The West Hollywood Planning Commission is holding an important preservation-related hearing which you’re encouraged to attend:
WHAT: Public Hearing on Robertson Lane Project, Including The Factory/Studio One Restoration
WHEN: Thursday, March 1, 2018 @ 06:30 PM
WHERE: West Hollywood Park Public Meeting Room – Council Chambers
625 N. San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood, California
The West Hollywood Preservation Alliance will be presenting supportive testimony. Here is the Alliance’s statement:
The West Hollywood Preservation Alliance (WHPA) endorses the current proposed iteration of the Robertson Lane/The Factory mixed-use project proposed by Faring. We agree with the vast majority of historic preservationists that this project is the best chance to ever have a thoughtful, considerate restoration of this important cultural resource, previously twice denied local designation.
Shifting the axis of The Factory to a north/south direction, while altering the original placement, exposes more of the structure to viewing from Robertson Boulevard and the proposed paseo while keeping the building on its original site. The WHPA believes that the 140-foot length of The Factory does retain enough of its original Truscon modular design to keep its historic significance intact, as noted by the LA Conservancy and the National Trust. The modular plan is set in twenty-foot long segments, and the restoration retains that design element, utilizing the parts and panels with most integrity to restore the structure, while storing the balance for possible future use according to the Secretary of the Interior Standards. The paseo promenade addition to the block opens up the space, creating a flow with the park across Robertson. The current planned reduction in height and massing of adjacent proposed buildings lets The Factory stand out with increased visual integrity.
We are also very pleased with the planned restoration of the end facades to a style that is historically closer to Studio One and the Mitchell Camera Factory. The use of historic archival resources, including photography and verbal testimonials will augment the historic element.
Studio One -problematic with its racist door policies- remains a controversial, yet vital and important addition to the national history of gay rights. We thank Faring for their consideration of adaptive reuse of our historic cultural landmarks and hope this project is indeed a template for future cooperation between the preservation and development communities.
For further information, please see Agenda Item 10.C. on the document at this link.
