A critical issue is unfolding that could forever change the heart of our neighborhood: the potential commercial development of City-owned Municipal Parking Lot 694, home to our beloved twice weekly Farmer’s Market and other community events. Claiming a long-standing staffer oversight that dates back more than a decade, the City now proposes granting a favorable deal to a private developer that would eliminate this vital community space. Here’s what you need to know—and how you can help ensure our voices are heard.
The History Behind the Issue
Back in 1986, City of Los Angeles partnered with Larchmont Properties, Ltd., through a “Parking Lease and Option to Purchase Agreement” to build and operate Municipal Lot 732, with 167 parking spaces of surface and underground parking at 218 N. Larchmont Boulevard, next to the former Rite-Aid. The deal included an option for the City to buy the subterranean parking garage for $1 at the end of the lease. The City states that it exercised this option. It also claims that a now-retired City employee failed to complete the necessary paperwork a decade ago, leaving ownership unresolved and opening the door to a legal battle. We have no additional details of this dispute at this time.
The Proposed Deal and Its Risks
To avoid litigation, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) is recommending a settlement where the City gains full ownership of Lot 732 in exchange for granting a long-term, market-rate ground lease of Lot 694 (our 34-space surface lot at 209 N. Larchmont Boulevard) to Larchmont Properties. The lease would allow Larchmont Properties to develop the site into retail or office space, ending all public uses of the lot, including parking and Farmer’s Market operations. The Board of Transportation Commissioners (BOTC) was to have approved this deal as Agenda Item 9 on October 9, 2025, but postponed its consideration until November 13, 2025, at the request of Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, who wants community input. No disclosure to the community had occurred until the Councilmember’s postponement request.
Photo by Jakob N. Layman, TimeOut.com
Why This Matters to Our Community
Lot 694 isn’t just parking—it’s our village’s “town square,” hosting the weekly Larchmont Farmer’s Market, seasonal events, and charitable activities that bring us together and support local small businesses through increased foot traffic. Development of the lot would displace these gatherings, harming community bonds, access to fresh produce (especially for walkers and bus riders), and our neighborhood’s economic vitality. The environmental impacts of the loss of the much-used lot, such as altered traffic patterns and spillover parking and noise on our residential blocks, has not been evaluated. The financial impacts to existing Larchmont businesses who rely on Lot 694 have similarly not been evaluated. Councilmember Soto-Martinez has urged a commitment to preserving the Farmer’s Market, possibly by relocating it, but no comparable central location that provides both a community town square and no business or residential disruption has been named. We risk losing this irreplaceable asset. As of today, October 20th, 2025, no new updates have emerged, making now the perfect time to act.
Call to Action: Make Your Voice Heard!
We can’t let this happen without a fight. Here’s how you can get involved:
Review the Details: Click here to read the LADOT report, which raises as many questions as it answers, and Councilmember Soto-Martinez’s letter to the Board of Transportation Commissioners. Read the detailed October 20th article in the Larchmont Buzz.
Submit Comments: Email your thoughts to emma.howard@lacity.org, Planning Director for CD13 (please cc: ted.walker@lacity.org), and jasmin.sanluis@lacity.org (of the BOTC). Urge the BOTC to reject the lease and prioritize public, community needs.
Attend the BOTC Meeting: Join the BOTC session on November 13, 2025, at City Hall (Room 1070) to speak in person. Agendas are posted at https://ladot.lacity.gov/about/commissions.
Spread the Word: Share this email with neighbors and encourage them to advocate for retaining Lot 694 as a public space.Together, we can protect what makes Larchmont special. Email us at wsinfo@windsorsquare.org if you have questions or want to volunteer. Let’s act now!