Google Looks To Expand LA Operations With Playa Vista Move
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The world's most famous search engine company is expanding its presence in the Southland.
Google Inc. has reportedly spent nearly $120 million on 12 vacant acres next to a historic hangar where aviator Howard Hughes built his famous "Spruce Goose" airplane in a Playa Vista neighborhood near Marina del Rey, according to the Los Angeles Times.
KNX 1070's Jon Baird reports while the company currently occupies a handful of buildings throughout Los Angeles County, the parcel of land - which is reportedly zoned for nearly 900,000-square-foot of commercial space - would mark a dramatic expansion for Google.
The Mountain View, Calif. - based firm would not detail any plans, but a potential lease of the 319,000-square-foot Hughes hangar could be home to as many as 6,000 well-paid, highly educated workers, according to The Times.
Google consolidated its local operations in 2011 into a Frank Gehry-designed building in Venice Beach, which houses about 500 employees.
City Councilman Mike Bonin, who represents the Playa Vista area, said the announcement solidifies the neighborhood's reputation as a high-tech hub.
"This move by Google really makes Playa Vista the tech and innovation capital of Los Angeles," said Bonin. "They've got IMAX down there, they've got Microsoft down there, they've got YouTube down there."
Despite the announcement, Google has no immediate plans to start building on the site, according to Bonin.
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