More than 500 persons have signed a petition to keep the parking lots in Leimert Park open. The business owners in the area started the petition to City Council District 10, as they feel that the possible closure of a nearby parking lot would be a hardship for their shops, which have already suffered for customers during the pandemic.
“… we are aware of CD10’s attempt to close city parking lot 625 (behind tThe World Stage) for festivals that will supposedly take place Saturdaysand Sundays of every week,” the business owners say in their petition. “The closure of this specific parking lot on weekends will be a disaster for all the businesses surrounding the parking lot.”
There are 172 parking spaces in the lot, so signatories are asking the district (which is now governed by a caretaker) to keep the lot open, cleaned, secured, maintained and available for customer, client, employee and visitor parking seven days a week.
The email they received back on Feb. 17 read as follows: “As it relates to parking lot 625, updates are planned as well. To accommodate the Sunday African Farmer’s Market, the council office has worked in coordination with the Bureau of Street Services and the Department of Transportation to make this space available for the use and operation as a permitted space during the weekend. We are also working with the City Departments to ensure that the parking needs of the Village are met as well. Additionally, we are exploring other opportunities to support small business vending and local farmers in the lot on Saturdays, in partnership with community partners such as Sole Folks. The objective is to stop unpermitted commercial activity on Degnan Blvd and 43rd Place as street construction progresses. Efforts to relocate vending to the parking lot are being considered on a pilot basis. With hope, – CD10 Team”
For more information on the petition, visit Change.org.
