So CIM group, who owns the Pickfair Studios, petitioned (amongst other things) West Hollywood’s City Council in 2007 and received approval to tear down two buildings: Mary Pickford’s office and Douglas Fairbank’s gym.  LA Conservancy and Hollywood Heritage fought them hard but West Hollywood did eminent domain and there wasn’t much that could be done.  The conservancy did an environmental report which paved the way for a demolition of these buildings you can read it here: http://www.laconservancy.org/issues/issues_thelot.php

However something is fishy at CIM.  Our source was told they were tearing down more than this and they originally planned to do it quietly with no one including the Conservancy and Hollywood Heritage, alerted.  The original demolition was set for the third week of April, then when our campaign began they put it at a week…and once the pressure was really on they put a memo out to employees saying demolition would begin ‘imminently’.

Despite some clarification after several days of protest we still have some concerns.

What We Want

On the list of ‘saved’ buildings CIM agreed to and West Hollywood sent out to concerned Pickfair Committee members, soundstage 7 where Frank Sinatra recorded and the Santa Monica West buildings block were not included.  Without those buildings, which we will not refer to as SMW, the Conservancy found Pickfair Studios would not qualify for any cultural or historic protection.  Both Soundstage 7 and SMW seem to be in limbo…if they were saved or thrown under the bus in the mediation is not clear.  Despite repeated attempts to contact planner Degrazia who seems to be in charge of this, we have received no official replies from anyone.  West Hollywood and CIM are doing their best to be vague about what’s going and what’s staying.

CIM has very little oversight, with a small office in West Hollywood being responsible for keeping an eye on them.  Many developers tear down buildings first, ask questions later.  That is our biggest fear here.  We would like an onsite person separate of CIM and West Hollywood to confirm that only the buildings stated are the ones torn down.  We also would like to know and vet who is in charge of observing the renovations and construction to make sure no further damage is done.

We would also like a promise from CIM and West Hollywood that Soundstage 7 and SMW will remain untouched.  West Hollywood does not have its own landmark set, though it has declared the Pickfair Studios as a West Hollywood monument…which means little to nothing.  We would like the remaining historic buildings to be declared a real landmark with real protections, which could be done through the California Historic Registry.  However even if that moves fast it will undo nothing, all current plans will stand.  But it could prevent further destruction.