High-Tech Office Space For 601 Ocean Front Walk? - yovenice
A row of vendors line the beach side of the parking lot at 601 Ocean Front Walk at Sunset Ave. One of these vendors, Frank, has been selling souvenirs and accessories since 2002. “It’s not going to be good if they build something here,” he says of the parking lot where he and other vendors line up along the boardwalk. The current plan for the parking lot at 601 Ocean Front Walk is a 28,000 square foot high-tech office space. Long-term, part-time Venice resident John Stein worries that this kind of development will set a precedent along Ocean Front Walk. “You’re going to have office development up and down the boardwalk and the whole boardwalk’s going to be transformed,” Stein says. The City needs this safety valve for the whole city to come here and enjoy the beach. While the property has been a parking lot for as long as many can remember, back in the 80’s approval was given to build a food court. Twenty-year Venice resident and architect for the proposed development Glen Irani says there is currently an active permit for a similarly scaled building on this site with a restaurant and retail use. “It’s an economically viable option, but certainly not the highest and best use nor the most neighborhood friendly use. Source: www.yovenice.com
