Fashion District Expanding Eastward
The Los Angeles Fashion District is expanding.
The Downtown Property Owners Association’s (DPOA) board of directors on Nov. 21 approved a plan to incorporate into the Fashion District a swath of land along Crocker Street in between 9th and 12th Streets, just east of San Pedro Street.
That area will officially become part of the Fashion District’s Business Improvement District (BID) in January 2004, making it eligible for BID-provided services such as security and public works programs on top of what the city of Los Angeles provides.
The BID is a property-owner financed organization formed in 1995 to combat security and cleanliness issues around the Fashion District. Among the more visible tasks of the BID was the formation of its Safe Team, a group of yellow-shirted security officers who patrol the area daily by bicycle to maintain safety and security.
The Crocker Street corridor has evolved into a more retail- and wholesale-populated area from its historically industrial environment.
“There’s a lot of existing stores and fashionrelated businesses there already and much of what’s not there is under development to become fashion businesses,” said Fashion District Marketing Coordinator April Elgas.
The Fashion District’s expansion is also predicated upon the BID receiving a five-year extension as it is in the final year of a five-year plan approved by the city of Los Angeles. That vote will come sometime next year. —Robert McAllister
