A Westside housing developer Wednesday criticized Councilwoman Traci Park’s proposal to use a city-owned lot for the development of a mobility hub rather than allow use for the long-disputed Venice Dell project.
On Tuesday, in a 11-3 vote, the City Council advanced Park’s proposal to turn Lot 731 — a city-owned parking lot located at 200 N. Venice Boulevard near Venice Beach and Venice Canals — into a mobility hub. She said it would enhance safe coastal access and boost tourism, as well prepare the city for major productions and events coming to the area, such as the Olympics and Paralympic Games in 2028.
The hub would feature electric vehicle charging stations, bike lanes, visitor installations and amenities and dedicated staging and evacuation space for first responders.
The affordable housing project, Venice Dell, would be relocated to Lot 701, which Park said was about 25 feet away directly across the street. The site already zoned residential would reduce construction costs and expedite construction, Park said.
Venice Community Housing and Hollywood Community Corporation have an active contract with Los Angeles to develop the Venice Dell Community. The state and Los Angeles County recently awarded the developers more than $45 million to support the affordable housing project, which aims to deliver 120 new units of which 69 would be permanent supportive housing.
“The co-developers have continued to work on Venice Dell, but have pending litigation against the city for their breach of contract, which could result in the city owing the co-developers $10 million from the city’s general fund,” according to a statement from Venice Community Housing. “The pending litigation is expected to be lengthy, and given that cost, would not reduce costs or timeline for replacement housing built on Lot 701.”
Lot 731 is located in a FEMA-designated flood and tsunami zone, and offers key coastal parking and emergency staging area, Park added. The councilwoman noted that neighborhood groups have opposed the affordable housing project over environmental and coastal access issues.
“This was never about homelessness or creating truly affordable housing,” Park said Tuesday. “It was about a developer who didn’t think the rules should apply to them, one who will literally stop at nothing to get their hands on our land. They are like a bad boyfriend that won’t go away after a breakup.”
Park said her proposed plan received support by Venice Neighborhood Council, the community at large and Mayor Karen Bass.
She defended her record on creating new housing as well.
“Since I’ve been in office, 65 projects have been approved for nearly 5,800 new housing units, 1,900 of which are affordable. I have another 30 in the pipeline for another 3,400 units, including 1,800 affordable units,” Park said. “… We are doing housing in CD11.”
Previously, the Los Angeles Board of Transportation made a decision to deny Lot 731 to be used for housing development, and recommended the Venice Dell project to be relocated to Lot 701.
Lot 701, located at 2150 Dell Ave., however, is designated as open space within the Venice Community Plan, allowing recreational facilities and parkland but prohibiting residential and mixed-use developments, according to city reports. The city would be required to seek several approvals for the designation and zone change to allow residential development, as well as to obtain a permit from the California Coastal Commission.
Those approvals could take several months or longer to obtain.
Council members Eunisses Hernandez, Hugo Soto-Martinez and Ysabel Jurado voted against Park’s proposal. Councilman Curren Price was absent during the vote Tuesday.
“Los Angeles is short a quarter of a million affordable housing units, and for decades, it has been low income communities of color who have shouldered that burden,” said Hernandez, who represents the First Council District, including MacArthur Park, Pico Union and Westlake.
“This project is ready to build. The only way we solve this crisis is if every district gets on board and stops cherry picking where affordable housing belongs,” Hernandez added. “We don’t get to say no to housing just because it’s politically uncomfortable.”
Meanwhile, Councilwoman Nithya Raman, chair of the Housing and Homeless Committee, highlighted a letter the state sent to the city on Oct. 3, which inquired about the Venice Dell project. The city was asked to answer eight questions related to delays.
“Failure to take this matter seriously, I think, could have serious consequences for the city, including potential loss of state funds at a time when we’re also losing state and federal funds, and potentially imposing a Builder’s Remedy on the city, which could mean all of our local planning regulations would be obsolete and we could build whatever we wanted,” Raman said.
The councilwoman was able to include a request asking for updates from the city attorney on the status of legal suits regarding Lot 731.
According to the letter from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the city’s actions jeopardize state funding that has already been awarded to the Venice Dell project. State officials stated they will review and consider the city’s written response before taking any action, including issuance of a Corrective Action Letter regarding the city’s Housing Element and initiating a review of the city’s Prohousing Designation Status.
The city is expected to respond to the letter by Nov. 3.