Will Proposed New Ferris Wheel Light Up The Venice Beach Night Sky?

VENICE BEACH (CBS) — Venice Beach is known for many things. Muscle Beach, quirky street performers, diversity, cheap t-shirts.The gourmet sausages at Jody Maroni's? Hello!

But it soon may be known for something else. A gigantic new Ferris wheel.

Reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9, Mike Dinow says a company named Great City Attractions is proposing a $1.5 million Ferris wheel at the end of Windward Avenue.

"There is going to be a big wheel there," says Ira Koslow, member of the Venice Neighborhood Council.

Residents, of course, are perhaps worried about what another attraction to the already-crowded area will mean for parking, restrooms, elbow room?

The proposed Ferris wheel, reports Dinow, would be 200 feet tall. Riders will sit in see-through glass pods. The wheel would be dubbed, "The Great Observation Wheel."

Some can already see the benefit of the new attraction. Mark Ryavec, of the Venice Stakeholders Association believes, "It will be attractive for residents and tourists alike. And I think the views will be stunning up there."

If the wheel is even built, that is. Some residents are not in favor.

Dinow also spoke to David Busch, a Venice Beach community activist. "Venice Beach is for art... and people coming down from all classes of society. It's not for Disneyland. That's in Anaheim."

Resident Christine Morrison sees if differently. She says the wheel might change the vibe of the community but that might not necessarily be a bad thing. "The lights at night would bring more people here when most people are usually going home."