County / IN BRIEF : LOS ANGELES : Housing Project for Senior Citizens OKd

The Los Angeles City Council gave its blessing Wednesday to a proposed senior citizens housing project along the Venice boardwalk that has been the focus of debate for years.

The unanimous council vote ended a 14-year debate raging in the seaside community over how to develop the project’s four lots in the 100 block of Ocean Front Walk.

“Fourteen years is long enough,” said Councilwoman Ruth Galanter, who represents Venice. “It’s time to get this housing built.”

Thomas Safran, a developer of low-income housing, will build a 25,000-square-foot, 64-unit apartment building adjacent to an existing senior citizens center. The council approved various permits and variances for the project, but Safran still needs approval of rezoning from commercial to residential use.