By Barbara Eisenberg
The 26 year struggle to protect the unique architecture, history, magnificent grounds, and tenant occupancy of Lincoln Place Garden Apartments, in Venice, has finally reached a partial victory for the tenants who have survived during a magnificent, painful battle to the finish, for many. Those who did not live to see this day are sorely missed and their efforts are so greatly appreciated that words alone would not cover their efforts and incredible dedication to the cause.
Out of more than 400 households who began the battle, 53 families have begun to take residence in their renovated apartments in the ‘designated area.’ This consists of four buildings, out of the original 52 which are located east behind the Ross Dress For Less store parking lot on Lincoln Boulevard and California Avenue in Venice.
The architecture has been saved by getting the buildings accepted as eligible for State Historical Status. Unfortunately that does not cover the originally planted New Zealand and California Pepper trees, Jacarandas, the hundreds of evergreens or the gorgeous plantings of rose bushes, bulbs, etc. by tenants over the past 61 years.
In addition to ‘things which are to be removed’ there is a very large colony of cats due to a hoarding situation. The present owner has included in the new leases that all cats must be indoors only and on leashes if outside.
The outside ‘feral’ colony is scheduled for trapping and removal. Their fates will unknown, at this time.
Wonderful volunteers from Stray Cat Alliance have been working with the tenants to get all the cats spayed or neutered, as is their policy, which also includes returning the cats to their former location. However, with the owner’s threat of removal of the entire colony to parts unknown, the prospect of returning the cats to Lincoln Place is not all that practical.
All of these cats can be handled and have been given proper inoculations as well as being spayed or neutered. Most of the adult cats are rather young at around one year, give or take a few months.
Anyone seeking a new cat or kitten is more than welcome to contact any of the people listed below to follow through to give homes to these very needy lovelies.
If you cannot take in a cat or two, or three, perhaps a monetary donation is part of what you can do to help defray the costs of the spay/neuter program.
If you can help, contact Christi Metropole (Director) at www.straycatalliance.org.
