Ruth Galanter (born c. 1941 ) is an American politician, environmentalist and consultant with a background in urban planning. She served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1987 to 2003.
114-560: The Venice Canal Historic District is embedded in the residential Venice suburb of Los Angeles, California . The historic district is noteworthy for possessing man-made wetland canals, built in 1905 by developer Abbot Kinney as part of his Venice of America . Kinney sought to recreate the appearance and feel of Venice , Italy , in coastal Los Angeles County. The names of the canals were given by Abbot Kinney as follows: Aldebaran Canal, Altair Canal, Cabrillo Canal, Coral Canal, Grand Canal, Lion Canal and Venus Canal. Another set of canals
228-498: A wildlife preserve because at least ten endangered species lived there. Animal shelters, 1992, Galanter sought a grand jury probe of conditions in the city's animal shelters, maintaining that animals in the city's six shelters "are treated inhumanely and are often destroyed within hours after arriving." Pay raise, 1993–95. Galanter declined to accept a pay raise, which was "automatically granted by City Charter , in 1993 and 1994, but accepted it in 1995, bringing her salary to
342-481: A Los Angeles City Councilwoman. The original assessment project was sponsored by the Venice Canals Association (VCA) in 1976 during Pat Russell 's term as council member. Venice Canals Association board members Barbara Michalak, Les Otterstrom, Paula Tate, Marla Engel, Ruth Ann Steffens, Fred Hoffman, Anita Henkins, Joseph Smith, W. Reid Monroe, Bonnie Felix, and Murray Leral worked to establish
456-401: A Los Angeles community was able to select the kind of art it wanted under the city's program that funnels 1 percent of developers' fees to public art. The winning design is a 15-foot-high concrete replica of an airplane wing, adorned with a bronze eagle. Its base is surrounded by figurines from aviation and Hollywood — Amelia Earhart , Howard Hughes , Bobbi Trout —who helped shape the history of
570-619: A charge she rejected. Hayden said later he would make no endorsements in her race against Russell, but at the last moment did exactly that, impelling the Russell campaign to send out "mail informing voters of Hayden's endorsement." Galanter won the June 1987 final vote, 21,846 to 15,855 in what the Los Angeles Times called "a dramatic election that signals the rise of a new constituency in city politics and sends troubling signals to
684-750: A deal with the Summa Corporation, and other property owners under the Ballona Lagoon, to eliminate any issues with water flow rights to the Venice Canals. A deal was struck between the major underwater land owner to swap the city owned lots on the Venice Canals for land under the lagoon. Assuring the Lagoon and water to the Venice Canals would continue to flow in and out. The final hearing was the Coastal Commission, where there
798-800: A long, narrow lot in 1981, the Indiana Avenue Houses/Arnoldi Triplex was designed Frank Gehry in partnership with artists Laddie John Dill and Charles Arnoldi . Frank Gehry has designed several well-known houses in Venice, including the Jane Spiller House (completed 1979) and the Norton House (completed 1984) on Venice Beach. In 1994, sculptor Robert Graham designed a fortress-like art studio and residence for himself and his wife, actress Anjelica Huston , on Windward Avenue. Ruth Galanter She
912-541: A material called Armorflex. Armorflex was a web of open cement blocks that would allow for plants to grow in them. These were to be installed on a gentle slope to allow birds and wildlife to go in and out of the canals. The majority of the neighbors who would be assessed by the new design were opposed to the Armorflex plan. Ruth told the head of the VCA improvement project, Mark Galanty, that she would be open to another plan if
1026-488: A planned city imitating Venice, Italy, Venice is home to a large number of early 1900s buildings built in to emulate Italian Renaissance architecture. Particularly along Windward Avenue, where an arched arcade covers the sidewalks on portions of both sides of the street. Similar buildings originally formed a continuous arcade from the boardwalk to the former lagoon (now the Windward traffic circle) but these were condemned by
1140-454: A protest against the effect of development on traffic, air and water pollution and neighborhood tranquility. . . . On the advice of three consulting firms hired after the primary, Russell sought to put Galanter on the defensive with a blizzard of campaign literature picturing her as a Hayden crony whose campaign was being run by Venice radicals. Four years later, a tough fight against six other candidates—including Tavis Smiley , later known as
1254-480: A radio and television commentator— forced Galanter into a runoff with Republican Mary Lee Gray, who was an aide to County Supervisor Deane Dana and who polled well "in portions of the affluent Venice Peninsula, as well as the Crenshaw District . Galanter had to "fend off charges that she has gotten too close to developers and lobbyists," and she was criticized for "large projects in her district, including
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#17327824004331368-673: A region called La Ballona that included the southern parts of Venice, was granted by the Mexican government to Ygnacio and Augustin Machado and Felipe and Tomas Talamantes, giving them title to Rancho La Ballona . Later this became part of Port Ballona . Venice, originally called "Venice of America", was founded by wealthy developer Abbot Kinney in 1905 as a beach resort town, 14 miles (23 km) west of Los Angeles. He and his partner Francis Ryan had bought 2 miles (3 km) of ocean-front property south of Santa Monica in 1891. They built
1482-515: A relatively low figure for Los Angeles; Mexico (38.4%) and the United Kingdom (8.5%) were their most common places of birth. Forty-nine percent of Venice residents aged 25 and older had earned a four-year degree by 2000, a high figure for both the city and the county. The percentages of residents of that age with a bachelor's degree or a master's degree was considered high for the county. The median yearly household income in 2008 dollars
1596-510: A resort town on the north end of the property, called Ocean Park , which was soon annexed to Santa Monica. After Ryan died, Kinney and his new partners continued building south of Navy Street. After the partnership dissolved in 1904, Kinney, who had won the marshy land on the south end of the property in a coin flip with his former partners, began to build a seaside resort like the namesake Italian city . When Venice of America opened on July 4, 1905, Kinney had dug several miles of canals to drain
