Four to five trees on south side of Venice Blvd just west of Lincoln Blvd have been topped and trimmed. Jim Murez, better known as the Venice Blvd tree person, says it is illegal and the company should be fined. Jim claims they were trimmed so that the billboard would not have a compromised view. Years ago Murez worked to get trees on Venice Blvd and then made sure they were watered. He had a team help plant them.

By Jim Murez
The billboard company has again sawed the last several years growth of tree tops off a bunch of the trees on Venice Blvd. I’m sure there was no permit pulled. The work spans several properties all on the south side of the
street.

They did it when Bill Rosendahl was in office and were told by the city attorney this had to stop.

Is this something the council office will get involved in?

In my opinion the City needs to file legal charges and fine them to the maximum
amount allowed for each tree. They have already been warned at least twice
that I’m aware of on this one location.

LA City Street Trees is copied on this message as well.

Maybe we should start with a press conference and invite KCRW, The LA Times and
KTLA? I think I could get several of the community leaders that all help
plant them 20 years ago to let their voices be heard!

This billboard company needs to be stopped! This is our community and they
do not have the right to break the laws to serve their personal profits.

By Sandra Starr, publisher of Silver Strand News, http://mdrsilverstrandnews.wordpress.com/

(Rendering courtesy of TCA Architects and Silver Strand News)
Neptune Marina Apartments corner of Via Marina and Marquesas Way. The project extends down Via Marina to site of the proposed Marriott hotels.

(Layout courtesy of TCA Architects and Silver Stand News.)
Layout of apartment complex.

The architects originally proposed a complex in the “Art Deco” style (1920s-30s) but now say that it will be in the “mid-Century Modern” style, i.e. 1950s-60s, because that is the period when Marina del Rey was built. The only part of the design that appears to refer to that style is the “V” shape at the corner shown above. The rest of the project is standard contemporary commercial. The structures will block views of the harbor from Via Marina, an officially designated scenic drive, with the exception of the required sliver “view corridor” at the southern end of the parcel. It will also block views of the harbor from Via Marina on Parcel FF originally slated to be an open space/ public park. TCA is also the architect of the AMLI apartment complex just to the north of the Neptune on Via Marina which will be designed in the manner of a “boat house.” When combined with the nearby Shores complex executed in the “Giant Cruise Ship” it looks like Via Marina is headed towards becoming an architectural theme park. Given that Los Angeles is known for being home to more than a dozen major architects who have made major contributions to the field, the Los Angeles County Board of “Visionaries” seem bent on promoting an ersatz and decidedly unoriginal approach to new construction in the Marina.

By Jim Murez
For the past several years the trees that surround the 340 Main St, the
Gehry Binoculars building, have been getting strangled by steel guard rails
that were installed when the trees were mere saplings. The purpose of the
rails was to provide support and protection to the trees when they were
young (nearly 20 years ago).

Last year members of the community and the Venice Neighborhood Council meet
with Google who is the current tenant of the property. One of the items
discussed was the fact that the City Street Trees that surround the site had
been neglected for far too long. The steel frames were cutting into the
trees and doing damage to the trunks. As a result staff members of Google
committed to see what they could do to get the problem resolved.

Tonight while I was walking past these trees on Mail Street, I observed the
steel frames that have been strangling the trees like a girdle does to a
woman had been removed. The trees can now start their recovery process! .

Hooray, what a great way to start the new year!

I hope the VNC sends a message to Google and their staff for being
responsible neighbors and showing they care for our community. And, I want
to personally say I appreciate the follow through – thanks!