In its own unprecious way, Echo Park has a village square at Chicken Corner -- this is comprised of the shops, salon and coffeehouse at the base of the Del Mor Apartments, along with the triangle where Magic Gas, our favorite femme service station (which is for sale). They support the neighborhood, bring people together on the street, represent creative efforts of many residents, All of the establishment are now threatened, as the company that has owned Del Mor for the last four years wants to raise rents significantly. Positive Investments of Arcadia -- what a name! -- has been measuring floor space and informing tenants that they wil be paying more, depending on when their leases permit -- from Lucas to Show Pony to El Batey, Chango and everything in between. According to a source, Positive has asked tenants to drive out to Arcadia to receive the bad news. CD 13 reportedly has said it will not get involved in rent-increase issues, when the increases are not prohibited by law.

To preview Positive's website, click here. I tried to call the phone number on the website this morning, but it was a fax line. So I tried a number listed for the company on Citysearch, and that line rang unanswered for twenty-five times before I hung up. I wanted to ask how flexible they were in terms of meeting with neighborhood civics groups, for the good of the community in which they are stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Charon Nogues, who is organizing support for El Batey grocery writes:

The landlord NEEDS TO KNOW that though this area is becoming majorly gentrified seemingly over night...it's still FAR from being a prosperous spot for the persevering businesses that are barely holding on by a thread as it stands as far as foot traffic, parking and safety goes...there is still quite a bit of gang activity....They should not expect the same rate they are getting in Silverlake as of yet. The final word from the landlord comes on Monday [today].

Chicken Corner does not know yet what the "final word" is. Good? Bad? Indifferent?