Will the Hollywood Earthquake Fault Make WeHo Tumble? Here’s What You Can Do to Minimize Damage If It Does

[dropcap]Q. [/dropcap]Are there major buildings within the Hollywood earthquake fault line zone?

A. Yes. Tall hotels such as the 14-story Andaz and the 12-story Mondrian are within the fault line zone on the map developed by the California Geologic Survey. Other tall buildings within the zone include the nine-story Beverly-Sunset Medical Building at 9201 W. Sunset Blvd.; the 14-story 9200 Sunset Building, home to the SoHo House, at that address, and a 16-story office building at 9000 Sunset Blvd.

Other tall buildings are under construction or are proposed in the Hollywood earthquake fault line zone. Among them is the Sunset La Cienega project (formerly known as the Sunset Millennium) at the intersection of La Cienega and Sunset boulevards. That project, currently under construction, will include a hotel in two 10-story towers along with two eight-story condominium buildings. The city’s Planning Commission also has approved construction of Marriott’s Edition, an 11-story hotel and condo building at 9040 Sunset Blvd. at Doheny.

Still under review by the city are the proposed James hotel, an eight-story building at 8950 Sunset near Hammond, and a proposed five-story apartment building with retail stores at 8497-8499 Sunset Blvd. at its intersection with Miller Drive near La Cienega.

Some critics have complained that developers of projects along Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood have projected the Hollywood earthquake fault to be quite a bit farther away than what the map released last week shows. Developers of projects in West Hollywood are required to provide an analysis of fault lines for projects proposed in an earthquake zone. But those have been questioned. For example, in 2005 then-Planning Commissioner Barbara Hamaker questioned the accuracy of an assessment by developers of the Sunset La Cienega project, which nevertheless was approved.