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(2 votes) 11:19 am
June 20, 2007
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It looks like Producer Joel Silver has signed a contract to enter escrow and is waiting for the appropriate official at the USPS to countersign for the historic (1939) Venice Post Office at 1601 Main Street. No word on the sale price, but bids were expected to be higher than 7.5 million. Postal service will move to 313 Grand on Saturday, June 16th.
Silver told the Venice Neighborhood Council that if he were able to purchase the building he would keep the facade and artist Edward Biberman’s “Story of Venice” mural, but convert it to offices for his production company and add a screening room.
From The Venice Stakeholders Association:
The Venice Stakeholders Association (VSA) has just been informed by producer Joel Silver that he has been chosen by the United State Postal Service as the finalist to purchase the historic Venice Main Post Office.
In a conversation with VSA president Mark Ryavec, Mr. Silver re-affirmed his commitment to the VSA and other Venice organizations to negotiate a binding covenant that would be attached to the property’s deed that will bind Silver and all successors to preserve the building and the “Story of Venice” mural in its historic condition and guaranteeing public access to the building’s foyer and the mural.
“While we are disappointed that the Postal Service has deserted this wonderful building,” VSA president Mark Ryavec said, “we are encouraged by Joel’s demonstrated commitment to historic preservation and his offer to conclude a substantive covenant with the Los Angeles Conservancy and the VSA.”
In support of that goal, the VSA’s attorney has prepared a draft covenant, which has been forwarded to Mr. Silver and the Conservancy for consideration.
4:38 pm
May 31, 2011
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I'm a newcomer here, but this sounds like a good solution.
7:43 am
February 20, 2010
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The land is worth 12MIL and the building easily is worth 3MIL.
5:52 pm
February 24, 2010
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Alert to Save Public Access to the Venice Main Post Office's Foyer and Historic Mural
Due to the uninformed intervention of the City's Office of Historic Resources, the Venice community is facing the prospect of being unable to view the oldest and best known mural in Venice, Edward Biberman's "The Story of Venice," in the Post Office lobby. This mural has been a part of the lives of generations of Venetians, dating back to 1941.The City is apparently willing to sign on to the USPS' historic covenant without any access provision what-so-ever. This means that Mr. Joel Silver, or a future owner of the building, could bar access on a whim.
However, in last year's "Final Decision" on the fate of the Venice Post Office, USPS Vice President David Williams said the following:
"The Postal Service will initiate the Section 106 consultation process when it develops plans for the reuse or disposal of the property, and the City of Venice will be a consulting party. The Postal Service will include measures to ensure the mural will remain available for public viewing in any plan for reuse or disposal of the Post Office property."
Now the City is willing to sign away this right to access. Please send an email to the following officials to delay this agreement until access for the public is included.
Councilman Bill Rosendahl <Bill.Rosendahl@lacity.org>Mayor's Representative for West Los Angeles <joseph.hari@lacity.org>
Office of Historic Resources, City of Los Angeles <ken.bernstein@lacity.org>Joel Silver c/o <Carmel.Musgrove@wbconsultant.com>Thanks in advance,Mark Ryavec
Venice Stakeholders Association(My thanks to Jim Smith for drafting this note.)
