Venice Vision has submitted a new appeal opposing the long-planned 140-unit Reese Davidson Community affordable housing project in Venice, alleging several missteps taken by the Los Angeles Planning Commission in its approval of the project in May.
Along with several other arguments, the community group claims in its latest appeal, which was filed on Thursday, that the planning commission erred in approving a proposed Vesting Tentative Tract Map for the project because it is inconsistent with the relevant General and Specific Plans.
Planned for a 2.65-acre, city-owned site that includes 2102 S. Pacific Ave., the Reese Davidson project calls for a 40-lot consolidation of land approved by the planning commission’s VTT determination. It is being led by Venice Community Housing Corp. and Hollywood Community Housing Corp., which look to develop 136 units for low-income households and four managers’ units.
Planning commissioners’ approval of the project in the spring came as they denied an original appeal by Venice Vision against the proposed VTT map. The appeal filed this month lists the Los Angeles City Council as the appellate body.
Neither Venice Vision nor its appeal representative responded to request for comment.
Venice Community Housing Corp. declined to immediately provide comment on the new appeal. It told What Now Los Angeles that the entitlements process is expected to conclude in spring of 2022 and construction for the Reese Davidson Community development is expected to begin in early 2023.
Of the Reese Davidson Community’s 136 planned below-market-rate units, 68 would be for homeless individuals, 34 for low-income artists, and another 34 for other low-income households.
Plans also call for 2,255 square feet of retail, an 810-square-foot restaurant space with 1,060 square feet of indoor and outdoor service floor area, 2,875 square feet of art studio space, and 685 square feet of supportive services.
Designs for the project have been led by Eric Owen Moss Architects.
The Reese Davidson plans have simultaneously won support from housing advocates inside and outside of Venice and attracted the strong opposition of community forces like Venice Vision, whose members argue the project is unfit for its planned place along the city’s canals.
“We believe that the only way to solve the homelessness crisis is to create new housing opportunities in every neighborhood, and we have done that successfully and positively in Venice for over 30 years,” VCH Executive Director Becky Dennison told What Now Los Angeles earlier this year. “We believe our new and proposed developments will do the same, and we know that supportive and affordable housing are key to community health and equity.”
