Venice Historic Black Church Recommended For Monument Status

VENICE, CA — A historic Black church in Venice's Oakwood neighborhood could be deemed a historic monument.

The First Baptist Church of Venice has been at the center of a controversial development and real estate project. And on Thursday the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission approved recommending the site, including the church edifice and all adjacent properties, have the historic designation. Next, it goes on to the Los Angeles City Council to finalize the decision.

Community organizers call this a major win for Black and brown communities. It's also considered a major step to preserving Venice's history.

"It's extremely rare that LA City Council doesn’t approve what the commissions approve," Mike Bravo, a candidate for Venice Neighborhood Council and community activist, told Patch.

Naomi Nightingale, a professor and Venice resident, has pushed for this historic distinction for years.

"Black people were prevented from living or buying homes in the areas outside of the restrictive covenant redlined one-mile area, and I want to emphasize that this Oakwood was this one-mile area within this three-mile section of West Venice. People were able to thrive within this community," Nightingale said. "Despite having to deal with discrimination and racism families and other working-class African Americans built a community, homes, businesses, organizations and a place of worship."

The Oakwood Venice community is the oldest intention Black community on the West Coast. The First Baptist Church of Venice at 685 Westminster Avenue is the oldest Black church in Venice.

In 1905, Arthur Reese and his cousin, Irving Tabor, settled in Venice after leaving Louisiana to escape racism, discrimination and to seek employment opportunities. Reese became an artistic designer for Abbot Kinney’s events and the amusement park. Tabor became Kinney’s chauffeur.

At the time, Black people were prevented from living or buying homes in areas outside the restricted, redlined, one-mile area. It was in this area where Reese, Tabor and other working-class Black families organized businesses, homes and created a place of worship.

Initially, LA Councilman Mike Bonin did not support the church's first nomination to the Historic-Cultural Monument List, but became a recent champion of preserving the church, noting the importance of protecting a historic Black church in a neighborhood that has seen "tremendous gentrification and displacement." In February, Bonin and the council added a Black Lives Matter mural on the ground outside the church.

"This morning you're going to hear what I anticipate is going to be overwhelming testimony from my constituents on the historic and the cultural importance of the First Baptist Church, both as a building and as an institution in the Black community in Venice," Bonin told the commission, which had voted to decline a Historic-Cultural Monument designation for the church on Dec. 6, 2018.

The church property was fraudulently sold by Bishop Horace Allen in January 2017, the last month the church was open to the public. Allen sold it to media mogul Jay Penske of Penske Media Corporation, which publishes "Variety" and "Rolling Stone." He is the son of automotive billionaire Roger Penske, and his wife, former supermodel Elaine Irwin. They also own a championship race car team.

Many community members opposed the move. The church has become the site of recent protests and community members have continued to push for historic recognition following the killing of George Floyd and other violent attacks on Black lives.

"I got it wrong last time, and the city of Los Angeles got it wrong last time," Bonin told commissioners Thursday.

Activists from SaveVenice thanked Bonin for his commitment to this effort.

"Even though this is a huge victory we do not own the property," organizers said. "There is still a road ahead to reclaim it from gentrifiers and restore it back into the community’s hands. We thank everyone who has ever supported us and also those who will be joining us to finish the rest of the mission to restore and amplify tangible Black and Indigenous History and Equity in Venice California."

- City News Service and Patch Editor Nicole Charky contributed to this report.

SEE MORE:

• Beastie Boy Mike D Lands Architectural Gem In Venice
• Suspect In Scooter Death Arrested On Suspicion Of DUI
• 8 CA Cities Among Best Places To Live In U.S., Report Says