The western third of the historic San Francisco Flower Mart may soon be sold to a local art school, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Chronicle reports that the Academy of Art University in San Francisco made a bid for ownership of the western third of the 5.5 acre site, currently owned by the San Francisco Flower Growers Association. "It's sad, but it's what is best for our shareholders," Angelo Stagnaro, Jr., president of the association, told the San Jose Mercury News.
The San Jose newspaper reported that the shareholders "plan to invest their estimated $15 million in proceeds from the proposed sale in more lucrative real estate."
Some vendors are not pleased. "It's disappointing," says one vendor. "I am a shareholder and I voted not to sell," says Don Garibaldi, president of another vendor -- Año Nuevo Flower Growers, Inc. "I did not want to sell under any conditions. My family has been raising flowers for 106 years. Our livelihood is this market."
This is the second time in two years that the Growers Association shareholders, descendants of the World War II-era Italian-American flower growers who own the western end of the market, have attempted to sell their land. In September 2005 the western part was put up for sale, but according to the San Francisco Chronicle the prime offer, reportedly valued at $18 million, was withdrawn.
The Japanese-American-controlled part of the market, however, will not be sold. "We have no plans on relocating," says Bob Otsuka, executive vice president and general manager of the California Flower Market, Inc., which owns the eastern two-thirds of the market. "We will continue doing business ... our vendors are open."
The two groups, along with a third company, the Peninsula Flower Growers, originally opened a market in 1928 on 5th and Howard Streets in San Francisco. The need for a larger, more modern permanent facility led to the design and construction of the San Francisco Flower Terminal (now known as the San Francisco Flower Mart) in 1956.
At press time, neither Stagnaro nor the Academy of Art University's press office were available for comment.
--Vanessa Machir
vmachir@safnow.org
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