Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Echo Park Shops Get The Boot As Developer Plans Huge 'Retail Compound'
Big changes look to be coming to Echo Park.
Long-time tenants along a busy stretch of Sunset Blvd. in Echo Park are preparing to relocate as a developer prepares to transform the area, reports The Eastsider. In the coming months, businesses along the southwest corner of Sunset and Alvarado will be pushed out as the new property owner, the Continental Development Group, prepares to gentrify renovate the entire block.
While longtime neighborhood favorite Pizza Buona already left the corner due to an unrelated rent hike, according to Curbed L.A., the mass-closing will include vintage tile and pottery seller Wells Tile & Antiques and Eric’s Architectural Salvage, which have shared a space for 25 years, but will have to clear out by June 1. Meanwhile, discount store Hit Bargain is already clearing out their inventory, while mom-and-pop electronics shop Rewind Audio and Lucy’s coin-laundry will close before the end of April. Not even the Starbucks inside Lucy's seems to be safe, as an employee tells the Eastsider that they'll be clearing out as well.
Continental, which is working on several other major development projects around town, plans to renovate the buildings and lure restaurants and other businesses to its "retail and restaurant compound." The new complex will be known as Sunset+Mohawk. While The Eastsider reports that a Continental employee told them there's a chance some businesses could return after the revamp, nobody seems to be holding their breath. Many of the exiting tenants say there's slim chance they could afford higher leasing rates.
Support for LAist comes from
“We really didn’t want to leave,” Scott Wells of Wells Tile & Antiques tells The Eastsider. Adding, "we couldn’t afford to stay." He plans to move his tile business, along with Eric’s Architectural Salvage, to Sixth Street in Westlake.
“It's just hard to rent a space now in Echo Park,” Well explained. “I couldn’t afford a place on Sunset now.”
Judging by some of Continentals listed clients from other projects, we're not so sure the existing tenants really fit their vision:
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems. -
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028. -
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach. -
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk. -
Southern California might see some light rain tonight into Wednesday morning. After that, cooler weather is on the way, but expect the humidity to remain. -
A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility.
Best of LAist