Please send a message to Mike Bonin <mike.bonin@lacity.org> and <mikebonin@gmail.com> asking him to support the use of the Westminster Senior Center for the Venice Historical Museum and Visitor Center.
Jill Prestup, president of the Venice Historical Society (VHS), has
sent out a call for Venetians to help VHS obtain the use of the
Department of Recreation and Parks building at Westminster and Pacific,
commonly called the “Senior Center.”
Prestup has been through this before with Recreation and Parks and has
waited by the phone to hear that the papers were signed, only to be
disappointed when the phone didn’t ring.
Recently, the Department issued a request for a
proposals to re-use the building. Once again Prestup (and others) submitted proposals.
As previously mentioned on this site, The Venice Community Housing Corporation (VCHC) submitted a proposal to use the building to house the belongings of transients, to offer unspecified services to the homeless and to use the parking lot, now used at night by residents, as a parking area for those living in cars, trucks and campers.
There is a petition circulating by members
of the community opposing the VCHC
from obtaining the use of the property.
Prestup has been looking for the right place to house the Venice
History Museum and she and VHS members feel this is the proper place to
serve the community and provide a place for all the Venice artifacts the Society has collected over the years.
She has plans to bring the building up to code and make it a showplace
for the community.
“As most of you know, VHS has been trying to secure the Westminster
Senior Center as a Resource/Museum/Preservation/Visitor Center with
extensive programs, displays, learning workshops and events to be shared
by everyone – ages 5 to 105,” said Prestup.
“The building will house a first-of-its-kind research center &
library; 10,000 rare artifacts will be displayed; educational workshops provided for ALL ages; special youth & student
preservation programs; an official Venice visitor center; a museum; a
place for historic lectures & events; space for area non-profits to
hold meetings; and headquarters for the Venice Historical Society.
“On a historic note, the building can be seen in Charlie Chaplin’s
Kid Auto Races, released in 1914. That’s how long this building has been a part of the community,” Prestup said.
Prestup asks Venetians to lend their support by emailing Councilman
Mike Bonin, mike.bonin@lacity.org; Recreation and Parks at
rap.partnership@lacity.org; Prestup at info@veniceofamerica.org;
and send a copy also to Debbie Dyner Harris at debbie.dynerharris@lacity.org.
Prestup feels this is a win-win situation for the community. “Many
individuals - visitors, residents, students, youth, journalists, seniors and all others will
benefit from this,” she said.
“This will be an incredible Visitor Center for Venice as well as
being a resource and preservation facility place for Venice artifacts.”
(Thanks to Reta Moser of Venice Update for the information above.)
The Venice Stakeholders Association is dedicated to civic improvement. The VSA supports slow growth, protection of the limits of the Venice Local Coastal Specific Plan, neighborhood safety, better traffic circulation, increased parking for residents, neighborhood beautification projects, historic preservation and protection of coastal waters.
