III. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING

A. OVERVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING

Regional Setting

The project site is located in County, within the community of the City of Los Angeles (see Figure II-1, Regional and Project Vicinity Map). The project site is located on the southwest corner of Gower Street and Hollywood Boulevard. The project site is located approximately six miles northwest of and approximately two miles northeast of West Hollywood.

Hollywood Boulevard and Gower Street serve as the primary arterial roadways providing access to the area containing the project site. Additional north-south access is provided by Argyle Avenue, Bronson Avenue, and . Additional east-west access is provided by and Franklin Avenue. In addition, the Hollywood Freeway (US 101) is approximately 700 feet north of the project site. The area is served by the Hollywood/Vine Station of the Metro Rail Red Line, which is located approximately 1/3 mile west of the project site on Hollywood Boulevard. The Metro Rail Red Line extends from the Union Station/Gateway Transit Center, through Downtown Los Angeles to North Hollywood and along to Western Avenue. The Red Line provides access to other regional transit lines, including the Metro Rail Blue and Gold Lines, Metrolink commuter rail and regional and local bus lines.

Local Setting

The project site is an underutilized, approximately 1-acre lot that is bounded by Hollywood Boulevard on the north, Gower Street on the east, The Music Box at Fonda (Henry Fonda Theater) on the west and a two-story commercial building on the south.

On-Site Land Uses

The project site is currently developed with an asphalt paved parking lot and is in use by a parking operator. The parking lot is surrounded by a chain link security fence (see Figure III-1 through Figure III- 4). (Note that the aerial photo shows structures onsite that have since been demolished.) Vehicular access to the site is provided by two driveways on Hollywood Boulevard and two driveways on Gower Street.

The western portion of the project site (6100-6104 Hollywood Boulevard) has been developed with a number of different uses in the past. In 1913 this portion of the site was undeveloped land until 1924 when it was developed by a radio station. By 1933 the site was occupied by a car dealership. Between 1951 and 1967 this portion of the project site was occupied by a gun store until 1976 when it was incorporated with the eastern portion of the project site (1645-1647 North Gower Street) as part of a

Hollywood Gower III. Environmental Setting Draft Environmental Impact Report Page III-1

View 1: View of project site looking west. View 2: View of project site looking south.

1

PROJECT SITE 3 2

# Photo Location PHOTO LOCATION MAP View 3: View north east across intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Gower Street.

Source: Christopher A. Joseph & Associates, 2008.

Figure III-1 Views of the Project Site and Surrounding Uses Views 1, 2, and 3 View 4: View looking east along Hollywood Boulevard. View 5: View looking south along Gower Street.

4

PROJECT SITE

6 5

# Photo Location PHOTO LOCATION MAP View 6: View looking north along Gower Street.

Source: Christopher A. Joseph & Associates, 2008.

Figure III-2 Views of the Project Site and Surrounding Uses Views 4, 5, and 6 View 7: View looking north across Hollywood Boulevard. View 8: View looking north across Hollywood Boulevard.

7 PROJECT SITE

9 8

# Photo Location PHOTO LOCATION MAP View 9: Adjacent office building south of project site.

Source: Christopher A. Joseph & Associates, 2008.

Figure III-3 Views of the Project Site and Surrounding Uses Views 7, 8, and 9 View 10: View looking west along Hollywood View 11: View looking south along Gower Street. Boulevard.

10

PROJECT SITE 1112

# Photo Location PHOTO LOCATION MAP View 12: View looking east across Gower Street.

Source: Christopher A. Joseph & Associates, 2008.

Figure III-4 Views of the Project Site and Surrounding Uses Views 10, 11, and 12 City of Los Angeles October 2009

gasoline station. Between 2001 and 2007 this portion of the project site was occupied by a parking lot used to store film equipment.

The eastern section of the project site (1645-1647 North Gower Street), was developed as a single family home from 1913 to 1935. From 1935 to 2007 this portion of the project site was occupied by an auto service garage. Currently the entire project site has no structures and is an asphalt paved surface parking lot; as such no historical resources are developed onsite.

