Approval Expected for 150 New Homes on Ventura’s West Side

VENTURA — The largest housing development in west Ventura in almost a decade, touted as a catalyst for revitalization of the run-down area, is expected to be approved Monday by the City Council.

The 150-home Sycamore Village project is planned for a 19-acre lemon orchard at North Ventura Avenue and Shoshone Street, one of the last remaining large tracts of land on the west side.

Together with an adjacent seven-acre site where more homes would be built later, Sycamore Village’s Los Angeles County developers believe the project will help revive the aging industrial neighborhood. City officials agree.

“I think it is true that it is a positive investment in the community and we hope it will be a spinoff for other private investment in the area,” said senior planner Mark Stephens.

Canoga Park-based Bulmer Development describes the tract of 106 single-family homes and 42 condominiums as a pedestrian-friendly community linked by walking and bicycle trails and nestled against the banks of the Ventura River. In addition, the project will incorporate a convenience store and 53,000-square-foot storage facility. Construction could begin by year’s end.

In addition, the developer has offered to build a library and community center on the parcel. Instead though, the company will likely set aside more than $500,000 to pay for a more centrally located west-side branch in response to community concerns.

Stephens doesn’t expect much, if any, opposition at Monday’s public hearing.

Still, there is some trepidation about a housing development in the midst of the largely industrial neighborhood.

“That was the only virgin land left within the city limits zoned for industrial and it’s gone now,” said Tony Antinarelli, a member of the Westside Community Council’s executive board. “It will enhance the appearance of the Avenue. I just hope when the development goes in, the industrial businesses still have the right to be there and conduct their business.”

Steve Perlman, the Ventura-based land use consultant representing the developer, doesn’t anticipate any conflicts.

“This project is based on the culmination of input by a great number of groups,” he said. “You’ve got new projects downtown, new projects on the Avenue and in between you can only think these projects will add additional investment.”

Councilman Jim Monahan, who was born in the area, thinks the development is indicative of a gradual evolution of the long-neglected area.

“It will be good for the Avenue in the long run,” he said. “I don’t think it will just bring more traffic, it will bring quality housing stock to the Avenue.”