1710-451: A result of seasonal lag , fall is usually warmer than spring in Venice. Because of its coastal location, morning fog is a common phenomenon in May and June, but occasionally July and August, as well. Los Angeles residents have a particular terminology for this phenomenon: the "May Gray", the " June Gloom ", "No-Sky July" and "Fogust"; during these events, the fog will usually burn off by noon, but
1824-580: A result of the completion of the Venice Canals Improvement, the VCA held a carnival in 1993 with Gondolas, food, art, music to celebrate the rehabilitation and improvement of the Venice Canals. Two gondolas from Naples California were rented to take passengers on the Venice Canals like in 1906. The Venice Canals again celebrated the Canal 10 year anniversary of the restoration with another party in 2003. Venice, Los Angeles Venice
1938-507: A section called Ballona Lagoon. The Ballona Lagoon property under the water was owned by Howard Hughes and the Summa Corporation. Howard Hughes died in 1976, taking away any serious opposition from Summa Corporation. A neighborhood group, the Venice Canals Resident and Homeowners organization, was formed by a few residents of the canals in 1977, to establish an assessment district to restore the canals. This organization name
2052-434: A single lot with no parking. Current regulations mandate lower housing densities (most commonly 1 unit per 1,500 square feet of lot area). As per a 2020 count, there were around 2,000 homeless people in Venice, up from 175 in 2014. Many of them take up residence in tents and tent cities . An LAPD official said that the increased homeless population has contributed to a spike in crimes in Venice in 2021. In February 2020,
2166-467: A slight croak." A jury found Olds guilty of first-degree burglary and second-degree attempted murder involving great bodily injury and the use of a knife. It acquitted him of a more serious charge of attempted murder with premeditation , which could have carried a life sentence. Olds was sentenced to the maximum term, 14 years and 4 months, but was expected to serve only about 6 + 1 ⁄ 2 years with time off for good behavior. Galanter made
2280-471: A study-trip to Antarctica in January 1989 as an "exotic vacation" she had promised herself as she lay in bed bleeding from the knife attack. While a Yale student, Galanter and "scores of others" opposed a New Haven urban renewal program that would have bulldozed buildings and cut streets through poor and working-class neighborhoods. In 1973, she was the first California resident to file an appeal under
2394-418: A suspect. Police Chief Daryl Gates said Olds was "a former gang member with an extensive record of arrests, including two for a 1979 gang murder and others for drug use." At his trial Galanter testified that she had suffered "permanent damage" to her throat and was "too frightened to sleep through the night." A reporter wrote sixteen years later that the attack had left Galanter's "New York-accented voice with
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#17327824004332508-553: Is a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles within the Westside region of Los Angeles County, California , United States. Venice was founded by Abbot Kinney in 1905 as a seaside resort town. It was an independent city until 1926, when it was annexed by Los Angeles. Venice is known for its canals, a beach, and Ocean Front Walk, a 2.5-mile (4 km) pedestrian promenade that features performers, fortune-tellers, and vendors. In 1839,
2622-581: Is in the center surrounded by beachgoers in old-fashioned bathing suits, men in overalls, and a wooden roller coaster representing the Venice Pier on one side with contrasting industrial oil derricks that were once ubiquitous in the area on the other side. Senior curator of American Art at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Ilene Susan Fort, said this is one of the better New Deal post office murals both artistically and historically. Although it contains brightly colored elements with amusing details,
2736-583: Is known for supporting "slow growth" policies on the city's Westside and elsewhere. She was the victim of a knife attack in an attempted home robbery that left her severely wounded. She now has her own consulting business. Galanter was born about 1941 in New York City , the only child of a teacher and an advertising salesman. She grew up in the Bronx, New York , "dreaming of becoming an artist, or maybe an investigative reporter." Ruth's father died when she
2850-497: Is located on top of what once was the Venice Lagoon. There were several attempts to rehabilitate, restore or improve the canals. In most of these cases the projects were met with opposition, eventually causing the plans to stall and eventually be cancelled. One of these attempts was a deep-water plan that was stopped in the 1960s. Initially the deep water plan had received City of Los Angeles approval. Assessments were sent to
2964-485: The 2028 Summer Olympics . Along the southern portion of the beach, at the end of Washington Boulevard , is the Venice Fishing Pier . A 1,310-foot (400 m) concrete structure, it first opened in 1964, was closed in 1983 due to El Niño storm damage, and re-opened in the mid-1990s. On December 21, 2005, the pier again suffered damage when waves from a large northern swell caused part of it to fall into
3078-468: The Hollywood hills and, most of all, more traffic on the freeways, Galanter is a suddenly renowned advocate of what has come to be known as the slow-growth movement . Galanter "vehemently opposed" major development projects in her district, including the proposed Howard Hughes Center , a 3.1-million-square-foot project. " The Pentagon is 3.7 million square feet," she said. "We're talking about putting
3192-628: The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles , is currently undergoing a $ 140 million renovation to add 99 new market-rate apartment homes and to update the remaining 696 existing homes. A new pool, two-story fitness center, resident park and sustainable landscaping are being added. Aimco , which acquired the property in 2003, had previously been in a legal battle to determine whether or not Lincoln Place could be demolished and rebuilt. In 2010, Aimco settled with tenants and agreed to reopen
