1904 Anon., 2005b

Anon. Ocean Park and Venice Timeline (1890-1909), Web Document, 2005b, 1904

     Kinney and his three partners meet in January to dissolve their Ocean Park Development Company partnership. Kinney won the coin toss and chose to own the undeveloped marshy property.

      "Voters residing in the unincorporated section of the Ocean Park Development land, south of Marine Avenue, voted to establish the city of Ocean Park on February 12th.

     "Henry Huntington and Arthur Parson's Pacific Amusement Company announce plans to develop Naples, a canaled town near Long Beach.

      "Strong and Dickerson acquired an 1800 foot long tract of beach-front land south of Kinney's tract and began selling lots in their South Ocean Park development.

      "Kinney sent Frank Dunham, his building superintendent, to the east coast to visit various seaside resorts. He travelled to Boston where he hired one of Olmstead's apprentices as Venice's landscape architect and town planner. Dunham returned to Venice with preliminary plans in June.

      "Kinney signed contracts to dig the Venice's half mile long, 70 foot wide Grand Canal and build a 900 foot long, 30 foot wide pleasure pier at Windward Avenue. Work on the canal began in July and in September on the pier.

      "Final plans for Kinney's resort arrived in July and he hired architects Marsh and Russell to design its principal buildings. All buildings were be built in "Venetian Renaissance" style, with buildings featuring enclosed colonnaded walkways.

      "The Los Angeles Pacific completed its Short Line electric trolley line to Venice in September.

      "Contracts for Kinney's Ship Cafe and Auditorium, located on the pier, plus four business structures on Windward Avenue were awarded in the fall.

      "Kinney, unsatisfied with progress on the canals, in November hired the Hall Construction Company to use a steam dredge to complete Kinney's two miles of waterways.

      "Residential lots were offered for sale on November 12th.

      "The St. Mark's Hotel on Windward broke ground on December 5th."

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 Kelyn Roberts 2017