Alatorre Offers Lease Proposal to Answer Concerns of Olvera Street Merchants

In a bid to end bickering among merchants on historic Olvera Street, Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alatorre proposed Friday that all 79 shopkeepers be allowed to remain there indefinitely under special lease agreements.

If the accord is approved by the City Council, Alatorre said, it is likely to speed establishment of a proposed seven-member authority to oversee the operation of Olvera Street and the El Pueblo de Los Angeles City Monument just north of the Los Angeles Civic Center.

Olvera Street and El Pueblo are under the jurisdiction of the city Department of Recreation and Parks. Creation of the authority to oversee the attractions has been stalled as merchants have argued among themselves over leases and other issues.

The merchants, who do business on a month-to-month basis at the 52-year-old tourist spot, have long pleaded for extended leases.

Many of the shopkeepers, who are descendants of the street’s founders, feared that their leases could become vulnerable to competitive bidding that might ultimately change the Latino flavor of the street.

“This is the only way to ensure the preservation of Olvera Street as a traditional, cultural and historical Mexican marketplace,” said Alatorre, whose district includes Olvera Street.

The proposal, which could go before the full City Council by the end of the month, was negotiated between Alatorre’s office and warring factions of merchants.

One group, led by curio shop owner Peter A. Martinez, was willing to settle for three- to five-year leases to stay on Olvera Street, which is destined for major renovation that everyone agrees is necessary.

Another faction, headed by restaurant owner Vivien Bonzo, insisted on leases of 25 to 30 years.

Under Alatorre’s proposal, the merchants would be able to negotiate lease agreements of varying lengths, without having to compete with outsiders.