More details emerge on redevelopment of Flower Market

Owners will retain the market within proposed mixed-use project

Renderings of Southern California Flower Market, with councilmember Jose Huizar (Brooks + Scarpa)
Renderings of Southern California Flower Market, with councilmember Jose Huizar (Brooks + Scarpa)

An environmental impact report is shedding new light on the massive overhaul of the historic Southern California Flower Market.

Nearly two years after City Councilmember Jose Huizar filed a motion to rezone the 3.8-acre site, the $170 million redevelopment project has evolved to include expanding the existing Flower Market into a mixed-use project with retail, restaurant, office and residential components.

The collection of owners behind the wholesale market at 755 Wall Street are seeking approvals to demolish one 185,100-square-foot building on the property in order to erect a new, 15-story building. It would include 323 apartments, 64,300 square feet of office space, 4,400 square feet of retail space and nearly 64,000 square feet of warehouse space and storage, according to the impact report.

Urbanize first reported the news.

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While construction work would be going on, the Flower Market would continue to operate in the other, 206,500-square-foot building on the northern half of the property.

Brooks + Scarpa is designing the project. Renderings portray yellow and blue aluminum screens, as well as a series of flower murals painted alongside the property’s exterior.

Construction is expected to begin in 2019 and conclude in 2022.

Founded in 1909, the Flower Market is home to about 50 vendors that operate booths selling flowers, plants and tools to people in the floral and landscaping industry. The redevelopment would add about 500 new jobs and generate tax revenue, Huizar previously noted.