News of the Arroyo
Title: | EIR to research effects of NFL renovations |
Subtitle: | |
Date: | 2003-03-08 |
Summary: | March 8 -- The Rose Bowl Operating Company on Thursday authorized funding an Environmental Impact Report to study how rebuilding the stadium for a professional football team might affect the community. |
Author: | Gary Scott, Staff Writer |
Publication: | Pasadena Star News |
Content: | PASADENA -- The Rose Bowl Operating Company on Thursday authorized funding an Environmental Impact Report to study how rebuilding the stadium for a professional football team might affect the community. The City Council must still approve the $150,000 allocation, said Darryl Dunn, Rose Bowl general manager. The pending study has attracted some criticism from Linda Vista-area neighbors because it is not being done as part of a larger master plan for the Arroyo Seco. The stadium renovation to NFL standards could cost more than $400 million. The extent of the required changes is not yet known, but preliminary design plans were faulted by the preservationist Pasadena Heritage for threatening the 81-year-old stadium\'s historic status and integrity. Richard Bruckner, Pasadena\'s director of planning and development, said the city could not include the proposed NFL project in the arroyo\'s environmental study because it remains too speculative. \"We are not required to, and not encouraged to, look at speculative projects,\' Bruckner said. \"When and if a project is developed and fleshed out we will do an EIR.\' The committee\'s decision comes days after city officials presented their vision for turning the Rose Bowl into a pro football venue to the National Football League. The meeting was held Tuesday in Florida. \"The meeting went well for us. We are very encouraged,\' said Dunn. \"A lot of work is being done right now.\' Dunn was joined by Councilman Steve Madison and sports broker John Moag, the man credited with moving the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore. Moag was hired by the City Council last August on a $2.5 million contingency to bring the NFL to Pasadena. He and his team of consultants are devising the financial and architectural plans for the Rose Bowl. Madison said a group led by former Hollywood executive Michael Ovitz was also at the Florida meeting. Ovitz proposed a competing plan to build the NFL a stadium in the city of Carson. Gary Scott can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4458, or by e-mail at gary.scott@sgvn.com. --- |
Url: |