The fate of a large affordable housing development planned along Venice’s famous canals remains uncertain this week. While one regulatory decision paved the way for final approval, another nearly killed the plan.
Continued uncertainty has accelerated eight years of public debate over the Venice Del project. The project aims to provide 120 apartments for formerly homeless and low-income residents on a municipal parking lot in the once working-class, now affluent beach community.
Among the most controversial affordable housing proposals, Venice Dell stands out for its intensity of litigation from all sides, confusion over the project’s status, and the machinations of Los Angeles politicians who decide whether or not to break ground. A former official for Mayor Karen Bass, who was in charge of promoting affordable housing development, told the Times that two years ago, Venice was moved through the city’s bureaucracy after project opponents won key positions in local elections.・He said his superiors instructed him to stop promoting Dell. He called this direction “very unusual.”
The project’s long-standing impasse was supposed to be revealed this week after a public hearing at the California Coastal Commission, which governs development along the coastline. Negotiations with developers Venice Community Housing and Hollywood Community Housing Corporation on Wednesday led to the reduction of 20 units to allow for better on-site public access to boat launches on the canal. The committee then voted in favor of Venice Dell. In addition to housing, the project also includes 278 parking spaces in a garage that will replace the existing public lot and provide residents with parking.
The project has no plans for financing, but coastal panel approval was seen as one of the last major regulatory hurdles.
But the commission’s decision came a day after the city Transportation Commission, which oversees city-owned parking lots, voted to refuse to transfer the land to the developer. The board instead called for expanding on-site parking, shuttle service and other transportation options, while allowing affordable housing on another city-owned parcel nearby.
City Councilor Tracy Park, who represents Venice and opposes the development, said the action effectively killed the project.
“The committee refused to tell us many things,” Park said. “There’s not much you can build on that.”
Becky Dennison, co-executive director of Venice Community Housing, disputed that the city commission’s decision meant the end of the project, calling it instead a “political ploy.” Dennison said that with the Coastal Commission’s approval, the Mayor and City Council, who previously voted in favor of moving forward with Venice Dell, are taking action and demonstrating their commitment to providing affordable housing in an area with little housing. He said he would be forced to do so.
“If we don’t put our money where our mouth is, it’s time to stop a project that could house all of our unhoused low-income people,” Dennison said.
The Venice Dell story began in 2016 when the city asked developers to propose building an affordable housing project and alternative parking on the site. Six years later, the City Council, with support from then-Councilman Mike Bonin, who represents the community, approved a development agreement for Venice Dell.
Later that year, Park and City Atty. Heidi Feldstein Soto, who opposed the project during her campaign, and Bass, who did not express any particular opinion, won the election.
Azeen Kammarek and his predecessor, Eric Garcetti, who were instrumental in promoting affordable housing development in Mayor Bass’s administration, said the city’s efforts on projects stalled after they took office.
Mr. Kammarek said Venice Dell was treated differently than more than half a dozen other projects he oversaw under both mayors. He said his superiors instructed him not to follow the typical procedure for proceeding with approval based on the City Attorney’s Office opinion, and the mayor agreed with that opinion.
“The communication was basically to postpone and cancel the normal activities that I would normally do to move the project forward,” said Kammarek, who left the Bass office at the end of 2023. Ta. (Although Mr. Kammarek currently works as executive director of Abundant Housing LA, a pro-development organization, he stressed that he was speaking in his personal capacity.)
Mr. Kammarek said he tried to lobby internally to continue working on Venice Dell, but was rebuffed.
Bus spokesperson Zach Seidl said in a statement that the mayor’s office is working with city officials to obtain funding requests and deadline extensions for Venice Dell “amid the difficult path to litigation and approval.” He said that.
Bass did not commit to supporting the project after this week’s decision.
“The mayor continues to support affordable housing being built in this area,” Seidl said.
This summer, low-income housing advocates sued the city, accusing Feldstein-Soto and Park, with Bass’ tacit support, of violating fair housing laws by delaying the project. The case is ongoing. The action followed two unsuccessful lawsuits filed by Venice neighborhood groups seeking its approval.
A spokeswoman for the city of Feldstein-Soto did not respond to questions about allegations that she stalled Venice Dell, an allegation the city denies in court filings. In late November, the City Attorney sent a letter to the Coastal Commission asking it to delay action, citing uncertainty surrounding the land transfer. One of her councilors suggested at Wednesday’s committee meeting that unless the City Council reverses the measure by early next month, the Transportation Committee’s decision will kill the project.
Park said he has not interfered with city processes.
“This is a project that has been embroiled in controversy and litigation, and I have been a respectful observer, waiting for those processes to unfold and the litigation and necessary city action to be taken,” Park said. Ta. “Those things are happening now.”
Park said he supports the Transportation Commission’s decision, which he said would balance the parking needs of Venice residents and tourists with affordable housing in the neighborhood. New projects would require starting from scratch, including recruiting developers and obtaining approval from the Coastal Commission, but he supported expediting approvals.
“The board has given us a path to achieve all important policy goals, affordable housing and mobility, that we can set an example for across our city and region.” Park he said.
At Wednesday’s meeting, coastal commissioners seemed tired of years of debate. After more than four hours of discussion and public testimony, Commissioner Dana Bocco said, “I can’t say we learned anything new today” other than the City Transportation Commission hearing.
Bochco said the city will make the final decision on whether Venice Dell will be built.
“There’s only one thing we can do today: approve this project,” she said. “It doesn’t mean it’s going to be built. The city will do whatever it wants to do. But we’re not going to get in the way.”
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