Editorial: It’s past time for city officials to let Venice Dell homeless housing move ahead

In Los Angeles, a city desperate for homeless housing, one project that will fill some of that need has been unconscionably delayed for years. On Wednesday, the California Coastal Commission will take up the Venice Dell Community project, which will provide 117 units, including 68 for homeless supportive housing and the remainder for low-income affordable housing, on a city-owned 2.65-acre parking lot in Venice not far from the beach. The developers also were set back last year when the Coastal Commission put on hold its decision on whether to grant the project its necessary coastal development permit after city officials couldn’t decide whether they would oversee the operation of the parking structure on the site. Uncertainty over such a matter should not have delayed the Coastal Commission’s decision last year and should not be used as an excuse by city officials to convince the commission to avoid approval this week. And if city officials argue against awarding the permit to the project, the commission should see that move for what it is — a ploy to stop a much-needed housing project on the west side of the city, where there is little permanent housing for homeless people.