Santa Fe Springs : Industry OKd for Farm Site

The Santa Fe Springs City Council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency, has approved a light industrial project at the site of the former California Mushroom Farm, the last farm to grow brown mushrooms in Los Angeles County.

The developer, California Mushroom Farms Inc., is proposing eight buildings on the 6.8-acre property on Washington Boulevard. The project is one of three key redevelopment projects proposed along the Washington Boulevard corridor.

Bob Orpin, assistant redevelopment director, said the city originally wanted to combine the farm property with parcels to the west for a larger retail development. But now that those plans have fallen through, city officials feel that the smaller project “is suitable” for the narrow lot, Orpin said.

The front of the property--which is 1,250 feet deep and 290 feet wide--will have a small store, probably a convenience market.

The farm, which had operated since the 1920s, closed last year when brown mushrooms became unprofitable. Owners said the property was too valuable for agricultural uses.