The Southern California Flower Market, a longtime Fashion District institution, may head in a new direction as its management team looks to ensure the wholesale market's long-term viability.

According to a motion put forth by 14th District Councilmember Jose Huizar, the Flower Market is seeking an upgrade to its current facility, which occupies a 3.8-acre site bounded by 7th, 8th, Wall and Maple Streets.  The existing market, situated in a hodge podge collection of modest industrial buildings, is described as functionally obsolete.

Rather than seeking a new location outside of Los Angeles city limits, the Flower Market is instead looking to rebuild its home as part of a broader mixed-use complex.  This approach would retain the the market's operations at ground level, while creating a multi-story structure above.  Although exact plans have not been revealed, the proposed development would include affordable housing.

Founded by Japanese-American growers in 1912, the Flower Market has a storied history in Downtown Los Angeles, and is cited by Huizar as a major catalyst for the development of Southern California's horticulture industry.

Developers have recently turned their attention towards the Fashion District, which has largely remained a low-slung community of wholesale retailers during the course of Downtown's explosive growth.  The collection of adaptive reuse projects comprising Santee Village was recently joined by a proposed residential tower at 7th and Maple Streets, directly across the street from the Flower Market.