Movietown Plaza currently. (Photo by Christine Detz)Here are illustrations by architectural firm MVE & Partners of Irvine of the new development proposed for West Hollywood’s Movietown Plaza that will be reviewed Thursday by a subcommittee of the city’s Planning Commission. The development, at 7300-7328 Santa Monica Blvd. at Poinsettia, would include 294 apartments rented at market rate and 76 apartments for seniors plus 32,000 square feet of retail space, including a grocery store that would replace the recently closed Trader Joe’s. Avalon Bay Communities, the developer, hopes to begin construction early next year. The meeting, at 5:30 p.m., will be in Room 5 of the Plummer Park Community Center at 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. at Martel. Views of the proposed new project are on the following pages.
I live block away. It’s gross. the sky is gone, shadows replace it. It’s too big and too boxy. There is no plaza to invite people. There is no great space. It’s shameful when you think what might have been if creative, community minded people had been at the helm. They have sold our city to the developers and the public have NO say in any of it. My days are numbered here. Gridlock will be a way of life- worse than now.
Marla
10 years ago
I agree with Larry. It is like the great wall of China being built down Santa Monica Bl. If they are going build up to the property line, they might as well add the pillars. I always thought that West Hollywood was a creative city, i must have missed something. The Movietown project is nothing more than another ugly generic box, totally lacking in every way. As for the city developing a traffic plan? What a joke. The only fix is widen the street and add more lanes. You want to tell me how thats possible? I have heard that… Read more »
More tasteless nothing of a building ,,,west Hollywood will regret if ,who wants to visit a town that looks just like anywhere else in America ,,,,,,,I don’t,,,,the people that let them get away with rubbish ,, need to learn the meaning of creative,,,cause they have none,,,,,,they just seem to understand payola
It’s hard to imagine the lack of setbacks on the east side of town where the buildings are towering over the people and the drivers. We are beginning to look like Wilshire Blvd.. only that street is wider.
Rudolf Martin
10 years ago
so the developers are talking to Steve about building condos and the city manager and planning are telling the public that they will be rental apartments.
add me to those who find this design a little too big, too generic and a little too crowded. sure, anything is better than the abandoned strip mall we have now (though it is open space) but that is aiming really low. i largely agree with Todd on the other buildings.
i’m looking forward to the new traffic plan the city is surely working on.
norm
10 years ago
@ Mike
Did they get a tract map put on the property so that in the future they can flip it to condos. A pretty common practice so that the developer has the option to change their mind.
Andrew
10 years ago
I like it. It looks modern and fresh, and will be a tremendous step up both functionally and asthetically from the existing minimall. I know change is hard, but this side of town is undergoing a really exciting transformation and I can’t wait to see how it all comes together in the next few years.
Mike Dolan
10 years ago
@Steve: I know your convinced that Movietown Plaza is condo/senior housing but, I did receive confirmation from the City Manager that it is now all rental/affordable/senior appartments. Today the Senior Planner and Project Manager Paul DeGrazia confirmed the same. No Condo’s.
90069
10 years ago
This project is hideous. It looks like the low-rise boxes were plucked straight from Playa Vista. I much preferred earlier designs that had different building heights and greater setbacks. Ultimately though, an improvement over the blighted Movietown shopping center.
@Doria Biddle – What’s wrong, Doria? Not bowled over by these apartments – oops, I mean condos? Thanks for the many morning laughs – and no, I’m not talking about the Movietown project.
I live block away. It’s gross. the sky is gone, shadows replace it. It’s too big and too boxy. There is no plaza to invite people. There is no great space. It’s shameful when you think what might have been if creative, community minded people had been at the helm. They have sold our city to the developers and the public have NO say in any of it. My days are numbered here. Gridlock will be a way of life- worse than now.
I agree with Larry. It is like the great wall of China being built down Santa Monica Bl. If they are going build up to the property line, they might as well add the pillars. I always thought that West Hollywood was a creative city, i must have missed something. The Movietown project is nothing more than another ugly generic box, totally lacking in every way. As for the city developing a traffic plan? What a joke. The only fix is widen the street and add more lanes. You want to tell me how thats possible? I have heard that… Read more »
More tasteless nothing of a building ,,,west Hollywood will regret if ,who wants to visit a town that looks just like anywhere else in America ,,,,,,,I don’t,,,,the people that let them get away with rubbish ,, need to learn the meaning of creative,,,cause they have none,,,,,,they just seem to understand payola
Its hideous.
Boy that I one ugly design
It’s hard to imagine the lack of setbacks on the east side of town where the buildings are towering over the people and the drivers. We are beginning to look like Wilshire Blvd.. only that street is wider.
so the developers are talking to Steve about building condos and the city manager and planning are telling the public that they will be rental apartments.
add me to those who find this design a little too big, too generic and a little too crowded. sure, anything is better than the abandoned strip mall we have now (though it is open space) but that is aiming really low. i largely agree with Todd on the other buildings.
i’m looking forward to the new traffic plan the city is surely working on.
@ Mike
Did they get a tract map put on the property so that in the future they can flip it to condos. A pretty common practice so that the developer has the option to change their mind.
I like it. It looks modern and fresh, and will be a tremendous step up both functionally and asthetically from the existing minimall. I know change is hard, but this side of town is undergoing a really exciting transformation and I can’t wait to see how it all comes together in the next few years.
@Steve: I know your convinced that Movietown Plaza is condo/senior housing but, I did receive confirmation from the City Manager that it is now all rental/affordable/senior appartments. Today the Senior Planner and Project Manager Paul DeGrazia confirmed the same. No Condo’s.
This project is hideous. It looks like the low-rise boxes were plucked straight from Playa Vista. I much preferred earlier designs that had different building heights and greater setbacks. Ultimately though, an improvement over the blighted Movietown shopping center.
@Doria Biddle – What’s wrong, Doria? Not bowled over by these apartments – oops, I mean condos? Thanks for the many morning laughs – and no, I’m not talking about the Movietown project.