Venice Neighborhood Council (VNC) covered many things Tuesday including hearing the Firestone-Walker brewery project but the crowd came predominately to hear the multi-use 1414 Main Street project. The surprise for the evening was the mention by Councilman Mike Bonin that he would like to put an ice rink at the beach.

Councilman Mike Bonin stopped by and discussed many things such as SB1818 being a state requirement originating to increase affordable housing but has resulted in a decrease of affordable housing. Town hall Saturday covers SB1818.

He said two sets of bike corrals had been placed on Abbot Kinney, a crosswalk was installed at Rose and one at Boccacio and Abbot Kinney, stencils were installed on OFW prohibiting bikes , poetry walls were restored and bathrooms cleaned. He mentioned that PLUM had turned down 522 Venice Blvd thereby ratifying what stakeholders wanted.

Bonin liked the idea of an ice rink at the beach. He said that if we accentuate the good, the bad will be squeezed out. He said rink would be operational between Thanksgiving and Easter. Revenue would stay with the Recreation and Parks and be used to clean the area and the restrooms.

Firestone-Walker Brew Pup breezed thru without opposition. The board count was almost unanimous.

Architect Jason Teague and Brian Silveira of the 1414 Main Street project gave a 15-minute power point presentation. The opposition was given 15 minutes for a presentation. Richard Garvey and another man gave the presentation. The whole program was well managed and informative from both sides and from the individual speakers. Both sides had the same color display cards. That was confusing.

The 1414 Main Street project which had not been passed by the Land Use and Planning Committee was almost unanimously voted down by the board.