HoB Sunset On The Move?

The West Hollywood, Calif., Planning Department got two draft Environmental Impact Reports in late July concerning a proposed mixed-used development at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Olive Avenue – which happens to be the site of the Strip’s House of Blues.

A spokesman for Live Nation, which operates the venue, told Pollstar, “Our lease goes until 2025 and we look forward to operating for many more years at our present location.”

That may mean something for the iconic HoB “shack” on Sunset, but artist renderings and details of the EIR indicate there are other plans for the site, including a 10-story structure.

Combined Properties, the developer proposing the project, wants to put in 149 hotel rooms, 40 residential condos, five low-income affordable housing units, and up to 35,400 square feet of commercial and entertainment space in four buildings: the Sunset Hotel and Residences; the Olive Hotel and Residences; the Olive Residences and the De Longpre Residences, according to the WeHo News.

A neighborhood group has already spoken out against any ouster of House of Blues, but also oppose the project because of an earthquake fault that runs directly beneath the property.

The newspaper reports that Combined Properties has leased the HoB venue to Live Nation until 2025 and the developer wants to renegotiate the lease to relocate the club. House of Blues is reportedly one of the top five taxpayers in the city, and land with sufficient parking to accommodate such a move is said to be non-existent.

“We have had discussions with House of Blues about moving the club elsewhere, and those discussions have been productive,” Combined Properties VP Marianne Lowenthal told the Beverly Press. “but they have a right to stay there and if they exercise that right, we may phase the project accordingly, meaning build the piece on the HoB lot last.”

The Planning Commission is to hear the public Sept. 3.