3306-484: The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors conducted a $ 1.6 million replacement of 30,000 cubic yards of sand at Venice Beach eroded by rainstorms in recent years. Although Venice Beach is located in the city of Los Angeles, the county is responsible for maintaining the beach under an agreement reached between the two governments in 1975. Oakwood lies inland from the tourist areas and is one of
3420-454: The marshes for his residential area, built a 1,200-foot-long (370 m) pier with an auditorium, ship restaurant , and dance hall, constructed a hot salt-water plunge, and built a block-long arcaded business street with Venetian architecture. Kinney hired artist Felix Peano to design the columns of the buildings. Included in the capitals are several faces, modeled after Kinney and a woman named Nettie Bouck. Tourists, mostly arriving on
3534-582: The "Red Cars" of the Pacific Electric Railway from Los Angeles and Santa Monica, then rode the Venice Miniature Railway and gondolas to tour the town. The biggest attraction was Venice's 1-mile-long (1.6 km) gently-sloping beach. Cottages and housekeeping tents were available for rent. The population (3,119 residents in 1910) soon exceeded 10,000; the town drew 50,000 to 150,000 tourists on weekends. For
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3648-519: The "Slum by the Sea". With the exception of new police and fire stations in 1930, the city spent little on improvements after annexation. The city did not pave Trolleyway (Pacific Avenue) until 1954 when county and state funds became available. Low rents for run-down bungalows attracted predominantly European immigrants (including a substantial number of Holocaust survivors) and young counterculture artists, poets, and writers. The Beat Generation hung out at
3762-504: The "Vertical Wall plan". The city began to move it through the process, and estimated the cost to be around 6 to 8 million, plus the city improvements of public areas like sidewalks, etc. for a total of 15 to 18 million dollars. The cost under the assessment would be shared half by the property owners over 10 years assessment on their property taxes, and half by the City of Los Angeles and the Federal government. The original assessment project
3876-559: The 1950s. The brick building's interior was redesigned by Frank Israel in 1990 as a creative workspace, opening up the interior and creating sightlines all the way through the building. Originally located at the Venice home of Pritzker Prize –winning architect and SCI-Arc founder Thom Mayne , the Architecture Gallery was in existence for just ten weeks in 1979 and featured new work by then-emerging architects Frank Gehry , Eric Owen Moss , and Morphosis . Constructed on
3990-652: The 75-year-old facility where the final scene from the classic " Casablanca " was filmed. In 2005-06, Galanter occupied the Bellarmine College Visiting Chair in Los Angeles Urban Research at Loyola Marymount University . At that time she was the principal of Galanter and Company, a consulting firm specializing in "land use, urban infrastructure, environmental policy and political strategy." Galanter said when she left office she believed her "most lasting legacy" would be
4104-664: The California Least Tern as an endangered species who foraged and fished in the Canals. However, the majority of the residents supported the plan submitted by the City of Los Angeles. In 1983, Ruth Galanter was elected to the City Council office and inherited the Vertical Wall plan neighborhood sponsored assessment for improving the Venice Canals. The design was known as the vertical wall plan, similar to
4218-476: The City of Los Angeles after annexation. Only through the efforts of local preservationists were the few buildings that remain able to be preserved, although many were substantially modified. Designers Charles and Ray Eames had their offices at the Bay Cities Garage on Abbot Kinney Boulevard from 1943 on, when it was still part of Washington Boulevard; Eames products were also manufactured there until
4332-454: The City of Los Angeles found that over 79 percent of the homeowners opposed the assessment project using the Armorflex material. After being elected, Ruth Galanter held several meetings with the Venice Canals Association under the leadership of Mark Galanty about the Canal improvement project. Galanter had said she would be open to other plans, but for the time she would continue the Armorflex design. Based on public meetings and city polling it
4446-490: The City, State and National approvals. At the Coastal Commission hearing the Venice Canals Association supported the plan, and there was finally no opposition to the restoring of the Venice Canals. The estimated costs for the improvements were 12 million dollars. 6.9 million paid as an assessment district. The project included dredging the canals and removing the soil to a class 1 toxic site, removing crumbling sidewalks, replacing new sidewalks, 5 feet deep in center, 1 1/2 feet on
4560-604: The East San Fernando Valley , including Arleta , Sun Valley and parts of Van Nuys , North Hollywood , Panorama City and Pacoima , because of the increase of population in the Valley. At first opposed to the move, Galanter later embraced it and "unveiled an ambitious plan to curb flooding in Sun Valley, remove hundreds of pieces of discarded furniture throughout the district, repair streets and energize
4674-701: The Gas House on Ocean Front Walk and at Venice West Cafe on Dudley. The Venice Shoreline Crips and the Latino Venice 13 (V-13) were the two main gangs active in Venice. V13 dates back to the 1950s, while the Shoreline Crips were founded in the early 1970s, making them one of the first Crip sets in Los Angeles. In the early 1990s, V-13 and the Shoreline Crips were involved in a fierce battle over crack cocaine sales territories. By 2002,
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4788-716: The Kinney Pier became more amusement-oriented by 1910, when a Venice Miniature Railway , Aquarium, Virginia Reel, Whip, Racing Derby, and other rides and game booths were added. Since the business district was allotted only three one-block-long streets, and the City Hall was more than a mile away, other competing business districts developed. Unfortunately, this created a fractious political climate. Kinney, however, governed with an iron hand and kept things in check. When he died in November 1920, Venice became harder to govern. With
4902-467: The Loffel Block plan. Councilwoman Galanter and staff member Jim Bichart, as well as city engineer Luis Ganajas and environmental engineer Russ Ruffing worked on the city, state and national approvals. At the Coastal Commission hearing the Venice Canals Association supported the plan, and there was finally no opposition to the restoring of the Venice Canals. The estimated costs for the improvements
