Local Community Organization and National Developer Come Together to Provide Affordable Housing in Venice/Marina del Rey Project sets precedent and helps low-income people get needed housing; City Council members come out in support Venice, CA—Local West LA community organization Parents Organized for Westside Renewal (POWER) and the nation’s largest multi-family housing developer Trammell Crow Residential (TCR) are teaming up to provide affordable housing as part of a new, high-profile development in Venice/Marina del Rey. The two parties are pleased to announce an official agreement to accept the recent decision of the Los Angeles City Council to have 24 units of very low-income apartments included in TCR’s proposed 298-unit market rate development in the Venice/Marina del Rey area of the city of Los Angeles, California. “Working together with Trammell Crow we were able to make a breakthrough in our ongoing efforts to improve the community and build affordable housing,” said Jataun Valentine, a Venice resident and member of POWER, an organization comprised of local community members that fights for affordable housing, better schools and safer communities in low-income areas of West LA. “It’s truly a great day for the community of Venice. Over the last 10 years, rents in Venice have skyrocketed over 225%, forcing many families to move who have lived here for years. This victory sets an important precedent for future development in our community.” “At Trammell Crow Residential we pride ourselves on working with local community constituents to address the issues they raise and earn their support. It was the right decision to work with POWER and community members to include affordable housing under the Mello Act,” said Michael Genthe, Managing Director of TCR Southern California. “Venice and the Marina del Rey area has a rich history of economic and ethnic diversity and we feel good about being able to contribute to it in a positive way.” The partnership between POWER and TCR and the City Council’s decision were made possible by a state law, called the Mello Act. The law states that all new housing developments (condos or rental apartments) in the State’s coastal zone (land within a mile of the coastline) must include, if feasible, on-site affordable housing for low-income people (approx. $750/month for a 2-3 bedroom) or very low-income people ($550/month). With more developments currently proposed for the Venice costal zone, the parties believe the agreement will set a strong precedent for responsible development, resulting in the production of 75-150 units of affordable housing in Venice/Marina del Rey during the next 3-4 years. POWER’s efforts were supported by attorneys from Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and Western Center on Law and Poverty, who in 2001 won a settlement that improved City enforcement of the Mello Act. Councilmember’s Cindy Miscikowski (Venice area) and Ed Reyes (Glassell Park/Mt. Washington) played key roles in helping the community and TCR come to the negotiating table and ensuring compliance with the Mello Act. “Compliance with the Mello Act’s affordable housing obligations is important for the City and to me personally, said District 11 Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski. ”I’m pleased that TCR’s project in Venice will include 24 on-site affordable apartments. I applaud TCR, the city’s Housing Department, Planning Department, community members from POWER and affordable housing advocates for their work in showing that affordable housing can and should be included in every new development.” ”This project clearly demonstrates that the idea of creating mixed-income housing is very feasible in any neighborhood, if it is done in partnership with community, and responsible developers,” said District 1 Councilmember Ed Reyes, who is Chair of the Council committee responsible for directing City land-use policies -- Planning Land Use and Management (PLUM). “I commend all parties for making this project a model of what can be accomplished”. back to Press Releases