Is There Room in NoHo for a Community Garden?

Longtime NoHo resident John Kieffler has in his mind the perfect plot to house a local community garden, but there are a few obstacles that could keep his idea from blossoming into fruition.

He says an MTA lot parallel to Chandler Blvd that's west of Vineland Avenue and east of Lankershim or Fair Avenue is an ideal place to install more than 120 10-feet-by-6-feet garden plots for growing plants, fruits and veggies.

"There are a lot of apartment dwellers like myself who don't have access to porch or land," said Kieffler, who added he envisions students from nearby East Valley High School learning about gardening from experienced growers.

The closest community garden to NoHo is housed at North Hollywood High School. Similar to the fees that site charges, Kieffler said he imagines a NoHo garden could also offer plots with a $10 monthly fee to cover watering costs.

Kieffler is trying to win support from his neighbors, attempting to get LA City Councilman Paul Krekorian on his side and believes a $100,000 NoHo beautification grant from Universal Studios could help fund the creation of the community garden. 

But the MTA has concrete guidelines when it comes to repurposing its land.

"Often when we develop our excess land, these developments have to be for transit related uses," said MTA spokeswoman Anna Chen.

And when it comes to selling off their own land, MTA first looks to accept offers from public entities like schools before considering a private buyer, Chen said.

She added that a venture like Kieffler's probably wouldn't be very successful.

So even if John's plan may not work out in the end, do you think there are other appropriate candidates for housing a community garden in NoHo? Do you think the neighborhood would benefit from one?