Battle over the MTA lot
By Jim
Smith
One example of rampant development that
has Venetians fuming is the RAD/MTA project planned for the “bus
lot” at Main Street and Sunset Avenue. The several block square parcel has
been public or quasi-public for 100 years. It was apparently obtained directly
from the Machado family which had a Spanish Land Grant for the westside,
including Venice.
When Abbot Kinney was constructing his
Venice of America, public transit – the Red Car – was the main mode
of transportation for people in the Los Angeles area. He prevailed on Pacific
Electric which operated the far-flung trolleys to run lines to Venice from Los
Angeles and Santa Monica. The main depot and maintenance station was at Main and
Sunset.
Later, when the Red Cars gave
way to cars and buses, it became the RTD, and later, the MTA lot. In the late
70s and the early 80s, as new arrivals moved into the area, bitter complaints
were made about the noise and fumes from the lot. Improvements were made by the
MTA, but the bus lot was not the preferred
neighbor.
Then in 2003, the
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) entered into 90-day Exclusive
Negotiation Agreement (ENA) with RAD Jefferson, LLC, a developer. The purpose of
the ENA was to create an agreement to give the Venice MTA lot to RAD in exchange
for land at Jefferson and La Cienega in West Los Angeles. At the same time, the
deal precluded any other options for relocation of the bus lot and other uses
for the land.
It wasn’t until
November, 2003, that many Venice residents became aware of the deal when the
Beachhead ran a brief announcement that plans were afoot to close the lot. Since
then, there has been a rising tide of opposition to the RAD development plans,
which include luxury condominums in a gated fortress-like
setting.
A Planning Department hearing
in Westchester and a series of meetings in Venice, including of the newly
reconstituted Neighborhood Council and its Land Use Committee revealed nearly
universal opposition to the plans, which include 500 - 700 more cars and soaring
buildings more than 20 feet over the Venice Specific Plan
limits.
L.A. City Councilmember Bill
Rosendahl expressed opposition. Finally, last month RAD asked for a postponement
of the final Planning Dept. hearing.
With more breathing space, Venetians
have the opportunity to decide what THEY want for this large lot in the center
of our community.
As a publicly-owned
lot, it is a tremendous opportunity for affordable housing, along with parking,
open space and small businesses on Main Street. Perhaps, Lincoln Place could
serve as a model for a park-like environment accessible to all
Venetians.
Posted: Wed - November 2, 2005 at 09:30 PM