Development Near Farmers Market OKd by City Council

Moving forward with plans to revitalize Farmers Market, the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday agreed to build an open-air shopping complex--complete with a 3,000-seat movie theater and a Nordstrom department store--next to the beloved landmark.

The 12-1 vote came after nearly 10 years of wrangling over the project’s size and scope. In 1991, city leaders announced that they wanted to build two department stores, a hotel and 150 units of senior citizens housing in an 875,000-square-foot development.

But neighbors opposed the project, saying that the complex would cause gridlock on surrounding streets. As a result, developers drafted a much smaller development.

The project promises to keep intact the colorful Farmers Market at 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue, one of Los Angeles’ top tourist attractions and a popular neighborhood fixture, where people of all ages and backgrounds mix on a daily basis. Council President John Ferraro--whose district includes the Farmers Market--called the scaled-down development the “perfect solution.”

“It has been a long process, but it’s worth the wait,” said Ferraro, who stepped in six years ago to broker a compromise between developers and residents.

“I believe this is an excellent development,” he said. “It’s not just a shopping center. . . . It’s almost a work of art.”

The 30-acre, open-air development--called the Grove at the Farmers Market--will include such well-known chain stores as Banana Republic, Crate & Barrel and the Gap. The center will be home to Pacific Theaters’ first Arc Light multiplex, which will feature high-tech screening equipment, reserved seating and cocktail lounges.

Councilwoman Rita Walter opposed the project, saying that she still believes the complex will cause traffic problems. “I’m concerned that we don’t have a monstrosity like this,” she said.

Los Angeles developer Rick Caruso is set to break ground on the project--which will incorporate various architectural styles found in Los Angeles--within the next 45 days, city officials said. The project is expected to take about a year and a half to build.

Taking steps to ease traffic in the area, Stanley Avenue will be extended as a through route between 3rd Street and Beverly Boulevard. Plans call for a pedestrian street, featuring a Red Car trolley, to be built parallel to 3rd Street between Fairfax and Stanley.

Before giving the plan their final nod, council members praised the project as innovative. No one from the public spoke in opposition.

“The primary goal was not only to preserve, but to revitalize the market,” Caruso told the council.