5016-427: The Loffel Block. Luis Ganajas revised the plans to include the material Loffel Block at 55 degree slope. VCA members Robert Trask and Mark Galanty took the city design, an actual Loffel Block, and the community support poll showing overwhelming support to different Venice groups, city government agencies, state agencies, environmental groups, historical groups, and each property owner on the canals getting support for what
5130-471: The Loffel Block. Many of the plants died in the Armorflex. In addition, the Armorflex began to sag and shift, while the Loffel test site remained stable. After several years of study and review of both materials, Mark Galanty sent a letter to Ruth Galanter congratulating her on her success. She was able to meet her original goal of finding a material that would allow plants to grow, was environmental qualities,
5244-560: The Loffel Plan. Mark Galanty, worked with the residents, property owners, and canal stakeholders to eliminate any opposition to the compromise plan using Loffel Block. The VCA negotiated a fund to pay for anyone that could not afford the assessment amount. No-one applied for the money established in this fund. The city designed the restoration to be built in two phases in order to not disrupt the wildlife (tern, Coots, egrets, herons, ducks, etc.). Meanwhile, Councilwoman Galanter, negotiated
5358-650: The Marina Del Rey walls. Ruth Galanter was not happy with the environmental aspects, the costs, the Historical design and the safety of the Vertical wall plan, so one of her early actions was to stop the city engineers from pursuing such a plan. Galanter asked the Coastal Conservancy to review the options for the canals, and the state agency returned several plans suggestions, including one using
5472-520: The Penmar Golf Course but excluding Venice High School . The boundary runs on Lincoln Boulevard to Admiralty Way, excluding all of Marina del Rey , south to Ballona Creek . Abbott Kinney Boulevard is a principal attraction, with stores, restaurants, bars and art galleries lining the street. The street was described as "a derelict strip of rundown beach cottages and empty brick industrial buildings called West Washington Boulevard," and in
5586-708: The Pentagon on one side of the San Diego Freeway ." . . . she got swallowed up in pragmatism. . . . She had a chance to step up to the plate and she sort of sagged up there instead. Strongly opposed to the plans of Summa Corporation for a 1,087-acre piece of prime vacant land at the foot of the Westchester Bluffs when she first entered the City Council in 1987—"one of the largest real estate developments ever contemplated for Los Angeles" —Galanter spent much of her time afterward in trying to mitigate
5700-419: The VCA were to find something better. However, Councilwoman Galanter would continue with the new Armorflex plan. So Mark assembled a committee of the VCA to locate a new material. Loffelstein, or Loffel Block, was identified by a VCA site committee member Andy Shores as possibly meeting those goals. It allowed plants to grow inside the material, could be placed on a slope to allow birds and wildlife to climb out of
5814-506: The Venice Canals Association design material. Mark Galanty got the Loffel Block distributor in Orange County to install a test site across from the Armorflex test site at the distributors cost. The test was successful with plants growing in the blocks, wildlife and ducks able to climb up the material, and the majority of the property owners supporting this design. Galanter agreed to have city engineers design an official city plan using
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#17327824004335928-433: The Venice Canals, all eventually leading to failure or opposition. The last attempt was a deep water plan that was stopped in the 1960s. Mayor Tom Bradley publicly stated "The Venice Canals will not be improved in my lifetime." After Ruth Galanter was elected, she stated that she was not happy with the environmental aspects, the costs, the historical design and the safety of the vertical wall plan, so one of her early actions
6042-707: The addition of a third coaster, a tall Dragon Slide, Fun House , and Flying Circus aerial ride, it was the finest amusement pier on the West Coast. Several hundred thousand tourists visited on weekends. In 1923, Charles Lick built the Lick Pier at Navy Street in Venice, adjacent to the Ocean Park Pier at Pier Avenue in Ocean Park. Another pier was planned for Venice in 1925 at Leona Street (now Washington Street). In 1922, Venice treasurer James T. Peasgood
6156-533: The amusement of the public, Kinney hired aviators to do aerial stunts over the beach. One of them, movie aviator and Venice airport owner B. H. DeLay , implemented the first lighted airport in the United States on DeLay Field (previously known as Ince Field ). After a marine rescue attempt was thwarted, he organized the first aerial police force in the nation. DeLay performed many of the world's first aerial stunts for motion pictures in Venice. Attractions on
6270-488: The amusement pier burning six weeks later in December 1920, and Prohibition (which had begun the previous January), the town's tax revenue was severely affected. The Kinney family rebuilt their amusement pier quickly to compete with Ocean Park's Pickering Pleasure Pier and the new Sunset Pier . When it opened it had two roller coasters, a new Racing Derby, a Noah's Ark, a Mill Chutes, and many other rides. By 1925, with
6384-542: The area, and drilling waste clogged the remaining waterways. The short-lived boom provided needed income to the community, which otherwise suffered during the Great Depression . Most of the wells had been capped by the 1970s, and the last wells, near the Venice Pavilion, were capped in 1991. After annexation, the city of Los Angeles showed little interest in maintaining the unusual neighborhood. Most of
6498-565: The assessment district for the Venice Canal Improvement Project. The first attempted design for the 1977 Venice Canals Assessment district was prepared by City of Los Angeles public works under the direction of City Engineer Luis Ganajas. The design was known as the vertical wall plan, similar to the existing Marina Del Rey walls, and was vertical solid cement with a decorative end cap. At the time there were at least three historic attempts to restore or rehabilitate
