The Design Review Subcommittee discussed the latest iteration of the mixed-use development which will eventually replace the Viper Room on Sunset Blvd. The plans drew emotional reactions from many members of the public who called in to speak.
“I have to say, you guys, I don’t mean to get emotional, but i’m literally across the street from this project. I grew up in North Clark Street, if you know what I’m talking about that San Francisco turns into Clark Street and our building will be dwarfed, we’ll be in the shadows and been fighting this project for a while.The Viper Room. This design it makes it. The Viper looks soulless.” -ROXANNE HOLLOWAY
“There seems to be a lot of nostalgia for what amounts to a strip on sunset that’s not got much curb appeal right now and the Viper Room is a dive. There’s no way to preserve what is there now, nor would you want to. I mean how many liquor stores are there in that sort of one mile strip along Sunset? ” — BRIAN McDONALD
“I’ve lived here for 28 years. I’m wondering, how did this project get so far along without any input from the public that i’m aware of? It’s already at the Planning Commission. I’m very concerned about over development the whole of the area west of Robertson, and south of Santa Monica has been literally bulldozed to put up gigantic buildings and no appreciation has been done for what it’s doing to traffic. Santa Monica Boulevard is one of the worst traffic situations in the Los Angeles area.” — JIM SIZEMORE
“I think the developers have overreacted to the very negative comments on the first iteration of the project and have come up with a very bland design in response. This is a Disneyland version of the Viper Room. Unfortunately, they haven’t really captured the spirit of it. Doing the black door they way they have, it looks more like something Spielberg might do rather than an understanding of what a real club atmosphere is. It just looks too clean and polished.” — ELYSE EISENBERG
“I don’t understand why it has to dwarf the London. I was at the meeting the building that’s being built over there where the Hustler building was, and there was a lot of concerns about going higher than the the London and i’m just not quite sure why it needs to be so high. The other issue I have is these digital billboards. I know we’re not discussing it totally. But do they got to be 4 stories high? I think that’s a little ridiculous as well.” — SCOTT RAYMOND
“There are many impressive qualities about this building that I want to appreciate tonight. The heightened scale of this building is what allows for the affordable housing it brings. So I celebrate the contours of this building and the creative use of space that allows for this new housing and economic opportunity which our community will benefit from for years to come. The native landscaping is incredibly valuable to the activation of our natural environment. A building that positively influences pollination sounds like a save the world sci-fi fantasy, but it can be a reality in our neighborhood, and that’s a good thing. We’re climate champions in the city, after all, and building should be as well. So I appreciate that thoughtful addition. The lighting on this building is the exact type of energy and magnetism that makes sense, that comes alive, and the expanded sidewalks will allow for the life that will be drawn to the space. The Viper Room has built allegiance to its name, and this modern redesign will foster loyalty for generations to come.” — CHELSEA BYERS
This project is currently under construction, right?
Somebody should point out that Chelsea Byers is a paid hack from Townscape the developer.
retro bowl
Someone needs to explain out to Townscape that Chelsea Byers is a hired shill.
Anyone who’s been to a music club knows you can’t reproduce the current Viper Room atmosphere in a brand new, sparkling, high income deluxe hotel venue lmao. You kill the dive/you kill the vibe. The only people who’ll be coming to this new Viper Room will be 50-70somethings wanting to sip a drink and tell their grandkids they’re at “the Viper Room” as they await their limo or uber to take them to Spago. A year later, this new Viper Room will close and the venue will reopen the next day as The Sunset Room or Rock-a-Billy’s or whatever soulless… Read more »
The future of Los Angeles and West Hollywood is taller buildings. We have simply ran out of space to be a large metropolis with buildings being kept to 3 or 4 stories. I don’t particularly care for this building, as it looks very bland to me. If we are going to go up it needs to be specular designs.
I would’ve liked to have been at that meeting last night, but, unfortunately, was unable to attend.
My question was, with the new design, are they still going to have the entrance on San Vicente just below Sunset? Was that brought up?
Because I think that it was a terrible idea, and keeping it there would make congestion at that corner even worse than it already is!
I also wonder what accommodations they have made for people with disabilities… including entering and exiting such a tall building during an emergency situation?
Not up to date on this mega project, but any car entrance NOT ON SUNSET BLVD IS WAY BETTER. TRAFFIC ON SAN VICENTE IS STILL BETTER ON USUALLY GRIDLOCKED. SUNSET. The one apartment turned into FANCY HOTEL, I think living nearby, lucked out or the residents did, with an enormous car driveway and exiting on the east side of the property. It can handle a lot of cars that would be added to the top of San Vicente traffic BUT IT SEEMS THIS TIME THE “NIMBY” IS THE HUGE TALL, VIEW BLOCKING LONDON HOTEL. Shoe is on the ok their… Read more »
The San Vicente entrance and also the Larrabee Street exit (along with its proposed Larrabee Street truck depot) are both traffic disasters in the making. Who on earth thought it’d be fine to drop a mega-hotel on these two corners?!
Viper room? The old Central? Hated playing that space. Buildings are buildings not people or even trees. Jeez I miss the Starwood and Lingerie and more
“Aah’s,” but I have fabulous memories of this campy gift boutique on the corner of San Vicente and Sunset.
I wasn’t able to attend this meeting but sent my comments in. This Building is still as overly jam packed as the first.. Lacks sufficient parking and green spaces. And blocks the London. I really wish this developer would present a building that was a 21st century companion to the London and which also allowed the London to be seen from Sunset. As for the Viper Room. Why haven’t the developers offered to move the real Viper Room to another locale in West Hollywood vs trying to sell us this offensively Las Vegas gimmick? I don’t know Chelsea Byers. But… Read more »
There were and are so many opportunities for the developer here to authentically contribute to the Sunset Strip and neighborhood rather than flaunt a weak but opportunistic position by saving the Viper Room and positioning it as the driving force between this superficial but weak project. Most problematic is that the City of West Hollywood has never grasped or articulated a possible vision for Sunset Blvd to embrace the 21st century while respecting its admitted architectural and cultural resources and values. Through the most recent visioning, the City miraculously yet disingenuously transformed some structures and R & R venues into… Read more »
That stretch of sunset Boulevard has looked like an absolute dump for decades. This building will bring vibrancy and new life to that stretch of sunset and it is a welcomed addition. Build it!
Agreed!
Somebody should point out that Chelsea Byers is a paid hack from Townscape the developer.
Thank you For that information. After reading her comment I googled her and found out that she moved to West Hollywood to be a commissioner and run for mayor. She will not be getting my vote
Works with “a civic and social grassroots network of thousands of activists trying to shake things up. We believe that creative nonviolent resistance can help win a better world for all of us. Our mission is to make revolution irresistible.”
With little experience or knowledge, to make revolution irresistible seems counterproductive. Without residence in the community Ms. Byers assumes to shake it up seems a fools errand unless the objective is to become noticed, which may be inevitable but will it be for the right reasons.
She ain’t getting my vote, either. Her little attempt to claw for local power is so transparent.
“Show me the money,” put up or shut up!