LA is sued for slowing a project for homeless and poor on Venice Canal

Developers reached an agreement with the city in June 2022 to make the project happen.

Three Venice residents are suing the city of Los Angeles alleging it is engaging in discriminatory efforts to prevent the development of an affordable housing complex on the north end of the Venice Canal in a wealthy area of the neighborhood, plaintiffs’ attorneys announced today.

Public Counsel, a nonprofit legal firm, filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of the three Venice residents, as well as the advocacy group L.A. Forward. The plaintiffs are looking to stop what they call a “covert thwarting” of the Venice Dell project, which was approved by the Los Angeles City Council in 2022.

“This project is being proposed to be built on a very large city-owned parking lot that’s underutilized right now,” Faizah Malik, an attorney with Public Counsel, told City News Service. “It’s been in the works since 2016 when the city first identified the parking lot itself for potential housing.”

She added, “So, it’s a net gain for the community and it’s especially important on the Westside because the Westside has so little affordable housing and is losing affordable housing.”

Developers Venice Community Housing and Hollywood Community Housing Corporation reached an agreement with the city in June 2022 to bring the project online. About 68 units would house individuals and families experiencing chronic homelessness and another 68 units would be for low-income households and artists.

The lawsuit alleges that since Councilmember Traci Park and City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto took office in 2023, progress on Venice Dell has ground to a halt. The plaintiffs also claim the city officials are discriminating against people of color and people with disabilities in violation of fair housing laws and equal protection under state law.

Ivor Pine, deputy director of communications for Soto’s office, said the city attorney does not comment on pending litigation. Park’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“When they were candidates, they both submitted opposition letters (to the project), and councilmember Park very openly said that she would squash the project on day one,” Malik said. “Since she has come into office, that’s when the delays began.”

Malik said most of the delays are happening outside the public view, calling the obstruction “unlawful.”

Venice Dell would be located on 200 N. Venice Blvd.200 N. Venice Blvd. along Dell and Pacific avenues. The project has generated debate since it was first proposed.

During her election campaign, Park sent a letter opposing the project to then-Councilmember Joe Buscaino, who represented the 15th District and led the council’s Homelessness and Poverty Committee.

“Further, this project is opposed by the vast majority of Venice residents, and has repeatedly been voted down by the Venice Land Use and Planning and the Venice Neighborhood Council,” Park wrote in her letter. “This project will forever change the character of the historic Venice Canal community.”

Supporters of the project have said the project will create housing and provide supportive services to address homeless in Venice and other West L.A. neighborhoods.

According to Malik, the plaintiffs hope to see a quick resolution of the lawsuit. “It’s not our intent to litigate this very long because our goal is to get the housing built,” Malik said.