6612-414: The back of the house. Neighbors heard screaming and the sound of a burglar alarm that Galanter was able to trigger after the attack. "One wound severed the carotid artery that supplies blood to the left side of the brain, and the other punctured the pharynx , part of the food tube near the esophagus ." Police soon tabbed Mark Allen Olds, who lived in a rooming house across the street from Galanter, as
6726-499: The canal banks as a safety barrier to the canals. The property owners in the canals paid approximately $ 6,600 over a 10-year period for a 30- by 90-foot lot frontage, and $ 7,800 for a 40- by 90-foot lot frontage. Work began in March 1992, and was completed in 1993. The assessment could be paid in full, or paid over time with interest at approximately 5%. In July 2002, the city council voted to move Galanter's entire 6th District into
6840-479: The canals being redone using the Loffel Block. Councilwoman Galanter and City Engineers drop the gentle slope, and designed the entire project at 55 degrees. A test site was installed at Sherman Canal and Dell for the Armorflex. The Venice Canals Association was able to get the distributor of Loffel Block to install the Loffel test site across the canals from the Armorflex site. Both were planted with native salt water plants, and observed for quality. The ducks preferred
6954-416: The canals were filled in and paved over, and the former lagoon became a traffic circle. The neighborhood lacked the automobile-centric, homogeneous character that the city sought to cultivate in the post-World War II era, and was perceived as a dated, obsolete remnant of earlier decades' land speculation. Los Angeles had neglected Venice so long that, by the 1950s the neglect had led to the area being labeled
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#17327824004337068-405: The canals, was safe for small children as it allowed them to hold on to the sides, and or climb out of the Canals, and was lower cost than the Armorflex. Mark obtain the services of a local architect to help present an artist rendering of the Loffel Block plan. The first drawing included 55% banks with areas near the public areas at a more gentle slope to allow for birds and wildlife to enter and exit
7182-479: The canals, was safe for small children as it allowed them to hold on to the sides, and or climb out of the Canals, was lower cost project over the Armorflex design, and was aesthetically pleasing to the property owners. Mark Galanty recruited canal resident architects to create a design board with the Loffel Block material, and Galanty publicly presented the Loffel design Plan at a public meeting with Councilwoman Galanter in attendance. Galanter stated she would be open to
7296-530: The canals. The plan was presented by Mark Galanty at a public hearing on the project. Councilwoman Galanter agreed to look at the alternative design. Ruth agreed, and instructed the City Engineers to design a plan using the Loffel Block. However, they did not drop the Armoflex design. Meanwhile, the residents were polled: 78% were against the canals being redone using Armorflex, and 82% were in favor of
7410-534: The city opened a 154-bed transitional housing shelter at a former Metro bus yard. Venice is bounded on the northwest by the Santa Monica city line. The northern apex of the Venice neighborhood is at Walgrove Avenue and Rose Avenue, abutting the Santa Monica Airport . On the east, the boundary runs north–south on Walgrove Avenue to the neighborhood's eastern apex at Zanja Street, thus including
7524-498: The city was founded in 1905. During the depression era, Upton Sinclair had an office there when he was running for governor, and the same historic building where the restaurant was located was also the site of the first Ace/Venice Gallery in the early 1970s. The Venice Post Office, a red-tile-roofed 1939 New Deal building designed by Louis A. Simon on Windward Circle, featured one of two remaining murals painted in 1941 by Modernist artist Edward Biberman . Developer Abbot Kinney
7638-708: The city's beaches. Nuclear reactors, 1988. Calling the Metropolitan Water District 's idea of a nuclear plant near the Los Angeles International Airport a "bad April Fools' joke," Galanter called for a citywide ban on construction of that or any other reactor "not used for research." The MWD was making a preliminary study of locations for a nuclear plant to produce electricity and convert seawater to drinking water. Wildlife preserve, 1990. She asked that 200 acres be set aside near Los Angeles International Airport for
7752-715: The county's highest. The percentage of veterans who had served during the Vietnam War was among the county's highest. Venice has been known as a preferred location for creative artists. In the 1950s and 1960s, Venice became a center for the Beat generation and there was an explosion of poetry and art, which continues today. Major writers and artists throughout the decades have included Stuart Perkoff, John Thomas, Frank T. Rios, Tony Scibella, Lawrence Lipton, John Haag, Saul White, Millicent Borges Accardi Robert Farrington, Philomene Long , and Tom Sewell. Originally established as
7866-497: The development. By the 1920s, with cars quickly gaining popularity, the canals were viewed by many as outdated, and as a result a number of canals were filled in 1929 to make room for paved roads. By 1940 the remaining canals had fallen into disrepair, and the sidewalks were condemned by the city. The district remained in poor condition for more than 40 years; numerous proposals to renovate the canals failed due to lack of funding, environmental concerns, and disputes as to who should bear
7980-680: The effects of the proposed $ 7 billion residential, retail and hotel package; she did, in the end, vote in favor of the deal as it was finally put forth by Maguire Thomas Partners in 1993. That "especially wrenching" vote caused dissension among her backers, but it was later noted that the deal "would preserve 270 acres of the Ballona Wetlands , create a riparian corridor, pour millions into easing traffic problems and put recycling facilities in place" and that "She also won commitments for affordable housing units." Beach sleeping, 1987. She called for tougher laws to ban overnight sleeping on
8094-723: The few historically African-American areas in West Los Angeles. East of Lincoln is separated from Oakwood by Lincoln Boulevard. It extends east to the border with Mar Vista . Aside from the commercial strip on Lincoln (including the Venice Boys and Girls Club and the Venice United Methodist Church ), the area almost entirely consists of small homes and apartments as well as Penmar Park and (bordering Santa Monica) Penmar Golf Course. A housing project , Lincoln Place Apartment Homes , built by
