On March 13, 2025, the Design Review Subcommittee of the West Hollywood Planning Commission will meet to evaluate a proposed mixed-use development at 401-409 N. Robertson Boulevard. The project, submitted by Harbour Hospitality, LLC, with design contributions from FORMM Studio and Bosky Landscape Architecture, is scheduled for discussion at 7:00 p.m. in the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. Detailed in a staff memo, the proposal will be reviewed ahead of a full Planning Commission hearing, with opportunities for public input at tomorrow’s meeting.
Project Description
The development is planned for an 8,834-square-foot parcel at the northwest corner of North Robertson Boulevard and Ashcroft Avenue, within the CN1 Zoning District. The three-story structure includes retail and office spaces on the lower levels and five residential units—four market-rate and one affordable—on the third floor. The project utilizes California’s State Density Bonus Law to exceed the base 1.0 Floor Area Ratio (FAR), proposing a 1.5 FAR with a commercial area of 8,597 square feet and an average unit size of 877 square feet. A subterranean garage offers 11 parking spaces (six commercial, five residential), accessed via a driveway on Ashcroft Avenue, with parking reduced from standard requirements under state provisions. Additional features include a 734-square-foot roof deck, a solar zone, and landscaping elements.
Site and Context
The site lies within the West Hollywood Design District, characterized by a mix of one- to three-story commercial buildings along North Robertson Boulevard, and abuts the West Hollywood West Overlay District (R1B), an area of predominantly single-family homes and duplexes. The proposal positions retail along Robertson Boulevard, with the residential lobby and parking access on Ashcroft Avenue, reflecting the transition between commercial and residential zones. The trapezoidal lot’s design incorporates full frontages on both streets, with material variations, balconies, and a stepped-back façade across its three levels.
Design and Features
The building’s façade combines masonry, stone, wood cladding, black metal framing, plaster, and concrete, with landscaping integrated at the ground level, second floor, and roof deck. Three canopy trees—two Shoe String Acacias and one Water Gum—along with shrubs, cacti, and succulents, are proposed across the site. An electric transformer is planned for the northeast corner, and a trash room is accessed from the north. The second floor includes office space with outdoor seating areas, while the third floor features an exterior corridor connecting the residential units. The roof deck, oriented toward Robertson Boulevard, includes a trellis system.
Points for Discussion
The staff memo outlines several aspects of the project for consideration at tomorrow’s meeting:
- Transformer Location: Its placement near the sidewalk prompts questions about screening or relocation options.
- Roof Deck Use: The space lacks defined programming, leaving its intended function open for review.
- Lighting: Overhead can lighting is noted, with alternatives like accent lighting suggested for discussion.
- Retail Layout: The ground floor’s retail design may need flexibility for future subdivision.
- Residential Amenities: Adding home office spaces in units is raised as a potential consideration.
Other topics include native soil preservation, rear green wall details, and additional landscaping in seating areas. These points are intended to guide feedback from the subcommittee and public.
Community Input and Concerns
Local residents and neighborhood groups have highlighted the project, noting its proximity to single-family homes and raising questions about its size and scope. Opportunities for input include attending tomorrow’s meeting, submitting comments to [email protected] by noon on March 13, or participating via Zoom by emailing [email protected] with relevant details by the same deadline. The staff report and project plans are available online, providing further context for public review.
Next Steps
The Design Review Subcommittee meeting will serve as an initial evaluation of the proposal, with public comments shaping its development before it advances to the Planning Commission. The discussion will address how the project aligns with zoning, neighborhood character, and resident needs, with refinements to be determined based on feedback.
Closing Note
The proposal at 401-409 N. Robertson Boulevard introduces a mixed-use concept to a transitional site in West Hollywood. Tomorrow’s meeting will provide a platform to examine its design, scale, and integration with the surrounding area, incorporating input from both the subcommittee and the public. The outcome will influence the project’s trajectory as it moves toward further review.
Just wondering if we are going to end up with yet another unfinished building and/or dirt lot. Anyone bothering to confirm the backing actually exists and putting contract cancel and deadline missing penalties into the contracts or should the residents expect more noise , traffic , pollution, delays , and no project management by the city .
These projects need to stop building office space. Retail space is also questionable since brick and mortar businesses are going the way of the Dodo. The two old concepts should be combined as live-work units. This could help resolve the conflict that a small business owner or start up to afford a business space in WeHo and even Los Angeles while providing a home close to their business.
Is the development at Ashcroft or Burton Way? Story reads the former but map reads the latter.
Story illustration shows the wrong intersection–this project is at Robertson and Ashcroft