Studio City Sportsmen’s Lodge may be torn down for housing, retail

From City News Service editors: A CNS story on the Sportsmen’s Lodge redevelopment proposal that ran Friday included a line that suggested hotel workers oppose the project for fear of losing their jobs. However, the hotel is already closed. A worker at the Planning Commission meeting suggested the project be reworked to maintain and reopen the hotel. A corrected version of the story follows.

A Los Angeles city commission is moving forward with a proposal to redevelop the Sportsmen’s Lodge hotel in Studio City into a mixed-use project that would bring apartments and commercial space to the community.

The Los Angeles City Planning Commission unanimously voted Thursday to support a proposal from developer Midwood Investment & Development, which calls for demolition of the hotel located at 12825 Ventura Blvd.

A 94-feet, mixed-use residential and commercial development with 520 units and approximately 46,000 square feet of commercial space would take the hotel’s place. Of the 520 units, 78 units would be reserved for very low income households.

It would also provide 1,385 vehicle parking spaces.

“We believe that the currently proposed project’s additional 45,000 square feet of retail space for 10-15 tenants would enhance a direct connection to Ventura Boulevard, and the overall success of the shops as a community benefit,” Scott Hayner with Midwood told the commissioners.

He noted Midwood is a “long-term stakeholder” in the site, as the founder of the organization financed the construction of the hotel in 1962 and owned the property ever since.

“Six years ago, we purchased the property and title of the retail complex next door. Two years ago, we completed construction of the shops at Sportsmen’s Lodge,” Hayner said.

Midwood’s vision is to “enhance a local community with a gathering spot,” he added.

“The proposed density allows us to create a more livable and community orientated space for the residents and the broader community,” Hayner said. “This is a unique opportunity to develop a truly sustainable mixed-use destination, which will provide much needed market rate and affordable housing units without displacing a single existing resident.”

The project, known as the Residences at Sportsmen’s Lodge, includes a variety of density bonus incentives, which would allow the developers to build the project up to 94 feet and increase floor area than what is normally set by regular zoning rules.

Some Studio City residents and labor unions threw their support behind the project, saying it would create more housing and bring jobs to the community. Some other residents urged the commission to halt the project over their concerns, which mainly focused on the height of the project, parking impacts in nearby residential neighborhoods, noise and health issues.

“With the density bonuses and all the incentives, they can go 94 feet or even higher — that would be the tallest building in Studio City,” Scott Mandell, president of the Studio City Neighborhood Council, told commissioners.

Some hotel workers also came out in opposition of the proposed project. Jose Gonzalez, who worked 38 years at the now-shuttered hotel, told the commissioners to make the “wise decision” and reconsider the project. He said the project could be redesigned to ensure the hotel remains intact.

The 1960s hotel is well known for its connections to Hollywood, where legendary stars Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn frequented the location.

City Planner More Song, who is overseeing the proposed project, told commissioners the hotel building does not qualify for any historic designation. In addition, he noted the project is an example of multifamily construction in the segment of the Ventura-Cahuenga Boulevard Corridor Specific Plan that has not seen residential construction for more than 30 years.

The commissioners greenlighted the proposed project, which will now be considered by the City Council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee at a future date.

If the project receives the backing of the full council, construction would take four years.

Updated Aug. 1, 2023, 10:30 a.m.

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