Surrounding Land Uses

The area surrounding the project site is developed with commercial land uses and surface parking lots (see Figure III-1 through Figure III-4). The property across Hollywood Boulevard to the north of the project site is a Pep Boys with service station. The property to the northeast of the project site is developed with a retail strip mall. Located to the east of the project site, across Gower Street, is a two- story and one-story commercial building. The adjoining property to the south is developed with a two- story commercial building which is currently for lease. Located to the southwest is a Bally’s Total Fitness (gym). The adjoining property to the west is developed with the Music Box at Fonda (Henry Fonda Theater). Commercial uses near the project site include local and regional serving retail and restaurant establishments, primarily concentrated along Hollywood Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard, , and Vine Street. The section of Hollywood Boulevard that borders the project site to the north contains the easternmost section of the .

Several theaters and entertainment-oriented destinations are also located within the project vicinity. Within one-half mile of the project site are located the Pantages Theater, The Palace, and the James A. Doolittle Theater. The Hollywood Palladium is also within a one-quarter mile radius of the project site. ArcLight is located southwest of the project site, on the south side of Sunset Boulevard between Ivar Avenue and Vine Street. West of the project site, tourist attractions are concentrated along Hollywood Boulevard, including Grauman’s Chinese Theater and the Hollywood and Highland retail and entertainment center. Auto-related uses are located along Hollywood Boulevard immediately east of Argyle Avenue.

The Hollywood/Vine Metro Rail Red Line Station is located within 1/3 of a mile to the west of the project site, on the south side of Hollywood Boulevard. The station portal and plaza are surrounded by surface parking lots. The station plaza, surrounding parking lots and a small number of buildings along Vine Street are currently under construction with a mixed commercial, hotel, and residential development containing high-rise buildings up to 14 stories, along with transit facilities and enhanced connections to the Metro Rail station.

Light industrial uses in the project area are located along portions of Sunset Boulevard. These light industrial uses are primarily movie, radio, and television studios, and auxiliary facilities for the entertainment industry, including Columbia Square, a large former broadcast center located southeast of the project site. In addition, auto-related uses are located along Hollywood Boulevard immediately east of Argyle Avenue.

Hollywood Gower III. Environmental Setting Draft Environmental Impact Report Page III-6

City of Los Angeles October 2009

B. RELATED PROJECTS

Sections 15126 and 15130 of the State CEQA Guidelines provide that EIRs consider the significant environmental effects of a proposed project as well as “cumulative impacts.” “Cumulative impacts” refer to two or more individual effects which, when considered together, are considerable or which compound or increase other environmental impacts (CEQA Guidelines Section 15355). Cumulative impacts may be analyzed by considering a list of past, present, and probable future projects producing related or cumulative impacts (CEQA Guidelines Section 15130 (b)(1)(A)).

All proposed (those with pending applications), recently approved, under construction, or reasonably foreseeable projects that could produce a related or cumulative impact on the local environment when considered in conjunction with the proposed project are included in the EIR. For an analysis of the cumulative impacts associated with these related projects and the proposed project, cumulative impact discussions are provided under each individual environmental impact category in Chapter IV of this EIR.

The list of related projects consists of 139 projects (see Table III-1). Sources for the list include the City of Los Angeles Planning Department, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) and the City of West Hollywood. This list includes all approved, proposed, or potential projects within an approximately 1.5 mile radius of the project site that are expected to be completed by project opening. The locations of the related projects are shown in Figure III-5.

Table III-1 Related Projects

No. Location Land Use Size 1 1934 Cahuenga Boulevard Gas station and mini market 8 pumps 2 6142 Franklin Avenue Apartment 130 du SWC Franklin Avenue and Gower Apartment 126 du 3 Street Apartment (removed) -20 du Apartment 87 du 4 1800 Argyle Avenue Office 23,000 sf 5 6735 Yucca Street Condominium 54 du Apartment 270 du 6 6758 Yucca Street Retail 8,500 sf 7 1714-1736 McCadden Place Condominium 218 du Retail 29,900 sf 8 6904 Hollywood Boulevard Office 16,700 sf 9 6757 Hollywood Boulevard Restaurant 13,132 sf 10 6611 Hollywood Boulevard Retail 60,200 sf Quality Restaurant 8,100 sf 11 6608 Hollywood Boulevard Hotel 225 room Jazz Club 5,390 sf 12 6531 Hollywood Boulevard Quality Restaurant 931 sf 13 6523 Hollywood Boulevard Restaurant 15,161 sf Night Club 12,255 sf 14 6506 Hollywood Boulevard Restaurant 745 sf 15 6385 Hollywood Boulevard Restaurant 11,517 sf

