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The music venue that is the Knitting Factory has been a mainstay in the resurgence of Hollywood since 2000. As an anchor tenant and early adopter of the area, the New York City based club saw Hollywood change from having the 18th Street Gang territory sit one block away to having tourists flock the area making it a likely candidate for one of the most pedestrian dense areas in the city. Now that the area is built up and the Factory is surrounded by national brand name stores and businesses, trouble has come knocking on the door.
"The Los Angeles Building Department is aggressively trying to revoke our CUP (Conditional Use Permit)," wrote Morgan Margolis, the venue's VP of National Operations, in an e-mail that was passed around the internet yesterday. A CUP is required to run many types of businesses in a city. It can determine opening and closing times, where to queue ticket lines, and other operations in order to help mitigate impact on the surrounding residents. But now, the city is saying the club is a "nuisance" and does not comply comply with "upscale restaurant guidelines." The venue refutes those accusations.
"They are also trying to say we do a steady stream of Erotica here, which is absurd, as we've only had three Adult Entertainment parties over eight years and 10,000 shows," Margolis explained.
However, the Notice of Hearing (.pdf or HTML) states that "there are written allegations and a 31 signature petition stating the non compliance with the conditions of the Zoning Administrators’ grant approvals... The Los Angeles Police Department, OIC Vice, Hollywood Division has provided Officer declarations and photographs of illegal activity within the establishment use."
The Knitting Factory in New York has moved twice in its 20 years and may soon move again. A public hearing for the Los Angeles location is scheduled for Thursday July 17th at 10:00 a.m.
Photo by the sun hums via Flickr
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Surprising. This club is just two blocks from me. While its often got a hefty crowd, of young punk fans no less, I've always been surprised as to how relatively mellow everyone is. Friendly, not too rowdy.
Where will the hearing be held on July 17th? We need to motivate as a community to protect our culture from corporate greed. Thanks for bringing this to my attention! The Knitting Factory is a great venue and close to public transportation.
ooooh, 31 signatures, call in the bulldozer...
@Matlock
Thursday July 17th at 10am
200 N. Spring St, room 1020. Zoning Administration
I live a block away from The Knitting Factory and think it's in a great location. The area is pretty safe, close to public transportation, restaurants and access to parking.
People need to stop complaining and look at the good things this music venue is doing. The crowd is fairly young and never causes problems. It gives kids a safe, inexpensive place to go at night - which can keep them out of trouble.
If theres a good all-ages venue.... it seems that venue constantly lives in the 'threat zone' of a shut down.
I dont get it.
Whats wit dat?
The Russians are involved, no doubt.
The Knitting Factory sucks, but rowdy it is not.
There's got to be more to this story...
I was at the KF last night, sat. 28, for Club Vodka - a rock monthly usually held on the last Saturday of the month. It wasn’t crowded & there wasn’t any trouble that I saw. A large contingent of cops showed up around 1AM. They took down the picture frame in the front bar holding the various licenses held by the club. The bars were shut down immediately. Something is up with this place for sure. It does indeed look like the city is gunning to shut ‘em down. With all the gangsters out on Hollywood blvd, you’d think the city would have bigger fish to fry. Perhaps KF owners didn’t make the proper “contributions” to relevant city officials.
This is REALLY about the city wanting to turn Hollywood into a clean cut, tourist trap with Star Bucks, McDonalds, Virgin Records, and "classy" places like the Rosevelt where only the richest people get drunk and smoke pot. Why they want to start by shutting down a rock club is inexplicable. Yeah those Caucasian rockers are sure a bunch of troublemakers. LOL! This area is full of gangs and illegal aliens. Never mind them. I feel sorry for the owner of the KF who has has been targeted. The Knitting Factory is no different than the Whiskey, Roxy, or Cat Club - but the city would never TOUCH any of these landmark clubs. The Knitting Factory has only been around for about 8 years so it's an easy target. BTW the cops strategically removed the liquor licenses at the KF in the MIDDLE of an event on a Saturday night, 2 days AFTER this article. How convenient. How suspect.
"...The Knitting Factory is no different than the Whiskey, Roxy, or Cat Club - but the city would never TOUCH any of these landmark clubs."
Well that's because it's in a different city...but I understand your point. The city is gunning to close down Crash Mansion too. Yes there has to be more to this