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# Rosendahl doesn’t feel bus barn swap so rad
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/rosendahl-doesnt-feel-bus-barn-swap-so-rad/
- Published: 2005-10-19T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T08:00:37.000Z
- Author: Ryan Hyatt
- Tags: Community, Venice, #archive-import

*Proposed West L.A. barn to handle 150 ‘green’ buses*

VENICE BUS BARN — A private developer wants to turn the Venice Metro bus facility into a gated residential community, but elected officials insist several steps must be taken before the project can move forward.

In September, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s board of directors approved an agreement with RAD Jefferson, LLC, on plans to exchange MTA’s bus yard property at 100 Sunset Ave. and Main Street in Venice for construction of a new transportation center on Jefferson Boulevard in West Los Angeles.

Santa Monica Mayor Pam O’Connor, who sits on the MTA’s board of directors, said that since the MTA approved the land swap agreement, any development that is to occur on the Sunset property would be handled through the city of Los Angeles’ planning department.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles 11th District Councilman Bill Rosen-dahl said he will not support the project, which is to be built within his jurisdiction, unless RAD makes a better effort to build consensus among residents, namely through the Grass Roots Venice Neighborhood Council (GRVNC), which has newly-elected board members and hopes to become a revitalized community group during Rosen-dahl’s term.

“I’m holding my position until people in the community are able to vent and have an opportunity to weigh in,” Rosendahl said. “Right now, the developer has a lot more homework to do.”

In a letter sent to the Los Angeles city planning department, Rosendahl indicated he has heard an outcry from constituents who oppose the RAD development.

Rosendahl has issues with exemptions the developer seeks for height, density and design. Rosendahl said he would only be supportive of such exemptions if the project provided a clear and strong community benefit.

“So far, this project, as currently proposed, fails to meet that test,” Rosendahl wrote in his letter.

Also, Rosendahl is disturbed with a gate the developer intends to place around the housing project.

“Such an insular, unfriendly design is the antithesis of the spirit of Venice,” Rosendahl wrote in his letter.

Calls to the developer were not returned.

Under the exchange agreement, MTA will swap its 3.13 acre facility, located in Venice, for a 4.66 acre site, currently vacant, located on Jefferson Boulevard between Rodeo Drive and National Boulevard in West Los Angeles.

The Venice bus division accommodates 77 buses and cannot handle clean-air natural gas (CNG) fueling. Before the swap occurs, RAD Jefferson is to build MTA’s new facility, which will include CNG fueling, according to the agreement. The new West L.A. facility will handle 150 buses — all of which will operate on CNG — according to John Catoe, MTA deputy CEO.

The Venice Sunset property is valued at $12.9 million, and the agreement calls for MTA to kick in $8 million to make up the difference in the cost of the new transportation center, according to a press release.

Catoe said the Venice property has been in use by transit agencies for more than 100 years. However, it’s inefficient, costing $5 million a year in wasted drive time — the distance in miles a transit bus must travel before entering a revenue-generating area.

Rosendahl suggests RAD should continue to meet with the GRNVC in order to come up with a proposal to better meet community concerns. RAD is scheduled to make a presentation regarding its proposed project to the GRNVC’s land use and plan-ning committee, set to meet from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the Westminster elementary school auditorium. Public comment is to begin at 7 p.m.

A public hearing is also set to be held at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27, at Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N. Spring St., 10th floor.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 19, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/101905.pdf?ref=smdp.com)