L.A. Convention Center expansion moves forward [Video]

The Los Angeles City Council Tuesday moved forward a $54 million proposal for the initial work to modernize and expand the downtown Convention Center in preparation for the 2028 Olympics.

The council voted 13-1 to allocate the money and move forward with pre- construction work, though several members expressed concerns over the tight timeline the city would face to complete the project.

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The preliminary work will help the city determine if the remodeling can actually be done on time — and if the result shows it can’t, then elected leaders will have the ability to pull the plug on the project.

Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson was absent during the vote.

Councilman Curren Price, who represents the Ninth District, encompassing South L.A. neighborhoods and the Convention Center, said efforts to renovate the facility have been 10 years in the making.

“We’ve seen some real challenges about expansion …