Log Cabin Renovation

The Log Cabin renovation plan provides a long-term facility for the West Hollywood recovery community, improves onsite health and safety, and meets ADA and historic preservation standards. Over $10.5 million in funding has been allocated to date, and support has been provided from the City of West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, the State of California and the Federal Government to support renovations of this historic space which is vital to safeguarding recovery services in the West Hollywood community.

The design upgrades will include:

• Expanded meeting rooms, food preparation and storage capacity to support local recovery services
• New mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems contributing to an enhanced onsite experience
• ADA compliant bathrooms
• Improved streetscape and landscaping, and
• New EV charging stations and solar panels.

The historic Log Cabin building houses the West Hollywood Recovery Center . The West Hollywood Recovery Center hosts more than 90 separate addiction recovery meetings a week and over 4,500 meetings a year. Countless thousands of people have been helped by 12-Step meetings offered at the Log Cabin, and we are thrilled that we can look forward to many more years ahead in an improved space for life-changing meetings and community recovery.

The purchase and renovation of the Log Cabin property for the continued long-term use of the recovery community is essential for the City because it not only addresses addiction in our communities, but it also addresses homelessness. People suffering with addiction are amongst the most vulnerable to becoming homeless. The refurbishment and expansion of the West Hollywood Recovery Center is part of the City’s multi-faceted approach to preventing homelessness which, in addition to the recovery center and substance use services, includes a rent stabilization ordinance and the development of affordable housing, rental assistance and guaranteed income programs, mental health programs and the development of a behavioral health crisis response team, and job training. 

Renderings of the Log Cabin Renovation

For high resolution renderings and current-state photos, click here for a link to Flickr site.

The Log Cabin property was identified as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in the 2016 City of West Hollywood Commercial Historic Resources Study.  This designation along with the decades of deferred maintenance requires a design approach consistent with the Secretary of Interior Standards of the Treatment of Historic Properties along with upgrades or replacement to all building systems. There are three primary purposes of the project: (1) bring the facility up to health & safety and ADA requirements while meeting historic preservation standards, (2) provide a long-term facility within the West Hollywood community that accommodates the needs of the recovery community, and (3) incorporate a city owned public parking lot into a net-zero sustainable campus environment for the WHRC while bringing much needed improvements to the Robertson Boulevard streetscape. The project consists of three components that are intended to be completed simultaneously for greater efficiency. The estimated costs that follow are based on the three components being completed in one phase and construction starting shortly after completion of the architectural design contract.

• Component A: refurbishment of existing log cabin structure following the Secretary of Interior Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties. Scope includes hazmat abatement, new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and Title 24 and ADA requirements. 
• Component B: expansion of log cabin to include ADA-compliant bathrooms, two additional meeting rooms to accommodate and consolidate WHRC services to one location, limited food preparation space, and administrative and storage space. 
• Component C: project scope includes additional site work for a public parking lot, street scape improvements, landscaping, and incorporation of EV charging stations and photovoltaic panels.

Property Purchase and Architect Selection

In August 2021, through a competitive RFQ process, Lehrer Architects LA, Inc. (Lehrer) was selected as one of four bench contractors to assist the City with various on-call architectural and urban design services.  In May 2022, the City asked Lehrer to begin programming, pre-design, and refurbishment for the Log Cabin, located at 617-621 N. Robertson Boulevard, which the City purchased in April 2022 from the City of Beverly Hills. Lehrer was recommended by the City Architect as the best fit from the bench of contractors for the Log Cabin project based on their experience with historic preservation and connection to the recovery community. 

Lehrer completed the programming, pre-design, and refurbishment study which included multiple meetings with the West Hollywood Recovery Center (WHRC) and an analysis to consolidate WHRC use of the Werle building into an expanded Log Cabin facility.  The City will next move forward with the design development phase for purposes of bidding, permitting, expansion, and renovation of the Log Cabin. 

Funding

Renovating this space is supported by many partners. Recent funding commitments include:

•  The County of Los Angeles and its Board of Supervisors allocated $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in August 2024.
• The California State Legislature approved AB 102 Budget Act of 2023 and SB104, which contains $1.15 million in appropriated funding to support the Log Cabin renovation project. In 2023 Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 102 and SB 104 into law.
• Approved as part of this is $500,000 in support from the California Department of Housing and Community Development requested by Senator Ben Allen (CA Senate District 24), and $650,000 in support from the California Department of General Services requested by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (CA Assembly District 51).

Preliminary Project Schedule 

FAQ: West Hollywood - Log Cabin Renovation

Press Releases:

• City of West Hollywood Moves Closer to Next Steps in Log Cabin Renovations (June 16, 2023)

Staff Reports:

• March 21, 2022 – City Council Meeting
• June 26, 2023  – City Council Meeting
• March 18, 2024 – City Council Meeting