In the fall of 2022, construction began on the 42-acre, $200-million multi-phase West Harbor project on the former Ports O’ Call Village site in San Pedro. The project is the collaborative vision of downtown San Pedro-based Jerico Development Inc. and downtown L.A.-based developer The Ratkovich Co.
In partnership with the Port of L.A. and the City of L.A., Jericho Development and Ratkovich are set to transform the area into a destination for visitors and Angelenos alike. When including the capital invested by the Port of L.A. and West Harbor’s tenants, the public-private investment totals over $500 million.
Once completed, West Harbor will feature a 1-mile-long waterfront promenade, a 1,200-linear-foot public dock and more than 200,000 square feet of attractions.
Developers in September completed building A, the first structure in phase one and the largest among multi-tenant buildings, with approximately 73,000 square feet of space. Building B, the second multi-tenant building at about 43,000 square feet, is slated to be unveiled this summer.
The Business Journal spoke with Eric Johnson, Jerico Development’s president and West Harbor’s senior project executive, and his brother, Alan Johnson, Jerico’s chief executive and West Harbor’s director of communication and community relations about the project’s progress and how they came to be involved.
Can you discuss the history of the business?
Eric: Jerico Development has been in business since 1984. Jerico is part of the Victory Group, which began as a trucking and crane company that helped build the city of L.A. starting in 1921. The business opened in Long Beach and has gone through several iterations, becoming a drilling contractor, then an oil and gas exploration and production company, and today a real estate development company.
Does West Harbor have a personal significance for the two of you?
Eric: As Alan and I get older we’ve been doing more work closer to where we live. We grew up in Palos Verdes – adjacent to San Pedro – and were in grade school when the original Ports O’ Call was built in the early ’60s. Ports O’ Call really transformed that portion of the San Pedro waterfront from something that was kind of heavy industrial and in need of repair, into something that is vibrant and attractive that the community was super proud of.
This project is especially meaningful to us. Having grown up with Ports O’ Call we knew that a new and refreshed retail, dining and entertainment district would thrive because we had experienced firsthand just how special this one-of-a-kind site was and still is.
We felt we were the right people to ensure that the new development would be complementary and connected to the San Pedro community, especially since we have been working in downtown San Pedro for the last 40-plus years.
Ports O’ Call was demolished to make way for new development, of which your project is the centerpiece. Will West Harbor incorporate any of the old Ports O’ Call?
Alan: The community and Port had a different vision for their new waterfront. When Ports O’ Call was built, all the buildings were built right up to or out on the water. So, if you wanted a view of the harbor, you would have to go inside the building to get close.
Modern urban design, particularly for urban port redevelopments, prioritizes public access and movement along the waterfront. Hence, our plans to create a mile-long continuous waterfront promenade.
We decided we were not going to be a faux New England fishing village or Polynesian village. We are building modern warehouses, which are in line with what would be built on the site in the 21st century. They’re light, functional and don’t have columns in the interior spaces. They’re easy to configure and true to the Port’s history. We want to make sure each element of the project is unique, authentic and fun. The old Ports O’ Call was definitely unique and fun, but not so authentic.
We wanted to build something modern for San Pedro and not fake something old; something that would celebrate the present and complement the rebirth of our waterfront from what it was to what it will be – a destination for the community, the region and the world.
Can you discuss your partnership with the Port of L.A. and the City of L.A.?
Eric: West Harbor is an exceptional story of a truly functional public-private partnership.
The Port has been a great partner and landlord and we’ve enjoyed tremendous support from the city council office and the mayor’s office over the decade-plus we have been working on this project. The Port has spent somewhere around $180 million in new infrastructure on or adjacent to the West Harbor site and without that investment, our new development would not have been possible.
I think a big driver for that is the fact that a revitalized and reimagined waterfront destination at the former Ports O’ Call site is something that the community really wants, so it puts pressure on all of us to deliver.
Generally speaking, when you do a ground-up construction project of this scale, you’re getting community pushback. In this case, the surrounding community is our biggest supporter. The biggest complaint we get is, “Why is it taking so long, and when will you be open for business?”
Alan: Let me add that originally, the roadways around the Port were not meant to handle thousands of cars coming and going. The Port’s infrastructure work, which began long ago, realigned Harbor Boulevard.
So now, we have the ability to handle the traffic and have ample parking. Witness the waterfront’s ability to handle 100,000-plus visitors every fleet week, which is coming right up from May 23 through May 26.
It’s really been an honor to deliver this product to the community and get the great reactions that we get.
How do all the elements of the project connect?
Eric: By design, each element of the project shares three important attributes: it is unique, authentic and fun. These elements are all connected by the continuous waterfront promenade, which was built by the Port in alignment with West Harbor’s design.
