As we posted way back in December 2011, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be opening up at Universal Hollywood in Los Angeles. Today Variety is reporting that construction for the park will begin this Summer!  According to the article, “NBCUniversal was given the go ahead after the L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted to approve the company’s plan to invest in production and tourism projects over the next 25 years, worth $1.6 billion overall.” They will apparently be spending $500 million to build this new park, starting later in the Summer.  The Gibson Amphitheater will be closing in September to make way for the new park.  More from the article may be read below:

Venture, a collaboration between Warner Bros. Entertainment and Universal Parks and Resorts, will essentially replicate the Wizarding World of Harry Potter that opened in 2010 at Universal’s Orlando resort, and is currently being expanded after it’s proved a huge success there.

“We thank Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, the entire Board of Supervisors, and County staff for providing us the path to bring much needed jobs and investment to Los Angeles,” said Corinne Verdery, chief real estate development and planning officer, NBCUniversal. “The working relationship we have built with the community was invaluable in developing our future plan and we are grateful to our nearly 7,500 supporters and union partners who have been with us every step of the way. We look forward to bringing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Hollywood, forever changing the face of tourism in Los Angeles.”

A full press release from NBC may be read here:

NBCUniversal plans to begin construction this summer on a $1.6 billion, 25-year expansion of its Los Angeles-area theme park, offices and production facilities.

The company owned by Comcast Corp. announced Tuesday that it would start building The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at its Universal Studios Hollywood theme park, along with upgraded TV production studios and office space on the studio lot.

The project would eventually include a hotel and retail outlets, adding nearly 2 million square feet to the studio complex. The plan initially called for nearly 3,000 residences, but that was dropped last year after objections from local residents and politicians.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors tentatively approved the plan Tuesday, unanimously directing its lawyers to prepare documents for final approval.