8208-507: The financial responsibility. The canals were finally renovated in 1992; they were drained, and new sidewalks and walls were built. The canals re-opened in 1993, and have become a desirable and expensive residential section of the city. The residential district surrounding the remaining canals was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. However, in recent years, there has been extensive renovation work on many of
8322-477: The fog may also linger all day. The all-time record high of 110 °F (43 °C) was observed on September 27, 2010, while the all-time record low is 32 °F (0 °C), recorded on January 14, 2007. Venice is in USDA plant hardiness zone 10b, closely bordering on 11a. The 2000 U.S. census counted 37,705 residents in the 3.17-square-mile Venice neighborhood—an average of 11,891 people per square mile, about
8436-480: The intrusion of the ominous oil rigs and wells was very relevant at the time. After the post office closed in 2012, movie producer Joel Silver unveiled plans to purchase it for 7.5 million and revamp the building as the new headquarters of his company, Silver Pictures. The sale included the stipulation that he, or any future owner, preserve the New Deal-era murals and allow public access. Restoration of
8550-431: The late 1980s community groups and property owners pushed for renaming a portion of the street to honor Abbot Kinney. The renaming was widely considered as a marketing strategy to commercialize the area and bring new high-end businesses to the area. 72 Market Street Oyster Bar and Grill was one of several historical footnotes associated with Market Street in Venice, one of the first streets designated for commerce when
8664-488: The level of Municipal Court judges—$ 98,069 per year. Airports, 1998–99. She opposed expansion plans at Los Angeles International Airport but favored them at Palmdale Airport . Both sites are under the ownership of the city of Los Angeles. Venice Canals , 1991. Ruth Galanter inherited a neighborhood sponsored assessment for improving the Venice Canals, but the final design selection and ultimate canal improvements in 1991 can be credited to Galanter's leadership as
8778-410: The mayor's office" ( Tom Bradley ). The Times added: Russell brought money, at least $ 400,000, and establishment backing into the race. They were no match for Galanter's army of neighborhood activists, made up of Democrats, Republicans, suburban homeowners and bohemian renters. . . . The election was also widely regarded as a harbinger of a new brand of politics in the city, with Galanter leading
8892-560: The most controversial facing the commission." After leaving the commission, she started her own planning consulting firm. One of her clients was the State Coastal Conservancy Commission, "an agency charged with restoring damaged coastal lands." As such, she "worked to preserve wetlands threatened by development in Long Beach and Huntington Beach ." In 1987, Los Angeles City Council District 6
9006-645: The nearly pristine mural took over a year and cost about $ 100,000. LACMA highlighted the mural with an exhibit that displayed additional Biberman artworks, rare historical documents and Venice ephemera with the restored mural. Silver has a long-term lease on the mural that is still owned by the US Postal Service . In May 2019, according to the Hollywood Reporter , Silver sold the building for 22.5 million to U.K. investor Alex Dellal and his real estate group founded by Jack Dellal . Status of
9120-462: The norm for Los Angeles; in 2008, the city estimated that the population had increased to 40,885. The median age for residents was 35, considered the average for Los Angeles; the percentages of residents aged 19 through 49 were among the county's highest. The ethnic breakdown was 64.2% Non-Hispanic White , 21.7% Latino (of any racial origin); 5.4% African American; 4.1% Asian , and 4.6% of other origins. About 22.3% of residents had been born abroad,
9234-444: The number of available housing units actually decreased, despite a massive increase in property values and construction activity over the same period. The neighborhood was developed early in the history of Los Angeles, and as such much of the housing stock predates the current system of zoning regulations by decades. In the areas along Pacific avenue, many early 1900's multifamily buildings still exist, some housing as many as 30 units on
9348-402: The numbers of gang members in Venice were reduced due to gentrification and increased police presence. According to a Los Angeles City Beat article, by 2003, many Los Angeles Westside gang members had resettled in the city of Inglewood . Venice Beach is one of the most difficult places in the United States to build new housing due to stringent zoning regulations . Between 2007 and 2022,
9462-555: The ocean. The pier remained closed until May 25, 2006, when it was re-opened after an engineering study concluded that it was structurally sound. The Venice Breakwater is an acclaimed local surf spot in Venice. It is located north of the Venice Pier and lifeguard headquarters and south of the Santa Monica Pier. This spot is sheltered on the north by an artificial barrier, the breakwater , consisting of an extending sand bar, piping, and large rocks at its end. In late 2010,
9576-536: The old houses, and many large, modern houses have been built. The water enters the canals through sea gates in the Marina Del Rey breakwater via the Ballona Lagoon , and again in Washington Boulevard. They open at low tide to drain most of the water, and at high tide they are closed, trapping the water for about three days, before being refreshed again. Before 1929, the area covered by canals
9690-451: The planned renovation remains subject to further approvals. The mural's whereabouts are unknown, putting the lessee in violation of the lease agreement's public access requirement. Many of Venice's houses have their principal entries from pedestrian-only streets and have house numbers on these footpaths. (Automobile access is by alleys in the rear.) The inland walk streets are made up primarily of around 620 single-family homes. Like much of
9804-402: The political culture of a district known for voter apathy." Galanter worked with the community to get a $ 50,000 sculpture installed at Van Nuys Airport —"a piece of public art demanded by some people who were outraged over a series of bronze statues that they said were a poor fit for the airport." The Los Angeles Daily News reported that: Galanter said the project represents the first time