At the heart of West Harbor, positioned at the main entry into the project, is a relaxed park-like space that serves as our lobby. This area includes a stage, bar and children’s play space, which invites you to engage with the waterfront and the promenade. The northern most part of the project that we call North Park is very much a recreational area. It will contain an amusement park, an off-leash membership dog park and a pickleball and padel operation.
As you move south, adjacent to the amusement park, there is the iconic San Pedro Fish Market, which is in its own dedicated building, and serves as one of our major anchor tenants.
We also have a very robust operational presence on the water through our master waterside tenant, Harbor Breeze Cruises, which will operate traditional vessel excursions, like whale watching, dinner cruises and harbor tours, which are typically found in most urban ports. But there is more.
We’re also leveraging our waterfront location to create what we call waterfront attractions – a next-level experience on the water. So, think of a pool on a barge, a barge full of sand with a tiki bar at one end, and even a spa on a barge, inspired by a successful concept operating in Montreal, Canada.
And then to complement all that, the southernmost end of the site will feature a two-acre plus park. The space will also include a 6,200-person amphitheater, being developed in partnership with Nederlander Concerts, and currently finalizing its entitlements through the Port of Los Angeles.
Alan: We want it to be very much a family- and dog-friendly place, where you don’t necessarily arrive knowing what you want to do, and you don’t have to spend money.
You can walk along the promenade, with or without your dog, grab a coffee or just sit and listen to the music. There will be ongoing programming through West Harbor, something for everyone at every age.
Building A was completed in the fall. Who are some of the tenants that will occupy the more than 70,000-square-foot building?
Eric: Some of the notable building A tenants include the first California location for Hopscotch, an experiential art gallery; and new locations for Mike Hess Brewing, including a 20,000-square-foot outdoor amphitheater; King and Queen Cantina featuring a 9,000-square-foot over-water bar; as well as local favorites Harbor Breeze Cruises; and Los Angeles Maritime Institute tall ships.
Some building A tenants have already started construction, and we could see some openings begin late this year, with the majority opening next year.
Building B is underway. When do you expect it will open and what are the key features?
Eric: We are currently installing the roof and wall panels, and the building envelope will be complete this month. We expect to get our certificate of occupancy in August. After that, the tenants will start construction of their improvements. Our grand opening is planned for 2026.
Some of the notable building B tenants include the first expansion of the 100-year-old Hollywood icon Yamashiro; a waterfront-themed Sugar Factory concept called Tiki Sugar; Baked Bear, popular for customizable ice cream cookie sandwiches and Oakberry Acai, which offers healthy, organic acai bowls and toppings.
Are there any other features the public can look forward to down the road?
Eric: We expect all of West Harbor’s attractions to come online throughout the course of 2026. There is so much to look forward to.
What impact has the project had on the outlying neighborhood?
Alan: The positive impact started when the project was announced, and the pace has only accelerated since then. About 5,000 multifamily units are either in the design or construction stage, planning or up for permitting in and around downtown. Some have even opened already.
We see West Harbor as kind of a rising tide that’s going to raise property values, the surrounding community, and drive economic activity in the historic downtown San Pedro Arts District and beyond.
Through enhancing connectivity and marketing all the great attractions along the L.A. Waterfront, we want to be thought of as a single destination that warrants multi-day visits.
Although the USS Iowa, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, the blue tech innovator AltaSea and Cabrillo Way Marina are all worthwhile destinations, they need to be connected and marketed in a meaningful way. The larger draw of the L.A. Waterfront is really what we’re marketing here.
We’re creating a compelling built environment that will attract residents, tourists and cruise passengers.
Looking down the road another 20 years, how do you see the company evolving?
Eric: We’ve been a family business for over 100 years and now the fourth generation is working here, and the fifth generation is on the way. Alan and I are stewards of the family business, taking care of it and helping it grow to pass along to the next generation.
Members of the family are active in various local organizations including San Pedro’s downtown Business Improvement District, AltaSea, the Los Angeles Maritime Institute and the USS Iowa. Alan’s daughter, Lauren, currently serves as the chair of San Pedro’s Chamber of Commerce.
Alan: We are a small but powerful company with many employees who’ve been here for 30 or 40 years. Through the historic restoration of two of the most important buildings in downtown San Pedro – the 1918 John T. Gaffey building and the 1929 Brown Brothers building – and others, we came to appreciate the fascinating story of the founding and development of San Pedro and the historically important role it has played in the story of Los Angeles.
We started our work preserving important buildings in San Pedro, but to have been selected to rebuild the most important project in our community is a great honor and sets up Jerico Development and the next generation to continue this important work.