Hollywood Gower III. Environmental Setting Draft Environmental Impact Report Page III-7

City of Los Angeles October 2009

Table III-1 (Continued) Related Projects

No. Location Land Use Size Dance Club 11, 518 sf Condominium 57 du 16 1717 Vine Street Restaurant 5,489 sf Apartment 375 du Condominium 150 du Hotel 300 room Restaurant 49,500 sf SEC Hollywood Boulevard/Vine Specialty Retail 12,000 sf 17 Street Specialty Retail (removed) -5,699 sf Office (removed) -2,952 sf Drinking Place (removed) -3,260 sf Juice Bar (removed) -288 sf State Motor Vehicle Dept. -13,680 sf Restaurant 6,375 sf 18 6263 Hollywood Boulevard Dance Club 6,376 sf Restaurant 5,273 sf 19 1750 Argyle Avenue Theater 5,273 sf Vine Street, between Hollywood 20 Apartment 104 du Boulevard and Selma Avenue 21 1645 Vine Street Condominium 96 du Apartment 952 du Retail 190,770 sf Hollywood Boulevard, between Retail (removed) -900 sf 22 Argyle Avenue and Gower Street Automotive (removed) -25,400 sf Office (removed) -6,820 sf Night Club (removed) -5,920 sf Hotel 86 rooms 23 6107 Hollywood Boulevard Specialty Retail 5,000 sf 24 6021 Hollywood Boulevard Dance Hall 17,208 sf 25 6000 Hollywood Boulevard Auto Sales (expansion) 31,000 sf 26 6001 Carlton Way Condominium 42 du Fast-food Restaurant 3,236 sf 27 5777 Hollywood Boulevard Specialty Retail 5,275 sf Retail 30,000 sf Condominium 77 du Apartment 76 du Hollywood Boulevard, between 28 Hotel (rehabilitation) 140 rooms Western Avenue and Garfield Place Office 19,000 sf Retail 26,000 sf Apartment 220 du Apartment 90 du 29 5555 Hollywood Boulevard Retail 6,000 sf Condominium 180 du 30 1611 Retail 13,700 sf 31 6726 Sunset Boulevard Pharmacy 16,000 sf 32 6600 Sunset Boulevard Hotel 50 rooms Hotel 126 room 33 6417 Selma Avenue Restaurant/Night Club 12,840 sf 34 1430 Hudson Avenue Office 29,000 sf 35 1430 Cahuenga Boulevard Restaurant 12,000 sf

Hollywood Gower III. Environmental Setting Draft Environmental Impact Report Page III-8

