A summary of selected City Hall actions last week that affect the Westside.
CITY COUNCIL
* VENICE SENIOR CITIZENS HOUSING--Authorized the Housing Department to issue a $1.8-million loan to the Jewish Federation Council to help develop a 64-unit, low-income housing project for senior citizens in Venice that has been in the planning stages for 16 years. In addition to providing for a land purchase, the loan will improve the council’s chances for a loan from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Councilwoman Ruth Galanter, whose district includes Venice, said there have been several reasons the project has been stalled, including design changes, zoning changes, and HUD’s reluctance to pay for expensive oceanfront properties. Construction of the housing complex, at 151-187 Ocean Front Walk, could begin as early as September, 1996, and be completed in about 12 months.
* HOLLYWOOD HOUSING--Authorized the Housing Department to issue a $476,000 loan to Real Property Investments Ltd. for the development of a 13-unit housing project at 1540 Bronson Avenue in Hollywood. The apartments will be built on the site of a former 16-unit apartment building that was severely damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Construction of the project is set to begin this summer, with completion scheduled by early 1996.
* SUMMER SWIM--Approved a $28,156 grant for the Amateur Athletic Foundation to operate the 1995 Summer Swim Program, which is designed to teach low-income youths how to swim. The money will be used to provide free lessons for more than 500 youngsters at the city’s 51 pools. The program, now in its 10th year, also will sponsor teams at the Summer Swim festival, which concludes the summer-long program. Also, the Department of Recreation and Parks will be hosting Fun Days, one free day of swimming and instruction at pools throughout the city. The following is a list of the swimming pools with upcoming free swim days: Westchester on Aug. 1; Harbor, Rustic Canyon, Stoner and Van Ness on Aug. 2; West Wilshire on Aug. 4; Green Meadows on Aug. 7, and Mar Vista and Westwood on Aug. 8.
