City Continues Push for Veterans Home

The City Council unanimously confirmed a decision this week that could smooth the way for Southern California’s fourth veterans home to be built in Ventura County.

The plan, which the council first approved in 1997, would allow developer Wittenberg-Livingston to build 439 homes if the state allows the veterans home to be built on land donated by the developer.

Mayor Sandy Smith said he hoped the confirmation might show the state how serious Ventura is about getting the home, and a warning to the developer that if the facility is never built, the city won’t allow the new residences.

“We are telling them we don’t want to lose this deal,” he said. “If it’s a benefit to the state to show them that the piece of land is tucked away, then we want to go ahead and do that.”

The home is expected to be built on a 22-acre tract near Telephone Road and Saticoy Avenue to be donated by the developer.

Money for the home is not likely to come until 2005 because the state’s Department of Veterans Affairs says it must wait until the newest veterans home in Lancaster is fully occupied.