Carson approved a building freeze Tuesday night in an effort to protect land near a proposed NFL football stadium from development.
The move is part of Carson's drive to attract a National Football League franchise to the community south of downtown Los Angeles. Tuesday night's action by the city places a development moratorium on about 600 acres of land west, north and east of the 157-acre stadium property, according to Carson officials.
"If the Chargers and Raiders come to town, Carson can expect a real estate development boom," said Carson Mayor Albert Robles. "This will be a tremendously exciting time for Carson."
The city is hoping both the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders would leave their current cities and share a Carson stadium. Robles said the moratorium on land surrounding the stadium parcel will help the city bring appropriate development to the area.
"To reach our dreams, we will need to be smart and careful about the kind of development that we allow on the properties surrounding the stadium," he said. "We need to get this right."
A city statement predicted that if a stadium is built and the NFL comes to Carson, "the pressure to develop the surrounding properties will be intense." Officials cited a city report that shows Carson "has already seen 'tremendous speculation' in properties around the stadium with land values going up."
Meanwhile, in St. Louis, city council members met Tuesday to consider the city's share of funding for a new football stadium -- a $150 million commitment likely to make or break the effort to keep the NFL in St. Louis instead of moving the Rams back to Los Angeles. The funding would help pay for a $1 billion stadium along the Mississippi River, north of the Gateway Arch, to either retain the Rams or attract a new team if owner Stan Kroenke moves the franchise to Los Angeles.
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The city's Board of Aldermen, by a 17-10 vote, later Tuesday advanced the measure to a final vote expected Friday, when at least 15 votes would be needed for passage.
The league has set a Dec. 30 deadline for the stadium plan to be finalized. NFL owners meet Jan. 12-13 in Houston to consider proposals from three teams seeking relocation to Los Angeles -- the Rams, San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders.
Up to two of the teams could move as early as next season. Kroenke wants to move the Rams to a new $1.8 billion stadium in Inglewood, California. The Raiders and Chargers have proposed the joint venture in which they would share a stadium in Carson.
Los Angeles has not hosted an NFL team since the Rams and Raiders left after the 1994 season.
