Inglewood awarded the disposition and development agreement toAstani almost four years after the city first issued its requestfor proposals for the site. Developer Shane Astani comments thatthe company's vision for the Art Deco shopping and entertainmentcenter "has always beento serve as a catalyst to spur futureredevelopment activity along the historic MarketStreet commercialcorridor."

Astani points out that the parcel is strategically located inthe city commercial core, adjacent to City Hall, the Los AngelesCounty courthouse, Kaiser Permanente hospital and a supportiveprofessional and business community. He calls it "a uniquedestination center for an underservedcommunity where everyone comestogether for a good meal, a cup of coffee with a friendand generalservices."

Astani anticipates that Market Plaza will significantly increaseday and evening pedestrian traffic throughout the Market Streetcorridor, thereby serving as an economic basis for additionalprivate and public investment. He notes that roadway congestion inthe Greater Los Angeles area "has served as adisincentive forresidents to patronize business establishments outside of theircommunity," which in turn has created a mandate for cities such asInglewood to revitalize their urban core to recapture local taxdollars.