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Olvera Street businesses say rent increases may force closures

The city-approved plan to raise rent and maintenance fees has drawn protests from merchants on the street, celebrating its 80th anniversary as a historic site.

April 25, 2010|By Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times




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Along the oldest street in Los Angeles, the scent of grilled carne asada and fried taquitos lingers in the air, mariachis sing and strum guitars and roughly 2 million tourists a year wander among a collection of stores and kiosks selling Mexican candy, Aztec calendars and folk dresses.

Yet even as Olvera Street celebrates its 80th anniversary as a city-administered historic site, merchants along the quaint brick walking street claim that this year's celebration could well be their last. They say a city commission's decision to hike rental rates will end up putting them out of business.

Olvera Street — along with nearby museums, historic buildings, a church, a bandstand and five parking lots — comprise El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, a city department tasked with preserving the birthplace of Los Angeles. The El Pueblo Monument Commission oversees the site's day-to-day operations.

For years, the city has essentially subsidized rents along Olvera Street by charging less than market rates. Now, with Los Angeles facing a $485-million budget deficit, the commission has approved an increase in rent and maintenance fees for most of Olvera Street's 78 businesses.



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