Has Concept Of A 'Poor Door' Come To West Hollywood Development?

WEST HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — A residential development in West Hollywood was reportedly considering separate amenities for their residents based on income.

Last week, a New York high-rise raised hackles nationwide when it was revealed that the building's developers got permission to build a so-called "Poor Door," for people in the luxury building who weren't paying top dollar.

KCAL9's Rachel Kim said a project set for 8899 Beverly Blvd., the site of the old powerhouse ICM talent agency, has now dropped its plan for a poor door.

The developers wanted to nearly double the current 10-story, 90,000-square-foot floor plan. There would have been a mix of luxury apartments with more affordable units, also like the New York City plan.

In a statement from its public relations firm, West Hollywood project developer Beverly Blvd. Associates said:

"We have worked tirelessly over the last several years to craft a project that provides an extraordinary public benefit by building significantly more affordable housing units than would otherwise be required for a project this size.

"The City of West Hollywood previously recommended comparable amenities, which we had agreed to. If the City now feels that shared amenities and access best meet the needs of the residents of the affordable housing units, we are more than willing to accept those conditions of the project.

"We look forward to continuing conversations with the City of West Hollywood, affordable housing advocates and our neighbors to make this housing a reality."

The West Hollywood Planning Commission is scheduled to hear arguments from proponents and opponents of the new construction at a hearing Thursday night.

While plans for the "Poor Door" have been dropped, the building is still designed in a way that amenities like a rooftop pool and a gym would still be off-limits to the lower-income tenants.

Kim spoke to several residents who live along Rosewood Avenue who said they will attend the meeting to express their opposition and not just because of the amenities issue but rather what they think the new building will mean to their community.

They believe the massive project will increase traffic and lower their property values.

"It's towering over our neighborhood now; making it bigger would be terrible," said West Hollywood resident Carlos Garcia.

"That is something we're just not looking forward to," said Robert Salzburg.

He added: "Look, we're not against low-income. We understand all of this. But if I was that person, I wouldn't want to feel like a second-class citizen next to anybody else that I live with."

Seth Meier, another nearby resident, said the neighborhood is not opposed to low-income neighbors.

"The people on this block aren't opposed to low-income residents," Meier said. "They need to encourage that and them share in the building all together."