While one of the missions of the VSA is historic preservation of Venice's Craftsman legacy, we have been alarmed at the lack of public participation and due process in the designation of over 1,600 houses as historic and the limitations which have attached to each property due to this designation. No hearings were held, no ordinance was passed, the bureaucracy just ordained it - apparently at the direction and with the approval of Councilman Bonin.
A new group has formed - the Venice Homeowners Alliance - to demand a repeal of the new requirements and limits on this class of property.
Here is their recent letter inviting those with a designated property to attend an upcoming meeting on the subject.
ATTENTION: YOUR PROPERTY HAS BEEN DESIGNATED HISTORIC!
Dear property owner,
Your property is among the 1,600+ properties in Venice that has either been (1) designated historic, (2) is located in a newly-identified historic district, or (3) both of the above.
Our organization, The Venice Homeowners Alliance, is a group of concerned homeowners who, like yourself, were never notified of this change by the City of Los Angeles. Our mission is to inform you of what the City failed to; namely, that the Office of Historic Resources (OHR) has taken steps without your knowledge to severely limit what you can do with your home.
What sorts of limitations have been placed on your home?
You may not pull a building permit to remodel your house without prior review and approval from the Office of Historic Resources.
If you would like to make significant changes to your home, such as a large addition or reconstruction, then you may have to do an Environmental Impact Report, which can take 1+ years to complete and cost $50k+.
You may not sell your house without disclosing to potential buyers that your property is designated historic.
The Venice Homeowners Alliance supports historical protections for truly historical homes. We intend to ask the City to redo their historical survey with input from Venice homeowners and stakeholders.
What can you do about it?
EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS! Attend the Oct 13th public meeting: 6:30pm at the Westminster Elementary School gym, where the head of the Office of Historic Resources, Ken Bernstein, will be hosting a Q&A
Join our email list by sending an email to venicehomeownersalliance@gmail.com with the subject: Venice Against Survey LA
View our public facebook page where we will be sharing more information: www.facebook.com/VeniceAgainstSurveyLA
Sign our change.org petition linked to the facebook page
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! BE ENGAGED! PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS AS A HOMEOWNER!
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.
