The proposed Venice Beach zip line is one step away from becoming a reality after the Los Angeles Board of Public Works unanimously denied an appeal of the project Friday.
The city of Los Angeles now needs a permit from the California Coastal Commission to enable a three month trial run for the zip line.
The launch date won’t be determined until the city receives a permit, but Councilman Bill Rosendahl wants the zip line up and running as soon as possible. Rosendahl was not present at Friday's City Hall hearing, but he fully supports the project.
The board's decision was based largely on economic factors. Jerilyn Mendoza, Vice President of the Board of Public Works, cited pecuniary struggles as her reason for denying the appeal.
"We are in an unprecedented budget crisis," she said. "We are desperate."
The Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks anticipates revenue of $150,000 to 300,000 from the trial run. Recreation and Parks Assistant General Manager Kevin Regan said the attraction will generate $950,000 per year.
Two-thirds of that revenue will go back to the beach. Recreation and Parks officials plan on using the funds to clean the beach and refurbish the bathrooms.
Lead appellant Gail Rodgers is a 40-year resident of Venice Beach. She and five others contested the project at the City Hall appeal.
"Parks don’t exist to generate revenue," Rodgers said.
The finished product will be two steel towers connected by a metal cable. After buying a $20 ticket, harnessed customers will slide along the 700-foot cable for about 30 seconds.
To eliminate lines, the city will provide a scheduled time for customers to return after purchasing their tickets.
Rodgers said the zip line will jeopardize the character of the community, congest an already crowded Venice Beach and tarnish the coastal view.
Jim Dodey of the Bureau of Engineering said the structures will be relatively small. He indicated that the view in the area is already compromised by palm trees.
Rodgers objected that notion.
"I always thought the palm trees were our coastal view," she said.
The structures will be created by GreenHeart Conservative. The company also designed the zip line over Freemont Street in Las Vegas.
The city plans to coordinate special nighttime events, as well free acrobatic classes for children. The sides of the structures will be decorated with the work of local artists.
