I want to express my support for the set for the old Tower Records site on Sunset Boulevard.
I was opposed to this project over the years, but after a meeting with the developer and his architect at a small neighborhood gathering at a Horn Avenue residence, and after studying the new iteration and their addressing most of my concerns, I think this project would be an asset to the community and the beginning of a much-needed facelift for Sunset Boulevard going West from Horn.
Centrum Sunset has been extremely accommodating throughout this long process. Their newest version of the project, where they have added enough parking to bring the project not just up to code but have created a surplus of parking spaces and reduced the square footage of the office component, demonstrates their willingness to work with the neighborhood.
By increasing the setback, they have created a larger "plaza" area on Sunset, and the reduced size of the upper story offices with patio has created a terraced effect to the structure which has eliminated the "looming" of the project that was a concern to many. They have done away with lift parking and triple tandem, and the possible restaurant option on ground level would be a big plus to the locals.
To facilitate cars leaving the parking area and to avoid u-turns on our adjacent streets, they will have signs to direct traffic to Sunset Boulevard exits east or westbound. I also think they handled the ingress and egress to the project on the Horn Avenue side smartly. Traffic in and out should flow smoothly. There still remains the Sunset Boulevard entrances and exits.
The proposed four panel video billboard is only 1176 square feet in contrast to the old Tower Records video billboard which was 900. This is only a 30 percent increase in size, not the 200 or more percent increase as claimed by the operatives opposed to this project. They also refer to the David Barton Gym as a "mega gym." While it is 20,000 square feet, the Equinox Gym at Sunset Plaza, which some Horn residents belong to, is 35,000. That's a mega gym!
The loudest voices remain steadfast in their opposition to progress and change and instead have decided they would like to see a Walgreens at the site. This is an iconic location and a critically important spot on the Sunset Strip. What it deserves is this development as has been put forth by Centrum Properties, not a tacky chain store like Walgreens.
This project would be the start of the rejuvenation of the Sunset Strip, and I encourage all those that feel as I do to attend the City Council meeting on April 2 to speak out and contact council members directly, or Associate Planner Adrian Gallo at agallo@weho.org.
Thank you,
Richard Rothenberg
Resident of West Hollywood
Have something to say? Send a letter of around 500 words to the West Hollywood Patch editor at daniellej@patch.com
