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THE LOT MOTION PICTURE STUDIO

On May 21, by a vote of 4 to 1, the West Hollywood City Council approved a revised development plan for the lot motion picture studio (formerly Warner Bros. on Santa Monica Boulevard at Formosa Avenue), including demolition of the historic Santa Monica West building. Built in 1919, this structure is one of three buildings fronting Santa Monica Boulevard that date to the studio’s original development.

After approving the original development plan in 1993, the city attempted eminent domain of a portion of the studio property and settled litigation by shifting all development rights vested under the 1993 development plan onto a smaller parcel. In 2006, the city issued a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the revised development plan, focusing on the project’s new impacts on historic resources. The expansion is scheduled to occur in phases over the next twelve years, depending on market demand for new office space and studio facilities.

Both the Conservancy and Hollywood Heritage testified at the Planning Commission and the City Council hearings, focusing on the Supplemental EIR’s failure to consider any new alternatives despite significant differences between the original project approved in 1993 and the proposed revised development plan. The Conservancy also urged officials to provide incentives to the owner to encourage more preservation of historic buildings on studio property. Several residents also expressed concern over the project’s scale, its impacts on the historic studio buildings, and the lack of review by the historic preservation commission. Despite the City Council’s recent approval of the project, the Conservancy hopes to continue to work with the applicant to improve the project and reduce impacts on historic resources.