Flashy office and studio complex in Hollywood may become apartments instead
Rendering of a proposed project at Sunset Boulevard and Highland Avenue in Hollywood that would include two apartment towers and a music recording studio. It’s an alternative to another plan for the site that would have offices instead of residences. (HKS)
A street-level view of the proposed residential project at 6767 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood that would be built by Thomas St. John and Lincoln Property Co. (HKS)
Roger Vincent
Los Angeles Times
September 10, 2024
A new high-rise complex that would transform a key intersection in Hollywood may get a different look as developers contemplate making it mainly apartments instead of offices. The $500-million project was proposed two years ago by entertainment business manager Thomas St. John in partnership with Philip Lawrence, the owner of former Hollywood recording studio Record Plant. They asked Los Angeles city officials to approve a 13-story indoor-outdoor complex at the northeast corner of Sunset Boulevard and Highland Avenue that would contain offices for rent and a top-flight recording studio aimed to please the tastes of the biggest names in the music industry. It was to be known as the CMNTY Culture Campus. That vision may still come to pass, developers said, but now they also want the city to approve another large-scale project for the two-acre site that would be mainly residential.
The unusual dual-track proposal reflects how much demand for office space has fallen since the pandemic drove many businesses to work from home, while apartments continue to attract renters. It may take at least two years to reach the point construction can begin, at which time the developers will read the market and decide between housing and offices, they said.
“Due to the ongoing uncertainty in the office market arising from COVID-19 and recognizing the urgent need for more housing in Los Angeles, we began to explore a residential option,” St. John said. “By entitling two options, we will be better positioned to ensure that we can deliver a viable project at this site once all approvals have been secured.” Both designs are by HKS, the architecture firm that designed SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
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