Economic Development with Style…in West Hollywood
Authorized Gateway Customer
West Hollywood’s reputation is glowing and the economy is growing. Sunset Boulevard is seeing a flurry of hotel, and nightclub openings which have gained national attention. New major office leases bring a daytime boost as well to the City. A business improvement district is up and running in the Melrose and Robertson area, the Pacific Design Center will soon welcome an advertising agency as an addition to its creative business roster and East side redevelopment plans are making steady progress.
A key signal that West Hollywood’s office market is on the upswing is the arrival of Daley & Associates to the Pacific Design Center, where a lease for two floors has been inked. The ad agency, whose clients include Nestle, Ford and Honda products, takes possession of 55,000 square feet this Summer. Improvements are in progress. Daley Chairman Cliff Weinstein, remarking on the move from mid-Wilshire, said that the Pacific Design Center’s Green building is “the most interesting building architecturally, in town.” The move will change West Hollywood culturally. The move will also change the Pacific Design Center’s culture, bringing in creative energy from other disciplines will add to the mix of design professionals who call PDC home. The Pacific Design Center, a landmark at Melrose and San Vicente is located amidst the burgeoning “Avenues of Art and Design Business Improvement District”. This 400 member strong alliance of creative businesses is improving the neighborhood, adding amenities and attracting new life to the street. Monthly gallery openings bring foot traffic with panache to the district. District signs feature original art. As Ronald S. Kates, President of Ronald S. Kates & Company, states, “The number of new restaurants, galleries and related design businesses is multiplying and interest is definitely growing. The Avenues of Art and Design is forging an identity as a one of kind place to be.”
Sunset Boulevard is a major key to the City’s glowing reputation. As Managing Director of Ramsey Shilling Co., Christopher Bonbright explains, “It is very rare to have the convergence of a strong office market, major hotel openings and remodeling, and the spectacular type of new clubs and restaurants, all having a renaissance at the same point in time”. Bonbright refers to Ticketmaster’s move to the Carolco Building, the opening of Billboard Live, the world renown Mondrian and its stellar Skybar, the long awaited makeover the Hyatt Hotel and the addition of such comfortable places to unwind as Dublins. Bonbright adds, “The result of all this activity and investment is a truly unique opportunity for West Hollywood to seal its reputation as a very special place”.
Elsewhere in West Hollywood, a Redevelopment Plan is making its way through the review process and could be in place within months. According to City Economic Development and Housing Manager Allyne Winderman, “The plan addresses some difficult problems on the East side of the City, in the La Brea to Fairfax corridor along Santa Monica Blvd. The positive response of the community to the tools of redevelopment has been a key factor in the City’s support for creating a Redevelopment Project”.
The City’s economic outlook isn’t rosy by accident. West Hollywood is known for its partnership approach to problem solving, from community policing, to a “Nightclub Council”, to a year of community meetings before launching redevelopment studies. At 36,000 residents, the City is small enough respond to issues and craft solutions with the input of stakeholders. Coupled with a strong marketing program, dazzling promotional and marketing materials, the City takes seriously the need to ensure a high level of services and livability which make it an attractive place to live, work, shop and visit.