City of Los Angeles October 2009

Table III-1 (Continued) Related Projects

No. Location Land Use Size Senior Housing 106 du Community Center 6,500 sf 36 1602 Ivar Avenue Retail 10,000 sf Doolittle Theater 5,000 sf 37 1600 Vine Street Night Club 11,884 sf Apartment 306 du 38 1538 Vine Street Retail 68,000 sf 39 NWC Sunset Boulevard/Vine Street Entertainment/Retail 30,000 sf Restaurant 12,220 sf 40 6322 De Longpre Avenue Night Club 12,221 sf Condominium 400 du Office 380,000 sf Hotel 125 rooms 41 6121 Sunset Boulevard Restaurant 6,000 sf Restaurant 6,000 sf Bar/Lounge 3,500 sf Retail 12,000 sf 42 1438 N. Gower Street Office 115,000 sf 43 6040 Sunset Boulevard Office 120,000 sf Office 740, 987 sf 44 5800 Sunset Boulevard Sound Stage 82,500 sf Office (removed) -107, 594 sf Condominium 331 du Office 40,000 sf Retail 5,000 sf 45 5935 Sunset Boulevard Restaurant 8,500 sf Public Park 21,177 sf Restaurant (removed) -13,500 sf 46 1260 N. Las Palmas Avenue Day Care Center 75 students 47 1309 N. Wilton Place Central LA New Area HS 1,875 students 48 1541 Western Avenue Commercial 11,864 sf 49 1115 Tamarind Avenue Santa Monica New Primary 380 students Condominium 374 du 50 6911 Retail 15,000 sf Apartment 787 du 51 6677 Santa Monica Boulevard Retail 12,700 sf Restaurant 9,500 sf Office 240,000 sf 52 959 Seward Street Restaurant 4,000 sf 53 955 N. Vine Street Vine Elementary School 230 students Apartment 54 du 54 5920 Retail 16,000 sf Condominium 96 du 55 5663 Melrose Avenue Retail 3,350 sf Apartment 27 du 56 5473 Santa Monica Boulevard Apartments(removed) -48 du SWC Fountain Avenue and Serrano 57 Middle School 891 students Avenue 58 5200 W. Virginia Avenue Elementary School 599 students 59 5165 Fountain Avenue Apartment 110 du

Hollywood Gower III. Environmental Setting Draft Environmental Impact Report Page III-9

City of Los Angeles October 2009

Table III-1 (Continued) Related Projects

No. Location Land Use Size 60 4747 Sunset Boulevard Hospital (expansion) 1,000,000 sf Apartment 42 du 61 5400 Hollywood Boulevard Retail 6,778 sf Apartment 63 du 62 922 Western Avenue Retail 13,500 sf Apartment 108 du 63 5555 W. Hollywood Boulevard Retail 9,937 sf 64 5420 W. Sunset Boulevard Gas Station 10 pumps Apartment 437 du 65 5601 Santa Monica Boulevard Retail 377,990 sf Retail (removed) -161,550 sf Condominium 216 du 66 5550 W. Hollywood Boulevard Retail 18,353 sf Apartment (assisted living) 68 du 67 5245 W. Santa Monica Boulevard Retail 51,674 sf Condominium 266 du Hotel 348 rooms Retail 47,605 sf Highland Avenue, between Hawthorn 68 Office 350,000 sf Avenue and Selma Avenue Office (removed) -55,549 sf Restaurant (removed) -1,650 sf Apartment (removed) -20 du 69 6837 Hawthorn Avenue Theater 800 seats 70 1257 Detroit Street Apartment 5 du 71 7046 Hollywood Boulevard Apartment 42 du 72 1782 Orange Drive Screening/Dining Facility 270 seats 73 6700 Hollywood Boulevard Drinking Place 7,500 sf Apartment 60 du 74 6253-6261 W. Hollywood Boulevard Office Condos 5 du Office 121,450 sf Restaurant 3,850 sf 75 1601 and 1605 N. Vine Street Restaurant 2,300 sf Bar 2,300 sf Retail (removed) -800 sf Apartment 63 du 76 1462 N. Vine Street Retail 8,500 sf 77 1830 Bronson Avenue Apartment 45 du SWC Larchmont Boulevard and Apartment 24 du 78 Melrose Boulevard Gas Station (removed) -8 pumps 79 6824 W. Lexington Avenue Condominium 93 du 80 5700 W. Melrose Avenue Condominium 21 du Condominium 20 du 81 5825 Sunset Boulevard Apartment 54 du Office 2,000 sf 82 5831 Sunset Boulevard Condominium 81 du Condominium 32 du 83 1538 N. Cahuenga Boulevard Retail 7,000 sf 84 1427 N. Cole Place Condominium 48 du 85 1417 N. Detroit Street Condominium 23 du 86 803 N. Condominium 14 du

Hollywood Gower III. Environmental Setting Draft Environmental Impact Report Page III-10

