Multiple Los Angeles City officials have declared "dead" a controversial plan for an affordable housing complex along the Venice Canals. But in the view of the State of California, and now a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, the project would be to be very much alive.
Venice Community Housing announced last week a legal victory for the Venice Dell project, pointing to a Los Angeles Superior Court decision which found that the Los Angeles Board of Transportation Commissioners exceeded its authority when it voted in 2024 to deny use of the project site - an LADOT parking lot bounded by Venice Boulevard, Pacific Avenue, Canal Street, and Dell Avenue. Approved by the City of Los Angeles in 2021, the project is to consist of low-rise structures - designed by Brooks Scarpa Huber - containing 120 apartments, commercial space, replacement parking for residents and surrounding businesses in Venice.
“The court’s decision reaffirms that cities must honor their commitments to affordable housing,” said Kevin Mitchell, of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, which represented Venice Community housing and co-developer Hollywood Community Housing. “Venice Dell has undergone years of public review and received the approvals necessary to move forward. This ruling helps ensure that critical housing projects are not unlawfully stalled at the expense of communities in need.”
Venice Dell canal viewBrooks Scarpa Huber
Although plans to redevelop the parking lot date back to 2016, a changing representation in Council District 11 and the Los Angeles City Attorney's office has resulted in new roadblocks for the project. Incumbent 11th District Councilmember Traci Park opposed the project when running to replace former Councilmember Mike Bonin - a supporter of Venice Dell - and has instead proposed using an alternate site that has not undergone the entitlement process for affordable housing instead. Critics have cast that move as a veiled attempt to kill the Venice Dell project, and argue that doing so would put the City of Los Angeles in legal jeopardy.
The court decision comes months after the California Department of Housing and Community granted a $42.4-million conditional award to the project, which would cover a portion of the estimated $133 million budget. State officials have cautioned the City of Los Angeles that obstructing the project may violate housing laws, and could result in financial and legal penalties for the City.
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- Venice Dell (Urbanize LA)
Looking for affordable housing? Visit lahousing.lacity.org/aahr and housing.lacounty.gov
