What's the deal with the Venice Dells?

The Venice Dells is a low-income development in Venice Beach, California, that has been stalled for over a decade. The project includes 120 low-income apartments meant to assist the unhoused and formerly unhoused. Millions of dollars in funding have been set aside for the project, and multiple politicians have pledged to see it through. Despite all those backing the apartments, ground has yet to be broken. With all the controversy surrounding the Venice Dells, what's the deal?

The History

The Venice Dells started out as a parking lot. In 2017, the Venice Community Housing and Hollywood Community Housing Corporation signed a deal to redevelop the land into low-income housing. Following this, Councilman Mike Bonin defended the idea at multiple community meetings to try to get the city’s support behind it. Opposition began to mount, claiming the site was a "monster on the median.” Ever since, the project has been bouncing around through multiple pieces of legislation and has recently gotten a $42.5 million commitment by the state of California.

The Controversy

The most common complaint about the apartments relates to the size of the complex. The Venice Dells will house 120 apartments, and might “ruin the historic charm of Venice Beach” with its imposing modern blueprint. Other concerns have arisen due to the project’s proximity to the beach, with some stating it is not prepared for potential floods and tsunamis.

Despite these complaints, Venice Beach still faces a large homeless issue. The city does not have enough housing, and when projects take over a decade to complete, the issue will not get any better. If Venice Beach does not overcome the controversies surrounding its housing issues, then the city will face a worsened housing crisis like never seen before.