9918-498: The project and return scores of evicted residents to their homes and add hundreds of units to the Venice area. The Venice Walk Streets are three pedestrian-only residential streets. The streets are Marco Place, Amoroso Place and Nowita Place, located west of Lincoln Boulevard and east of Shell Avenue. Los Angeles recognizes a larger North Venice Walk Streets Historic District . “The walk streets, narrower than regular streets, are too small for regulation street sweepers ," so
10032-740: The promenade that runs parallel to the beach, the Venice Beach Boardwalk , Muscle Beach , and the Venice Beach Recreation Center with handball courts, paddle tennis courts, a skate dancing plaza, and numerous beach volleyball courts. It also includes a bike trail and many businesses on Ocean Front Walk. The basketball courts in Venice are renowned across the country for their high level of streetball ; numerous professional basketball players developed their games or have been recruited on these courts. Venice Beach will host surfing and 3x3 basketball during
10146-474: The property owners, and Mayor Thomas Bradley did a news photo with local residents of the first shovel. This project was to include access by large boats from Marina Del Rey into the Venice Canals. However, a lawsuit by Summa Corporation , the Howard Hughes Company, and a man named Mr. Green stopped the project. This was due to the canal water flowing from Marina Del Rey to the Venice Canals in
10260-403: The rest of Los Angeles, however, Venice is known for traffic congestion. It lies 2 miles (3.2 km) away from the nearest freeway, and its unusually dense network of narrow streets was not planned for modern traffic. Venice Beach, which receives millions of visitors a year, has been labeled as "a cultural hub known for its eccentricities" as well as a "global tourist destination". It includes
10374-431: The sides, Loffel Block at 55 degrees through the canals. Rebuilding the foot bridges that go over the canals. The property owners in the canals paid approximately $ 6,600 over a 10 year-period for a 30 by 90 foot lot frontage, and $ 7,800 for a 40 by 90 foot lot frontage. Work began in March 1992, and was completed in 1993. The assessment could be paid in full, or paid over time with interest at approximately 5% interest.[31] As
10488-578: The sprawling Playa Vista development near Marina del Rey ." Galanter, however, won the final, 18,153 votes to 7,998. One of her passions, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported, sweeping Southern California with new political vigor, is limiting growth in the vast Los Angeles basin . In the fight against forests of new high-rise office towers, new oil-drilling rigs, new mini-malls, sewage in Santa Monica Bay , more smog over
10602-557: The state's Coastal Preservation Act against an approved project—a Santa Monica plan "first proposed as 1,480 luxury residential units [that in the end] wound up as 340 condos and 160 units for seniors." In 1973, working as the newsletter editor with the National Health Law Program, a federally funded legal-services program for the poor, she was part of a group endorsing a statewide campaign for national and state health insurance . Living in Santa Monica at
10716-509: The streets had a designated smaller-size street sweeper. According to the Venice Neighborhood Council, the area can be subdivided further into the following districts: Like much of the rest of coastal southern California , Venice has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate , with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Temperatures are moderate all year, and the neighborhood boasts over 300 sunshine days per year. As
10830-503: The time, Galanter was active in opposition to a 1976 plan to move two decrepit frame Carpenter Gothic houses from their Ocean Avenue addresses north of Wilshire Boulevard to a city-owned lot in Ocean Park , turning one into an upscale restaurant and the other into a historic museum . Both were built around the start of the 20th century, one of them by Roy Jones, son of Senator John P. Jones , founder of Santa Monica. The opposition
10944-747: Was $ 67,647, a high figure for Los Angeles. The percentage of households earning $ 125,000 was considered high for the city. The average household size of 1.9 people was low for both the city and the county. Renters occupied 68.8% of the housing stock and house- or apartment owners held 31.2%. Property values have been increasing lately due to the presence of technology companies such as Google Inc. (which in 2011 began leasing 100,000 square feet of space in Venice) and Snap Inc. (which formerly leased property on Market Street and Abbot Kinney). The percentages of never-married men (51.3%), never-married women (40.6%), divorced men (11.3%) and divorced women (15.9%) were among
11058-408: Was 6.3 million dollars, and included dredging the canals and removing the soil to a class 1 toxic site, removing crumbling sidewalks, replacing with new sidewalks, 5 feet deep in center, 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 feet on the sides, Loffel black at 55 degrees through the canals. Rebuilding the foot bridges that go over the canals. The City Engineers designed Atriplex, aka Salt Bush, as a natural hedge along
11172-451: Was a "diverse area" that included "racially mixed" Venice and Mar Vista , as well as predominantly white Westchester and mostly black Crenshaw . In the primary election of April 1987 against incumbent Pat Russell , Galanter "stunned Russell by capturing 29% of the primary vote to Russell's 42%." Battling for votes in the final election, the Russell camp made much of the fact that Tom Hayden , "a powerful and controversial 1960s figure"
11286-459: Was a bridge engineer. He was later credited with the street improvement project for Santa Monica Blvd. from the 405 Freeway to Beverly Hills. The plan was presented to the VCA and residents with support and optimism. This plan was similar to the 1960s plan, with straight vertical cement walls, but only five feet high. This plan was designed for human-powered boats and not deep bottom boats. No deeper dredging would be required. The plan became known as
11400-465: Was age 6. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and her master's degree in planning from Yale . She moved to Los Angeles in 1970 . On May 6, 1987, Galanter was "brutally assaulted" in her Venice home in the 2200 block of Louella Avenue by an intruder who left her in critical condition with stab wounds in her neck. The intruder entered through a screen window at
