Harry Potter is moving to Los Angeles. The popular wizard will be the star of a new attraction at Universal Studios.
NBCUniversal won approval from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday for a plan that allows it to expand its Universal Studios theme park. The new Harry Potter exhibit will be a part of that expansion.
The exhibit, called, "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter," will feature a re-creation of the Hogwarts Castle, as well as, other locations from the books and films. It's expected to draw large crowds of visitors.
"This is going to be a huge attraction," Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky told the Los Angeles Times.
The new Harry Potter attraction is part of a larger, $1.6 billion project that will include almost two million square feet in office and production space, as well as a bike path that will follow alongside the Los Angeles River, eventually allowing cyclists to bike to Studio City, where Universal Studios is located.
Executives plan to break ground on the new construction project this summer, and expect it will contribute to the economy by providing an estimated 30,000 jobs and an additional $15 million in annual tax revenue for Los Angeles County.
"In all my years, I've never had this kind of [positive] relationship with a developer," said Yaroslavsky, who was previously critical of the proposed expansion.
NBCUniversal executives proposed building almost 3,000 housing units on land behind the theme park, which currently has restaurants, rides and film sets. Yaroslavsky and Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge, opposed the plan, concerned that the additional construction would limit production of television and movies.
The park is located in both Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles. The City Council approved the plans this year, with the latest proposal backed by a coalition of Hollywood homeowners, unions and environmentalists.
The expansion would set an example for other companies to be environmentally sound and listen to the concerns of homeowners and residents, said Lewis MacAdams, the president of Friends of the Los Angeles River.
"It sets a very high bar," he said. "This is the way things are supposed to work."
The board is expected to approve the project.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
