The popular Hollywood Farmers' Market could be forced to shut down over a parking dispute. (farmernet.com) |
HOLLYWOOD ( KTLA) -- The popular Hollywood Farmers' Market, which sees nearly 10,000 customers every Sunday morning, will be allowed to stay open for at least another 90 days while organizers continue negotiations with the Los Angeles Film School.
The two parties have been at an impasse for two weeks, since the city denied the market a permit to close one block of Ivar Avenue to traffic.
The permit was denied in part because the L.A. Film School complained the closure blocked the entrance to one of its parking garages.
City Councilman Eric Garcetti spoke both with market officials and the L.A. Film School on Thursday. He said in a statement Saturday morning that both sides have agreed the market should remain in the neighborhood.
Garcetti says they will consider several options before the 90-day extension expires on April 12.
Possible solutions include alternative market layouts that use adjacent streets, and joining the parking garage that's blocked to another structure to allow access even when Ivar Avenue is closed.
Neither side wants to reduce the size of the market.
Vendors and patrons have mounted a campaign to keep the famers' market open.
Farmers' Market Chief Executive Officer Pompea Smith says the Hollywood Farmers Market has been in existence for nearly 20 years and has become a major part of the Hollywood culture, community and economy.
Smith says approximately 150 vendors sell their own products every Sunday, and if they're displaced, they will lose more than $130,000 in income that's generated each week.
And with the loss of that income, 7 other smaller farmers' markets in low income areas like Watts, Crenshaw, South Central, Echo Park, East Hollywood and Atwater Village that are supported by the Hollywood Farmers' Market could also be forced to close.
The two parties have been at an impasse for two weeks, since the city denied the market a permit to close one block of Ivar Avenue to traffic.
The permit was denied in part because the L.A. Film School complained the closure blocked the entrance to one of its parking garages.
City Councilman Eric Garcetti spoke both with market officials and the L.A. Film School on Thursday. He said in a statement Saturday morning that both sides have agreed the market should remain in the neighborhood.
Garcetti says they will consider several options before the 90-day extension expires on April 12.
Possible solutions include alternative market layouts that use adjacent streets, and joining the parking garage that's blocked to another structure to allow access even when Ivar Avenue is closed.
Neither side wants to reduce the size of the market.
Vendors and patrons have mounted a campaign to keep the famers' market open.
Farmers' Market Chief Executive Officer Pompea Smith says the Hollywood Farmers Market has been in existence for nearly 20 years and has become a major part of the Hollywood culture, community and economy.
Smith says approximately 150 vendors sell their own products every Sunday, and if they're displaced, they will lose more than $130,000 in income that's generated each week.
And with the loss of that income, 7 other smaller farmers' markets in low income areas like Watts, Crenshaw, South Central, Echo Park, East Hollywood and Atwater Village that are supported by the Hollywood Farmers' Market could also be forced to close.
