Klein is known for sensitive rehabilitation of historic, landmark properties. His first property, purchased in 1999, was the City Club Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Built in 1904, the City Club Hotel was originally a non-partisan private club for New York politicians to meet and discuss politics of the day. It was renovated into a high-end, 65-room boutique hotel with a highly acclaimed restaurant, the DB Bistro Moderne.
In 2004, Klein purchased the Leland A. Bryant-designed Sunset Tower. Opened in 1931, the Sunset Tower is considered one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in Los Angeles. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Sunset Tower and Tower Bar were restored in 2006 to universal acclaim and remain highly popular.
Right about the time Klein was working on his first project in New York, the City of West Hollywood designated the bungalows that make up the San Vicente Inn (three contiguous properties on the west side of San Vicente north of Santa Monica Boulevard and the stand-alone Victorian structure that was moved to the vacant lot across the street) as local cultural historical resources, part of the Old Sherman Thematic Group. That group takes its name from the period in the late 1800s and early 1900s when Moses Sherman, a railroad developer, created the community of Sherman where West Hollywood now lies. The designation makes the properties eligible for Mills Act property tax reductions provided the façade is restored and maintained in accordance with specific historic preservation standards and conditions.
On Monday night, Klein met with a group of local residents at the Sunset Tower to discuss his $15 million plan for the complete renovation and imagination of the San Vicente Inn. The inn long has operated as a “clothing-optional” gay resort and developed a reputation as a place for drug abuse and prostitution.
Currently, there are 29 rooms at the San Vicente Inn. The new project proposes 33 rooms. However, a radical rethinking of how the properties flow together and operate was proposed at the meeting.
Most of the guest rooms are currently in the three contiguous lots on western San Vicente Boulevard. The proposed project eliminates almost all of the current guest rooms. The plans call for a new 23-room structure on the land behind the old Victorian house (the original Sherman post office) at 850 N. San Vicente Blvd. The structure will be up to 45 feet tall at the rear and wrap around the north side of the property. The old post office building will become a quiet lounge area where guests can eat breakfast, read, and work. None of these areas will be open to the public.
Average room size will be slightly less than 300 square feet and room rates are estimated in the range of $250 – $300.
The three contiguous properties (845 – 849 N. San Vicente Blvd) will be the more public face of the new urban inn. The southern bungalow will become a new high-end restaurant, approximately 2,500 square feet, open to the public. Capacity would be around 70 persons. A restaurant liquor license will be requested as part of the package. Outdoor dining will be featured in a courtyard to the east of the bungalow, with pool views.
All rooms behind the original bungalow will be removed and a small two-story multipurpose structure will take its place. The space can be used for small private gatherings, reading/office space, yoga classes, etc.
The center bungalow will house a small bar and lounge area, restrooms and a cabana. A new reception area will be built where the driveway currently is fenced off. The existing pool will be slightly enlarged and the two rooms currently west of the pool will be turned into a cabana-style lounge area.
The northern bungalow will be reconfigured into three suites. A new two-story structure will be built along the rear and northern property lines to provide six to seven new suites. This is the only portion of three western properties that will have hotel rooms.
One of the major issues that concerned those at the meeting was parking and the flow of guests between either side of San Vicente. Klein said he had secured a lease on the Video West parking lot on Palm Avenue across from Santa Palm Car Wash. All parking will be done by valet. However, given the discrete location of the lot, most agreed that it would be a challenge.
Some residents thought that a lighted crosswalk would be a good idea. There has always been a lot of jaywalking between the properties. However, a representative from the Sheriff’s Department and one of the project consultants said they didn’t think that the city could approve a crosswalk between the properties. Klein floated the idea that they could use golf carts driven by hotel employees to shuttle guests from side to side.
It was clear from the discussion that there was no simple answer to either parking or egress. It will take some time to get this project through the planning process, which will include approvals by the Historic Preservation Commission the city’s Planning Commission and the City Council. Klein has an optimistic and ambitious timeline for the project and hopes to have approval sometime by mid-2014 with project completion in 16 to 18 months.
