March 05, 2006
Demolition at Hollywood/Vine
The Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency (LA-CRA) has initiated eminent domain proceedings for a proposed development near the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. The action has be criticized as heavy-handed and unfriendly by Hollywood Heritage, homeowners, and merchants who argue it is wrong to use public money and power to benefit a private developer. The project, as currently planned, will result in the near complete demolition of the National Register listed Herman Building (also known as the Bernard Luggage Building) at 1636-1640 Vine Street in Hollywood.
Architect Carl Jules Weyl designed the Herman Building in 1928. The building was originally part of a complex of structures that included the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant. Weyl worked for Cecil B. DeMille and is credited with the design of several other Brown Derby's as well. He is probably best known for winning an Academy Award for his art design work on the classic Errol Flynn-Olivia de Havilland film "The Adventures of Robin Hood" in 1938.
Hollywood Heritage has issued a statement opposing the actions of the LA-CRA. In particular, the organization opposes the use of eminent domain for the purposes of private development, and especially because it would result in the demolition of contributing structure in the Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment National Register Historic District (HBCED).
View the organization's written objection to the LA-CRA's action at:
http://www.hollywoodheritage.org/preservation/Bernards.html
For even more on this story, check out the following article in the L.A. Times:
Bit of Old Hollywood Imperiled
By Bob Pool, Times Staff Writer
March 3, 2006
With a loud thud, new Hollywood collided Thursday with old Hollywood at Tinseltown's most famous intersection: Hollywood and Vine.
Los Angeles officials cleared the way for a luxury hotel developer to seize buildings housing about 30 small businesses through eminent domain so a $400-million project with a W Hotel, condominium and apartment units, and glitzy shops and restaurants can be built on the southeast corner.
The condemnation proceedings, authorized by the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, set the stage for one of the most ambitious revitalization efforts in Hollywood.
But the action was loudly protested as heavy-handed and unfriendly by homeowners and merchants who said it was wrong to use public money and power to benefit a private developer.
The debate comes as Hollywood is in the midst of a major revival that has brought dozens of trendy nightclubs, restaurants and massive new shopping complexes such as the Hollywood & Highland Center, where the Academy Awards ceremony will take place Sunday.
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