One of the elements proposed in the Wilmington Waterfront EIR is to redevelop the Bekins Warehouse at 245 North Fries Avenue/326 “C” Street, in Wilmington into a Red Car Museum.

The Wilmington Waterfront Development Subcommittee invites the community to join them in a walk through and take a tour of the Bekins Warehouse Building, Tuesday, April 12, 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM.

There’s been a lot of talk about what this building should be used for and whether the Red Car Museum is the best idea. On February 28 the Port of LA held a meeting in San Pedro updating residents about the development plans for the Waterfront. Among the things discussed the Bekins Building was one of them.

A group of Wilmington residents, including myself, attended this meeting to speak out what Wilmington really needed and questioning the importance of having a third museum in Wilmington.

As many of you know we have two museums in Wilmington that no one goes to. So, why a third museum when Wilmington lacks resource centers, clinics, respectable businesses, parks and more? Because the Port of LA owns the building and it is being funded by a trust fund that only allows something that serves maritime, visitors (tourist), and residents to be built there.

The Red Car Museum will obviously serve visitors, but will it really serve the community of Wilmington? Another issue brought up was the fact that there’s already a Red Car Museum in Seal Beach so why have another one?

Instead of bringing back an old school red trolley to Wilmington, we need a modern metro rail to connect us to downtown LA and help us be less reliant on cars.

I highly recommend for Wilmington residents to take this tour. Get to know YOUR community and take ownership!

For more information contact Deb at 310-732-3499 or send an e-mail message to dbabcock-doherty@portla.org.