LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles City Council approved the allocation Tuesday of $1 million to support a project in Hollywood intended to fund several public bathrooms and a visitor information center.
Council members voted 13-0 in support of a motion introduced by Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez, who represents the 13th District, which includes areas of Hollywood. There was no discussion prior to the vote.
Council members Bob Blumenfield and Monica Rodriguez were absent during the vote.
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In 2018, the City Council made available the use of more than $4 million in CRA/LA tax bond proceeds to the district from the Hollywood Redevelopment Project area toward the Hollywood Walk of Fame Improvements Project.
The Board of Public Works and Bureau of Engineering are working on the implementation phase of the project, which has a total budget of $4,630,012.
Soto-Martinez cited a need for amenities such as bathrooms that could better support tourism and the economic development of Hollywood.
Last year, the councilman, alongside the Department of Transportation and members of the Hollywood Partnership Community Trust, a non-profit associated with the Hollywood Partnership Business Improvement District, announced plans to construct and operate a visitor center and public restrooms.
To support the plans, Soto-Martinez sought the reallocation of $1 million from the Walk of Fame Project’s budget. It would be developed on a property at 1627 Vine St., which is currently owned by the city and operated by the DOT.
The DOT previously reported success in securing a tenant for the space. The councilman had said the space could be transformed to better suit the needs of tourists and residents along Hollywood Boulevard.
L.A. is in need of more bathrooms, according to the 2021 Public Toilet Index, which found that the city — with a population of nearly 4 million people — has about 189 public toilets, or about five toilets per 100,000 residents.