one tells you how hard a park is to build,” Preciado said, referring to the many years it has taken.

Harbor Commissioner Yolanda De Torre, for her part, said she’s thrilled the project is gaining momentum.

“As a Wilmington resident,” De Torre said, “it’s exciting to see this moving forward.”

Both waterfront projects have taken longer than anticipated.

West Harbor has grown since it launched as a replacement for Ports O’Call Village, which opened in the early 1960s but has since been demolished, and now has more than 20 leases signed for the project, which is designed to bring both locals and visitors back to San Pedro’s waterfront.

A series of amendments to the leases have allowed developers to move forward, Johnson said.

“It’s been quite a ride to just wrestle this beast to life,” Johnson told commissioners. “We started with a $140 million project in 2016 and two buildings and then it spread out. When we got the first building up, people started coming by and appreciating what a special place it is.”

A lease with the San Pedro Fish Market, one of San Pedro’s best known legacy family-owned establishments, helped anchor its hometown credibility. It is now operating out of a temporary spot on the North Park area of the West Harbor site and will construct its own building near where its old location used to operate on the waterfront.

Now it’s up to a nearly $200 million project, Johnson said.

The amphitheater, he said, will be “very much a big driver in this process.”

“Having a solid music vendor in the South Bay” will be key, adding that it will outshine one being built in neighboring Long Beach.

“I know it’s been difficult,” said Commissioner Lee Williams. “I know a lot (still) needs to be done.”

Williams said he gets his share of ribbing from Long Beach friends about how quickly that city’s amphitheater has moved through the approvals.

Johnson acknowledged that “why it took so long” is the biggest question he gets, but also noted there were hurdles in “taking something that was old and obsolete” and turning it into something new and “that fits modern urban planning.”