By Daily Press staff
Community groups, city officials, business organizations and residents will team up on Nov. 15 to plot the future of Venice’s Lincoln Boulevard area.
During a planning workshop dubbed, “Envision Venice,” participants will seek to create long-term planning for development, transportation, multiple use projects, street-scaping and other urban issues.
“We see this meeting as a first step in bringing the people of Venice into long-term planning for Lincoln Boulevard in a way that will enhance the unique cultural and artistic qualities of our community,” said Gwynne Pugh, an architect and the vice chairman of the program-planning committee for the Venice Community Coalition. “This effort is critical because Lincoln is a major traffic arterial and a center of commerce and activity in Venice.”
The goal of the workshop is to elicit and crystallize “design values” — residents’ feelings and ideas about how Lincoln Boulevard should look and function as a part of their community. Following the workshop, VCC will issue a final report summarizing recommendations and issues as a result of the workshop.
Pugh said that VCC expects the workshop and report to catalyze the Los Angeles City Planning Department to begin preparation of a “Community Design Overlay,” a planning tool used by the department, for Lincoln Boulevard. The overlay would ensure that development embodies the community’s values, preserves desirable qualities, and improves the physical environment.
The workshop is free to the public and will be facilitated by Doug Kruschke, President of InSynergy. Local architects and community planners will lead small-group workshops during the day’s activities from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the United Methodist Church of Venice at 1020 Victoria St. A light lunch will be served. For more information go to www.envisionvenice.org. To make reservations, call (310) 285-8001.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 12, 2003. Read the original PDF.