"The downtown Farmers Market is not dead; it's looking for a new location, and we have a number of options in mind," Mr. Whitney told LBREPORT.com, adding that "we will be working with the City to find that new location."

Mr. Whitney told LBREPORT.com that the Friday CityPlace site was adequate but wasn't visible to cars from Long Beach Blvd. and thus wasn't as desirable the downtown Farmers Market's previous location southward on the Promenade. Mr. Whitney said access to the highly visible Promenade disappeared (and wasn't restored) amid a City Hall/Redevelopment Agency propelled Promenade upgrade. He acknowledged that Harbor Area Farmers Markets was given access to the CityPlace adjacent site for rent of $1 a year.

Mr. Whitney indicated that at least one of the alternative sites he's been considering is nearby in the 2nd Council district. "I hope to speak with Councilwoman Lowenthal about this on Monday," Mr. Whitney told LBREPORT.com.

He said some areas are on former Redevelopment Agency owned property and city staff indicated that state law (which dissolved Redevelopment) prevents leasing or contracting for parts of those properties.

Mr. Whitney said that when the Farmers Market was on the Promenade, it drew a mix of upscale residents, business class and working class customers. He said that at the City Place location, many of the Farmers Market's customers came as they exited the nearby Walmart and also from nearby working class area neighborhoods and were all welcomed.

Mr. Whitney said supporters of the downtown Farmers Market plan to speak during the period for public comment on non-agendized items at the Tuesday July 16 City Council meeting.

The written notice to the Farmers Market and an independently operated Craft Fair came from a Los Angeles based property management firm for Long Beach CityPlace and indicated the decision to cancel the CityPlace adjacent Farmer Market was based on:

• [Excerpt of notice text] Closing of Nordstrom Rack

• Change in Security Guard Company effective July 17, 2013

• Construction and relocation of the three restaurants located on 4th Street

• Construction of the new Chuck E Cheese located on 4th Street

• The painting of the Waterton Apartments

• Redesigning of City Place Long Beach

• Dissatisfaction of the local neighborhood.

LBREPORT.com was unsuccessful in attempting to reach the person indicated on the notice today and left a voice mail message.

Harbor Area Farmers Markets operates two other location in Long Beach (Thursdays Uptown/Bixby Knolls at Atlantic Ave & E. 46th St. and Sundays in SE LB in the parking lot of the Alamitos Bay Marina on E. Marina Dr. just went of PCH). Harbor Area Farmers Markets has a robust webpage here.

Developing...with further as we learn it on LBREPORT.com.