Venice is a Special Coastal Community that is in need of protection
What we stand for
Preservation
Historic preservation is a conversation with our past about our future. Venice should be proud of our history, and Citizens Preserving Venice is committed to honoring our past by recognizing those places and people who have contributed to our proud history.
Venice was the vision of a remarkable dreamer, Abbot Kinney. Opened in 1905, it was an immediate hit, becoming one of the most popular tourist attractions in Los Angeles, which it is still to this day. Home to many ethnic communities, its history includes one of the first intentional African American communities, still home to families going back to the founding of Venice. Artists, architects, musicians and political luminaries have made their homes here.
Preservation highlights these places and people. It will promote and retain what makes Venice exceptional.
Venice is not like any other coastal community and we can keep it special by promoting and retaining authenticity, character and distinction. Citizens Preserving Venice is committed to identifying and preserving the many resources special to Venice.
Character
“While the character of a neighborhood is not always easily defined, it is often made up of a collection of buildings, architectural styles, and a similar scale and massing that, when combined, work together to help impart a specific look and feel of a place.” − Adrian Scott Fine, “Saving Neighborhood Character.” LA Conservancy News. Fall 2014.
Social Diversity
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
What Is a Special Coastal Community?
In 1972 citizens of California approved Proposition 20, which enacted the California Coastal Zone Conservation Act of 1972. Three years later, after thousands of hours of public testimony over 259 public hearings, the consequent California Coastal Plan (the “Plan”) was published. It still serves as the touchstone document guiding the protection of California’s coastal resources. It also serves as legislative history that demonstrates legislative intent for the Coastal Act.
From its opening page, the Plan made it clear that coastal resources included its “manmade resources." It warned that “coastal neighborhoods can be overrun by incompatible development. Land values may become so high that there is little chance to preserve small homes and family neighborhoods; older homes that could be renovated may instead be torn down, to be replaced by bigger and usually more expensive residential buildings.” The Plan emphasizes the need to protect the coast’s modest and low-cost housing. Manmade resources are defined as coastal communities and neighborhoods with particular cultural, historical, architectural, and aesthetic qualities. These towns and neighborhoods are characterized by orientation to the water, usually a small scale of development, pedestrian use, diversity of development and activities, public attraction and use of facilities, distinct architectural character, historical significance, or ethnic or cultural characteristics sufficient to yield a sense of Identity and differentiation from nearby areas.
The Plan identifies Venice as one of the Special Coastal Communities.
The Venice Land Use Plan, certified by the Coastal Commission specifically designated Venice as a Special Coastal Community, defined as: "An area recognized as an important visitor destination center on the coastline, characterized by a particular cultural, historical, or architectural heritage that is distinctive, provides opportunities for pedestrian and bicycle access for visitors to the coast, and adds to the visual attractiveness of the coast.”
In addition, the Venice Land Use Plan states: Policy I. E. 1. General. Venice's unique social and architectural diversity should be protected as a Special Coastal Community pursuant to Chapter 3 of the California Coastal Act of 1976.
As a Special Coastal Community, the Coastal Commission considers Venice as a Coastal Resource in and of itself, to be protected and preserved.