Knitting Factory in jeopardy of losing its permit

The Hollywood gentrification story is an old one by now, but the potential fate of the usually all ages rock club the Knitting Factory may be symptomatic of the latest phase -- the loss of the first wave of gentrifying businesses. The Knitting Factory, which has become a haven for alt-rap, world music, death metal and punk acts in recent years, faces a public zoning hearing over its conditional use permit, a document that sets the standards that a venue needs to legally operate. Without one, a club can't function.

In an official statement, the Knitting Factory describes their side of the situation: "After operating continuously for eight years in a crime-riddled Hollywood corridor, the LADBS contends that the club is a 'nuisance' and does not comply under 'upscale restaurant guidelines.' Knitting Factory Vice President of National Operations, Morgan Margolis, has countered that the venue has served food since opening and continues to do so, and that use of the term 'upscale' requires definition and is ultimately open to debate. Additionally, LADBS cites that the club has hosted a steady stream of erotica events, which is blatantly untrue. Since opening, the club has been rented for three private, invite-only release parties hosted by adult film companies, and though the venue is typically all-ages, these three events were restricted to 21-and-over."

Margolis also claims that the Knitting Factory's landlord, the C.I.M. Group, "has denied the Knitting Factory Hollywood Blvd. street signage, and claims that the cueing of popular shows is a problem to the retail outlets."

Rumors of the Knitting Factory's solvency in the neighborhood (it opened in 2000) have been floating around for almost a year, and this looks like it could be a death blow if the permit is revoked. The hearing takes place at 10 a.m. July 17 at 200 N. Spring St., Room 1020, if you want to weigh in. Calls to the Department of Building and Safety, the property manager at the C.I.M. group in charge of the Knitting Factory and Margolis have gone unreturned, but we'll follow up as more information becomes available.

-- August Brown

Photo of Mutaytor at the Knitting Factory by Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times