Comments from the guests were nearly universally positive. Most people were concerned about the long history of drug use, prostitution and violence that are part of the Inn’s checkered past. The proposed project will close that chapter of the Inn’s history and open a new one as another first-class boutique hotel and restaurant in West Hollywood.
For anyone interested, here’s what the current location looks like from above: https://aerial.live/erva8/
todd, sounds like youre out of the info loop…..we have been approached by lawyers from both the developers for the post office project and the san Vicente inn project. our property backs right up to the san Vicente new hotel property. they already bought the old run down houses behind us. they want the parking to enter on san Vicente and exit on larrabee. I don’t care who we sell it to as long as its a very, very good price. our lawyer is negotiating with both the current post office is an eyesore and should be torn down…..the developer… Read more »
@Erik Enlighten me. All the articles I’ve seen on moving the retail post office operations pointed to leased space on Doheny, just south of Petco. And there was never a mention of ditching the 90069 location in favor of some larger, unassumingly more remote facility. If there is going to be a 15 story hotel on the site of the old post office, I must have missed it. I’d think there would need to be some zoning changes – possibly hard to get – for that to happen. Is this an extension of what the Cohen Brothers are planning for… Read more »
well like I said we have had two offers for our property. one from the developer building on the post office property and one for the san Vicente in property. there is an old house on larrabee at the alley that has been vacant for years. the developer for the post office project already bought it and it will be torn down at the same time they tear down the post office. apparently, according to our lawyer all the need to buy now is the senior care house and the grey house to the north and our building and that’s… Read more »
its all part of the bigger picture involving the post office being torn down for a new hotel, 15 stores tall……I live near it and they have already tried to buy me out. they are trying to buy everyone out in the area. the new san Vicente also approached us about buying our property for parking
I haven’t heard anything about the post office being torn down to be replaced by a hotel. The USPO wants to close the retail portion of the PO and use the entire structure for sorting, distribution and delivery. I hope the plan to close the retail/box portion of the 90069 branch gets derailed. It’s a vital service for the area and the proposed new location on Doheny is far less convenient and would be a disservice to the community. I wouldn’t be surprised if the new owners of the San Vicente Inn were interested in acquiring one of the surrounding… Read more »
If true, that’s a shame. A while back when this sale was first announced they made a point of saying it would continue to be clothing optional. But because that hasn’t been mentioned in the more recent news about the remodel, its omission made me suspicious they were not going to keep it that way after all. I hope we’re wrong and they do!
I don’t speak for Jeff Klein or have any connection with the project, but I was at the meeting and it was clear to me that the new hotel would eliminate the clothing optional and all male elements that were part of the old San Vicente Inn.
I’d like for someone in management at San Vicente Inn to respond to the issue of maintaining it as clothing optional and making it exclusively for males.
OUT hotel is actively looking in LA…it’s not so easy to find a place. Axel Hotel is also actively looking for a space. Both would be fantastic additions to the other hotels we have in the city.
I think you are speaking my language.
Randy, it would be nice to see an “OUT” hotel built here in West Hollywood. Have you heard about this “gay” hotel that opened in New York City? Seems like a fun concept.
We only hope that the new owed is more HONEST and HONORABLE when doing business with travel agents!
Oh, trust me, I have no problem with nudity. I prefer it, and just spent a week on a nude beach on vacation. I recognize that changing this place will eliminate the only clothing-optional place for gay men in LA. But the SV Inn isn’t making enough money in its current state. I’m not sure the new owner can find a way to have it be clothing-optional, while also being financial successful. Or that they are even interested in trying (doesn’t sound like it). It would be great if they could. My point is, there is still a market for… Read more »
Randy, you mentioned that “gays like to be in their swimsuits, by a pool”. Isn’t nudity the point at San Vicente Inn? Are you discounting that? The Inn needs to be male only, and it should continue to encourage nudity. I fear that these things are going to be lost in the remodel so it can be more inclusive and make more money.