A staff report to the Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners offers a fresh look at plans for a mixed-use supportive housing complex near Venice Beach.
The proposed development - a joint venture between Venice Community Housing Corp. and Hollywood Community Housing Corp. - would rise replace a City-owned parking lot bounded by Venice Boulevard, Pacific Avenue, Canal Street, and Dell Avenue. Plans call for the construction of low-rise buildings on both sides of Venice's Grand Canal, creating a total of 140 apartments, 7,405 square feet of commercial space. A 360-car garage would also be built with the project, serving both residents and visitors to Venice Beach.
According to the Venice Community Housing website, the project will cater to formerly homeless households, low-income artists, and general low-income households.
Eric Owen Moss Architects is designing the sand-colored apartment complex, which would include two rooftop decks, a side yard, and a community room. Renderings depict the terraces lining the segment of the Grand Canal which cuts through the project site.
The project, which is called the Reese Davidson Community, is named in honor of Arthur Reese, the first African-American homeowner in the Venice neighborhood, and Rick Davidson, a co-founder of Venice Community Housing.
The development will also honor the late actor and dancer Gregory Hines by naming an on-site community arts center after him.
Venice Community Housing, which is leading the project, is also developing affordable and supportive apartment buildings on Lincoln Boulevard and Rose Avenue.
Hollywood Community Housing, the partner organization, is currently building now developments in West Compton and Harvard Heights.
