On February 3, the Conservancy filed an appeal on the Los Angeles Superior Court’s January 5 decision by Judge Richard L. Fruin, Jr. that rejected our lawsuit against the City of West Hollywood.

The Conservancy filed litigation in September 2014 to force the City’s compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) regarding the proposed demolition of the 1938 Jones Dog & Cat Hospital building. This suit is the first litigation filed by the Conservancy since 2007, regarding the now demolished Ambassador Hotel.

The litigation stemmed from the City of West Hollywood’s failure to adequately evaluate preservation alternatives for the Wurdeman and Becket-designed building as part of the Melrose Triangle Project. The Melrose Triangle Project is a mixed-use project proposed for the block bordered by Melrose Avenue, Santa Monica Boulevard, and Almont Drive. 

The Conservancy has urged the City to look more deeply into preservation alternatives, but the judge in this case ruled that the City had already properly assessed a preservation alternative. We are deeply disappointed with the decision and disagree with the findings.

The Conservancy is not opposed to the development of a mixed-use, gateway project at this location. Yet it does not need to happen at the expense of a historic building that could be integrated and reused as part of the overall design. 

The Conservancy’s litigation is the only barrier to the building’s demolition; the City Council approved the project in October 2014.