The redevelopment of West Hollywood’s iconic Viper Rooms is facing criticism from nearby residents concerned about the project’s plans.
The proposed project, located along Sunset Boulevard, would include an 11-story hotel with residential units and a restaurant. The world-famous Viper Room, which is synonymous with West Hollywood, will be reimagined in the development.
But residents in the area argue the project is too big and believe the city doesn’t have the space for it.
“We just built a huge, huge estate in this small space,” says Bjorn Johnson, a longtime West Hollywood resident.
Some residents are not opposed to the idea of redevelopment, but are concerned that their neighbors’ opinions will not be heard.
“We’re not against development. We’re not trying to stop the project,” said Elise Eisenberg, president of the West Hollywood Heights Association. “We just want the developer to think more rationally about the concerns of the neighbors.”
One of the biggest concerns is the impact on traffic at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Larrabee Street. Other residents fear the project will be plagued by delays, similar to West Hollywood’s Melrose Triangle, a crater-like vacant lot awaiting development.
“West Hollywood is becoming a ghost town of vacant storefronts because commercial property owners demand high rents from tenants and no one can pay them,” said West Hollywood resident Mark Lines. Even if it is built, it is very likely that half of it will remain empty. ”
Sunset Creek Development developer Charles Essig said the project will include affordable housing and public green space, and will breathe new life into the Viper Room and West Hollywood.
“We have worked very hard over the past six years and redesigned the project three times to address community concerns,” Essig said.
The West Hollywood Planning Commission is scheduled to meet Thursday at 6:30 p.m. to listen to residents’ concerns surrounding the Viper Room redevelopment project.