11514-666: Was approximately three to four times as large as today. The number of canals was reduced from thirteen to six. The canals were bounded by Abbot Kinney Blvd., Pacific Ave., Westminster Ave., and Venice Blvd. The seven canals were renamed as concrete roads by the City of Los Angeles as Main St. and Canal St. (formerly Coral Canal), Cabrillo Ave. (formerly Cabrillo Canal), San Juan Ave. (formerly Venus Canal), Windward Ave. (formerly Lion Canal), Altair St. (formerly Altair Canal), Market St. (formerly Aldebaren Canal) and Grand Boulevard (formerly Grand Canal) The traffic circle at Pacific and Windward Avenues
11628-659: Was built south of the Venice Canals, originally known as the New Amsterdam Canals by investors and architects, namely Howland, Sherman and Clark, land owners whom two canals were named after. These canals are roughly bounded by Eastern Court on the east, Court A on the south, Strongs Drive on the west, and Court E on the north. There are four east-west canals (Carroll Canal, Linnie Canal, Howland Canal, and Sherman Canal) and two north-south canals (Eastern Canal and Grand Canal). The lit canals with gondoliers and arched bridges drew widespread publicity and helped sell lots in
11742-440: Was clear that the Armorflex plan would not be approved by the property owners and the project would fail again. Mark Galanty assembled a committee of the VCA to locate a compromise design and material. Loffelstein, or Loffel Block, was identified by a VCA committee member Andy Shores as possibly meeting those goals. It allowed plants to grow inside the material, could be placed on a slope to allow birds and wildlife to climb out of
11856-428: Was convicted of embezzling thousands of dollars from the city government. By 1925, Venice's politics had become unmanageable because its roads, water and sewage systems badly needed repair and expansion to keep up with its growing population. When it was proposed that Venice consolidate with Los Angeles, the board of trustees voted to hold an election. Consolidation was approved at the election in November 1925, and Venice
11970-679: Was enough to kill the project, dubbed Heritage Square, which was eventually finished years later under tighter regulations. In 1979, she became the Southern California director of the California League of Conservation Voters . Galanter was appointed to the South Coast Regional Coastal Commission by Governor Jerry Brown in January 1977. She was elected chairman in 1980. Decisions on affordable housing , she said, were "probably
12084-475: Was installed on Eastern bank of Sherman Canal near the Dell Ave. Bridge. The Armorflex test site turned out to be a failure, with the plants not growing out of the block, and it looked awful aesthetically. The majority of the neighbor who would be assessed by the new design were now opposed to the Armorflex plan, and in a poll stated that they would rather have no plan than one that included Armorflex. A poll by
12198-677: Was merged with Los Angeles in 1926. Many streets were paved in 1929, following a three-year court battle led by canal residents. Afterward, the Department of Recreation and Parks intended to close three amusement piers, but had to wait until the first of the tidelands leases expired in 1946. In 1929, oil was discovered south of Washington Street on the Venice Peninsula, now known as the Marina Peninsula neighborhood of Los Angeles. Within two years, 450 oil wells covered
12312-552: Was no opposition to the Venice Canal Improvement project. Mark Galanty spoke on behalf of the Venice Canals Association. There were over 48 supporters in favor of the project, and no one spoke against it. Due to the signal of support from the staff and Coastal Commissioners, most of those in favor of the project passed on speaking. Councilwoman Galanter, and staff member Jim Bichart, as well as City Engineers Luis Ganajas, environmental engineer Russ Ruffing worked on
12426-427: Was safer for children falling in, was lower-cost than the original vertical wall plan, was closer to the original 1906 historic banks, and was approved by Coastal Commission and the many city agencies involved. The winner was the Loffel Block, and it now had the majority support needed for the assessment district to be approved. Based on this Letter, Councilwoman Galanter dropped the Armorflex plan and only brought forward
12540-420: Was shortened to The Venice Canals Association in 1983. The VCA obtained signatures of 77% of the property owners to form an assessment district and have the Venice Canals restored or rehabilitated. The VCA submitted to the city, and as a result the city engineers began to design a new canal improvement plan to bring back to the community. This plan was designed by Los Angeles City Engineer Luis Ganajas. Luis Ganajas
12654-417: Was sponsored by the Venice Canals Association (VCA) in 1977 during Pat Russel's term as City Councilperson. The first attempted design was done by City of Los Angeles Engineer Luis Ganajas. The plan still faced opposition. Those opposing any improvements did not want to see the sidewalks returned to public use, did not want to pay for the assessment, and used the fish and wildlife as a red herring. Some mentioned
12768-552: Was supporting Galanter and that she also had the support of the Venice Town Council, a civic group "composed mostly of left-wing activists." It was said that Galanter was attempting a "liberal balancing act." She knew radical and anti-war activist Tom Hayden in college and endorsed him when he ran for the California Assembly in 1982. Some of her opponents suggested she was a pawn of left-wingers ,
12882-509: Was termed "The Compromise Plan". Eventually, letters of support for the Loffel plan were presented to the city from the Sierra Club, Heal the Bay, the local state senator and state assemblyman, both U.S. senators, and the local county supervisor. Based on the support of the Loffel Block design over the Armorflex design, Councilwoman Galanter had Public Works drop the Armorflex plan and focused on
12996-399: Was to stop the city engineers from pursuing the vertical wall plan. Galanter asked the state agency California Coastal Conservancy to review the options for a canal improvement project. The Coastal Conservancy made several plans suggestions, including one using Armorflex. Armorflex was a cement material connected by cables and had holes allowing for plant growth and a gentle slope. A test site
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