Ray Hotel Hits Pause

From the VenicePaper:

Venice, CA, August 2, 2007--The owner/developer of a hotel proposed for the corner of Abbot Kinney Boulevard and Brooks Avenue requested and received a “continuance” from the West Los Angeles Planning Commission, yesterday, August 1.

According to Kristen Montet Lonner, a spokesperson for the project, the continuance was sought in order to allow the owner “to do further work with the community and the council office.”

The Ambrose Group seeks substantial increases to height and buildable-square-footage designations currently allowed in Venice for the project, known as Hotel Ray. Hotel Ray will also need issuance of a conditional use permit to facilitate the operation of a hotel within 500 square feet of residential properties.

Such a permit was recently granted the “short-stay” hotel, Pali House, currently being developed across the street from the Hotel Ray’s site.
Staff for the West Los Angeles Planning Commission had recommended approval of height up to 45 feet, which is 15 feet above height limits for the area, but recommended against two 55-feet-high, rooftop penthouses, as well as requests by the developer for an increase in amount of floor area (FAR).

Asked if the project's owner would change the plans for the hotel during the time before the project is slated to be decided on by the commission, Lonner said there were “no changes at this time.......

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