City of Los Angeles October 2009

Table III-1 (Continued) Related Projects

No. Location Land Use Size 87 1633 N. La Brea Avenue Condominium 186 du 88 1729 N. Las Palmas Avenue Condominium 218 du 89 2020 N. Holly Drive Condominium 16 du 90 5806 W. Waring Avenue Condominium 15 du 91 7060 W. Hawthorn Avenue Condominium 18 du 92 853 N. Wilcox Avenue Condominium 16 du 93 6931-6935 Hollywood boulevard Commercial 44,274 sf 94 1417-1433 Cole Avenue Condominium 50 du Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street Condominium 90 du 95 (CIM) Retail 15,000 sf Sunset Boulevard and Van Ness 96 LAUSD High School 1,000 students Avenue 97 Gordon Street N/O Sunset Boulevard Condominium 60 du 98 1635 Las Palmas Avenue Restaurant 8,000 sf Health Club 53,000 sf 99 7021 Hollywood Boulevard Drug Store 11,000 sf Apartment 56 du 100 1411 Highland Avenue Retail 7,000 sf 101 7072 Hawthorn Avenue Apartment 50 du 102 6360 Sunset Boulevard Restaurant 14,000 sf 103 6922 Hollywood Boulevard Retail 10,000 sf 104 1545 Wilcox Avenue Condominium 40 du Town Homes 75 du 105 2775 Cahuenga Boulevard Single Family Housing 6 du Condominium 130 du 106 7060 Hollywood Boulevard Theater 99 seats Condominium 63 du 107 Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street Retail 11,000 sf 108 1800 N. Whitley Avenue Condominium 32 du 109 1313 N. Vine Street Museum and Theater 75,000 sf Retail 175,000 sf 110 6200 Hollywood Boulevard Apartments 1,042 du Retail 1,657 sf 111 6801 Hollywood Boulevard Restaurant 1,587 sf Office 226,000 sf 112 6215 Sunset Boulevard Condominium 330 du Hotel 350 rooms Sunset Boulevard and Western 113 Target and Retail Center NA Avenue Market 69,000 sf 114 1540 N. Vine Street Apartments 306 du 115 1921 Highland Avenue Hotel 100 rooms 116 1750 N. Vine Street Office 40,000 sf Office 40,000 sf 117 5925 Sunset Boulevard Condominium 300 du Retail 12,000 sf 118 1800 Highland Avenue Office (renovation) 84,000 sf 119 5936-5946 Sunset Boulevard Restaurant and Bar 3,755 sf 120 6350 Hollywood Boulevard Restaurant and Lounge 12,000 sf

Hollywood Gower III. Environmental Setting Draft Environmental Impact Report Page III-11

City of Los Angeles October 2009

Table III-1 (Continued) Related Projects

No. Location Land Use Size 121 1608 N. Cahuenga Boulevard Restaurant 3,376 sf 122 1650 Schrader Boulevard Nightclub and Lounge NA 123 6683 Hollywood Boulevard Restaurant 4,769 sf 124 7043 Hollywood Boulevard Restaurant NA 125 6669 Hollywood Boulevard Dinner Theater 17,852 sf Apartments 240 du 126 6254 Sunset Boulevard Retail 5,000 sf 127 1277 Wilcox Avenue Townhomes 33 du Apartments 16 du 128 5500 Hollywood Boulevard Condominiums 226 du Retail 15,000 sf 129 6200 Franklin Avenue Condominiums 146 du 130 6683 Franklin Avenue Condominiums 9 du Condominiums 85 du 131 6230 Yucca Street Live/Work 10 du Office 14,000 sf Condominiums 150 du 132 1320 Wilton Place Mixed-Use (retail/office) NA Hawthorn Boulevard and Orange 133 Mixed-Use (Hawthorn Block) NA Drive 134 1617 Cosmo Street Condominiums 47 du 135 6290 Hollywood Boulevard Condominiums 40 du 136 7100 Santa Monica Boulevard Shopping Center 246,000 sf 137 6225 Hollywood Boulevard Office 200,000 sf Condominiums 43 du 138 7045 Lanewood Avenue Single Family Housing 1 du Apartments 8 du Affordable Housing 27 du 139 1727-1737 McCadden Place Live/Work 8 du Source: Hirsh/Green Transportation Consulting, Inc., September, 2008.

Hollywood Gower III. Environmental Setting Draft Environmental Impact Report Page III-12

63

66

Source: Hirsch/Green Transportation Consulting, Inc, September 2008.

Figure III-5 Location of Related Projects