Hotel Proposed for 8950 Sunset Is Back on the Planning Commission Agenda

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An illustration of the proposed hotel at 8950 Sunset Blvd. near Hammond, viewed from Sunset Boulevard looking west. (Three: Living Architecture)

It’s back! A proposed hotel at 8950 Sunset Blvd., a project that has been in the works for about 20 years, will go before the West Hollywood Planning Commission on March 5.

The proposed 168,583 square-foot mixed-use hotel development would contain 165 guest rooms, four residential units, restaurants, bar, spa, retail and meeting room uses, and 432 underground parking spaces. It would be located on Sunset between Hilldale Avenue and Hammond Street, just east of the newly opened Marriott Edition hotel.

In 1999 the site was announced as the location for the Astra hotel. It then was purchased in 2005 for $16.5 million by the James hotel chain. But in 2013 a European hotel group bought the property for $28 million.

The hotel will be adjacent to the 9000 Sunset Blvd. office tower owned by the Mani Brothers Real Estate Group. It will contain 165 rooms in six stories as opposed to the 195 rooms proposed when the James hotel was contemplated for that site..

An evaluation of the project in April 2014 by the Design Review Subcommittee of the city’s Planning Commission was largely favorable. “Its signature feature, an opening approximately 50 feet tall by 80 feet wide (is) a grand gesture to the street,” said Stephanie Reich, the city’s urban designer. “The design is a forward-looking modern design. With attention to detail and successful execution, it has the potential to become a jewel box highlighting the best qualities of the Sunset Strip.”

The prospect of another hotel on. Sunset Boulevard has raised concerns by some residents.  Michael Cautillo, a real estate agent and former candidate for a City Council seat, posted an objection on his Facebook page. “Oh, GREAT West Hollywood! Just what we need, another fricking hotel. God forbid we build places where people could actually live. I’m disgusted.”

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Among the many hotels already on Sunset Boulevard is the new Pendry at 8430 Sunset, across Olive Drive from the Mondrian and facing the Andaz, which is expected to open soon. It will be the 22nd hotel in the City of West Hollywood, whose largest single source of revenue for its general fund is the hotel room occupancy tax.

The Planning Commission will review developer’s request to extend and amend already approved entitlements, or exceptions to zoning rules, for the project. The March 5 meeting will be at the City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., south of Santa Monica. It will begin at 6:30 p.m.  Free parking is available in the five-story structure behind the Council Chambers with a ticket validated at the meeting.

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Dr. MeowMeow
Dr. MeowMeow
4 years ago

Require more residential. We don’t need more hotels unless they’re capable of offering convention space. That requires coordination between a couple of adjacent hotels….which seems impossible with our collection of hotels that have nearly identical offerings.

Michael
Michael
4 years ago

Another hotel, another commission for Paul Arevalo. He is the highest paid city manager in these United States. I figure he gets a cut for bringing all these hotels to town. He makes around $600K a year. He doesn’t get sticker shock at rental prices. It’s a nice view from the top. Very easy to not know or care what’s going on at the bottom though. It’s a struggle. I worry everyday what would happen if I lost my apartment because a developer buys my building. Our city has become patently tone deaf. Jeez Louise

Tracey
Tracey
4 years ago

Do we really need another one of these monstrosities edging out the community for big profits and benefits to the 1%? What city representatives are benefitting from these deals anyway? Who says WEHO isn’t corrupt…

Woody McBreairty
4 years ago

Looks familiar. Must be because there are 50 others just like it. Just call us “Square City”

Mike
Mike
4 years ago

Just where are the construction crews going to park? This property was filled up with trucks and cars belonging to the site workers that built the Sunset Marriott for over 3 years. Moreover, the side streets, Hammond and Hilldale are poorly situated, IMO, to accommodate the increased traffic. There is a such thing as over-development and too many hotels.

Blueeyedboy
Blueeyedboy
4 years ago

Excellent answer, JF1! That’s what I say to the (man-made) climate alarmists. If the sea levels were going to rise so that coastal cities will be under water in twelve years (or even in fifty years) no one would be building beachside hotels, and no bank would finance it. And the Obamas wouldn’t have spent $15 million on a house surrounded on three sides by the ocean just a few yards away. Developers and financiers do a lot of research before they take on a project like this one, so we can be sure there is a lot of money… Read more »

learntobeajournalist
learntobeajournalist
4 years ago
Reply to  Blueeyedboy

If you want to watch an excellent discussion on climate change and The Paris Agreement, this is the best one with Dr. Shiva, 4 degrees from MIT.

Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai, MIT PhD. Inventor of Email
@va_shiva
An MIT PhD exposes who will profit from the “Climate Change”
https://twitter.com/va_shiva/status/1176506786414825473

Jason K
Jason K
4 years ago
Reply to  Blueeyedboy

I think this is the first time JF1 and I have ever agreed. This hotel is being built on the Sunset Strip. It’s not meant to be a residential street it’s is a tourist area that brings in a ton of money for the city. Those who don’t want the hotel always use the argument that we already have too many hotels yet the ocuppany rates still remain high after every new hotel is brought online. Plus I really like the design and would it would look great on Sunset.

AJ Jay
AJ Jay
4 years ago

Whilst I always prefer to see housing over hotels, the LA hotel occupancy rates are still surprisingly high, despite the recent additions. With large events coming up (Olympics) along with annual awards season etc, I imagine this will be a nice addition to the area. The problem is, this area of Sunset is basically just becoming hotels with ever dwindling businesses on the streetscape what will tourists actually be able to do in the area? They’ll just end up travelling down the hill to Santa Monica Blvd and spending their money there – no bad thing for WeHo I guess.

Danny
Danny
4 years ago

I believe the owner is seeking exceptions to zoning rules.

Vigilant
Vigilant
4 years ago
Reply to  Danny

Just pass that check up to the 7th floor at 9000 Sunset and all will be peachy.

learntobeajournalist
learntobeajournalist
4 years ago

Beautiful, simple/elegant design. Is that water underneath the walkway? I love fountains and lakes/pools at the entrance of hotels. It makes it nice for residents and visitors to sit and relax even if they’re not staying at the hotel but just walking The Strip.

20 years in the making, wow. Who has the patience for this? I guess someone does.

(With a closer look, it seems the blue light is just that, lighting (not water). Be great to add a water element.)