West Hollywood is juggling many construction projects all across town, and City Council will get their quarterly progress report when they meet on Monday night. Here’s a sneak peak at how the projects are coming along.
CRESCENT HEIGHTS PARKING LOT
LOCATION: 8120 Santa Monica Boulevard
Environmental remediation is complete, and crews have almost finished building out the lot that will provide 62 coveted parking spots to the neighborhood’s residents, businesses and customers, along with four EV charging stations. The parking lot is a temporary measure, and the lot will probably become something grander once City Hall decides what the grand plan is. The lot is expected to open during the first quarter of 2025.
FORMER PETE’S MAGNOLIA CLEANERS
Location: 8305 Santa Monica Boulevard
The building that used to house a dry-cleaning business is being renovated to create two office spaces. One will be used by WeHo Cares, the city’s behavioral health crisis response team. The use of the second office space will be determined as part of a new leasing plan for city-owned properties. Contractors have until November 7 to submit bids for the project, with construction scheduled to start in early 2025 and finish by the middle of the year.
HOLLOWAY INTERIM HOUSING PROGRAM
Location: 8465 Santa Monica Boulevard
The Holloway Motel, purchased by the city in 2023, is being converted into a transitional housing facility with 20 rooms and supportive services. Construction began earlier this year and is expected to wrap up by early 2025. Work remaining includes interior and exterior finishes, utility hookups, and furnishing the units. Once completed, the facility will be managed by Ascencia, a nonprofit organization, and will provide housing and support to residents.
PLUMMER PARK DOG PARK
Plans for a permanent off-leash dog park in Plummer Park are moving forward. The park will feature artificial turf, shaded areas, and improved drainage systems. While there were some delays due to design challenges, the project is now on track. Bids for construction are expected to be finalized by the end of the year, with work starting in early 2025. The dog park is scheduled to open by mid-2025.
STORIES: THE AIDS MONUMENT
Location: San Vicente Boulevard
Construction is underway on a public monument to honor those affected by the AIDS crisis. The monument, designed by artist Daniel Tobin, includes bronze “traces” with engraved stories, lighting, and a gathering space. Work began in August, with the first group of bronze pieces expected to be installed in early 2025. The project is scheduled to be completed by the third quarter of 2025.
LOG CABIN RENOVATIONS
Location: 617-621 N. Robertson Avenue
The historic Log Cabin, which serves as a recovery services center, is undergoing renovations to improve the building and parking lot. The project is currently in the plan review phase, which is expected to last until spring 2025. Construction will begin afterward. The city is using funding from federal, state, and county sources, as well as a fundraising campaign by the West Hollywood Recovery Center, to cover the project’s $5 million budget.
CITY PLAYHOUSE
Location: 8325 Santa Monica Boulevard
The city is developing a new playhouse that will include a 99-seat theater and rehearsal space. Construction is expected to start in early 2026. Before that, staff are making updates to the design to address issues discovered during a new property survey. The updated designs will go to City Council for review in early 2025. Once completed, the playhouse will provide space for performances and community programs.
HART PARK IMPROVEMENTS
Plans to improve Hart Park are progressing. These include upgrades to accessibility, parking, lighting, and security, along with enhancements to the off-leash dog park. The design team is preparing final plans and working with the City of Los Angeles, which owns the park, to secure approvals. Construction is expected to start in mid-2025.
PLUMMER PARK COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The city is working on a long-term improvement plan for Plummer Park. This includes evaluating what works well, what needs improvement, and what new features or programming the park could offer in the future. The city will also look at ways to preserve the park’s historic buildings. In early 2025, City Council will consider hiring a consultant to help with planning and public outreach.
LAUREL HOUSE AND PARK
Location: 1343 N. Laurel Avenue
The city is converting this historic property into a public space that will include artist residency programs, galleries, and outdoor spaces. Design plans are being updated based on community input. Next steps include refining the budget and continuing development during the 2025–2026 fiscal years. The project will preserve the historic character of the property while making it more accessible to the public.
8301-8315 SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD
This commercial property includes Joey’s Café and a vacant storefront that was previously a Crossroads Trading location. Environmental cleanup of the site is still underway, and city staff are exploring options for future use. These plans may be coordinated with the City Playhouse, which is located nearby.
8120 SANTA MONICA LONG-TERM USE
The site currently being used as a temporary parking lot will eventually be redeveloped. Early ideas include housing, nonprofit spaces, or other community-focused uses. Long-term planning for this project will resume once other major projects are further along.
After months and months of exhaustive lobbying, petitions, and mountains of unanimous authoritative scientific data, the city agreed not to put artificial turf down in Hart dog park. So, why has it reared its toxic head once again in the plans for the dog run at Plummer Park? It’d be just as toxic at Plummer as it would have been at Hart.
EXACTLY, it makes no sense!!!