Laurel House

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The City of West Hollywood invites community members to participate in the development of an Artist Residency Program at Laurel House and Park.

Would you like to receive an email to notify you of future meetings? Send us a note at arts@weho.org and we will add you to our contact list.

History of the Site

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The City-owned real property at 1343 N. Laurel Avenue known as Laurel House and Park consists of a 30,000-square-foot lot, a 7,177-square-foot former single-family dwelling, and an unattached accessory structure that is approximately 2,379 square feet and consists of a chauffer’s cottage and garages. The original portions of the structures were built in 1917. The conversion of the original single-family residence into four apartment units and the southerly four-car garage addition were completed in 1941. The property was designated as a Local Cultural Resource by the City of West Hollywood in 1994.

In 2010, the West Hollywood City Council directed staff to develop a plan to open the grounds at 1343 N. Laurel Avenue as open space on a temporary/interim basis for public use. From 2013-2014, the City conducted an extensive community visioning process for the Laurel property. The community expressed support for several potential uses during the visioning process and prioritized several factors, including:

Access to more community gathering spaces.
Activation as an Arts and Cultural Center.
Maintenance and/or enhancements of the property's use for peacefulness and beauty.
Preservation of the house and gardens, but activation through new features and programming.
Continued use for dog walking.

In 2018, the West Hollywood City Council received a report forwarded by the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission focusing on Artist-in-Residence programs, including consideration of the use of 1343 N. Laurel Avenue as a potential Artist-in-Residence site. This recommendation was forwarded to the Council Subcommittee for further review and consideration. In October 2022, in a feasibility study update, the City Council confirmed that the site should be used for arts and culture programs and it directed staff to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a qualified architectural design firm to continue the programming and design process.

On April 3, 2023, City Council approved Page & Turnbull to lead the schematic design and preservation plan for the property. An additional community outreach process will take place to discuss the architectural design plans for the site. This webpage will be updated with information as it becomes available.

On Monday, July 15, 2024, the City Council received an update on the Laurel House and Park project. Staff, working with the design team Page & Turnbull incorporated the feedback gathered from the community meetings and presentations with the Historic Preservation Commission on November 27, 2023, Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission on October 26, 2023, and the Public Facilities Commission on December 13, 2023 into the final schematic architectural design set. Following the completion of the schematic design an estimate of probable costs was prepared for completion of the project. This estimate will be used during the Design Development phase to assist in updating the design to reduce project costs through value engineering or modifications to the program. In addition the City Council received an update on the Laurel Avenue Artist Residency Program Guidelines for the Laurel House and Park, as recommended by the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission.

In accordance with the City’s current priorities, development schedules, and staffing resources for capital projects described earlier in this report, staff will provide the City Council with a schedule for design development and community engagement for the Laurel House Artist in Residency program in FY 25-26. This allows staff to focus on achieving critical milestones necessary for the completion of City projects further along in the development lifecycle such as the 8120 SMB temporary parking lot, Holloway Interim Housing, AIDS Monument, Log Cabin, and City Playhouse.

For additional information, please contact Rebecca Ehemann, Arts Manager, at (323) 848-6846 or at rehemann@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing please call TTY (323) 848-6496.

Neighborhood Conversations #1 and #2, December 2 + 3, 2022

On Friday, December 2, 2022 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Plummer Park Community Center located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard, a consultant team lead a robust discussion about the site, the creative community in West Hollywood, and how an Artist Residency Program might contribute to the community. The conversations continued on Saturday, December 3, 2022 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Laurel House and Park located at 1343 N. Laurel Avenue, where the community shared thoughts with the consultant team and City staff.

The Neighborhood Conversations are led by consultant team Kimberli Meyer and Sara Daleiden. Meyer and Daleiden will guide the development of the Artist Residency Program for Laurel House and Park. Meyer is an independent cultural producer, curator, writer, and designer working across the fields of art and architecture. She served as the Director the MAK Center for Art and Architecture at the Schindler House, located at 835 N. Kings Road, from 2002 through 2016. Daleiden is a consultant who specializes in facilitating civic engagement using arts and cultural exchange strategies. She encourages local cultures to value neighborhoods, public space, civic art, and business development, as well as artist residencies, creative placemaking and media culture-making.

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Performing Arts and Cultural Affairs Subcommittee February 9, 2023

On Thursday, February 9, 2023, the Performing Arts and Cultural Affairs Subcommittee (PACA) of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission received a presentation from the consultant team Kimberli Meyer and Sara Daleiden. The presentation included feedback obtained from the previous community meetings (Neighborhood Conversations #1 and #2) and five unique modes of possible frameworks for the Artist-in-Residence program at the Laurel House. The Subcommittee received the information and provided a recommendation to proceed with the Interdisciplinary model, while also providing direction to revisit the other four models after the Residency had established itself.

The Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission ratified the Subcommittee's direction on February 23, 2023.

Click here to view the presentation

Neighborhood Conversation #3, March 17, 2023

On Friday, March 17, 2023 neighbors met with the consultant team and engaged in a meaningful discussion about the Artist Residency program. Neighbors asked questions and provided feedback for the consultants. 27 neighbors attended the meeting (16 in-person and 11 virtually).

A draft of the Laurel House Artist Residency program will be presented to the Performing Arts and Cultural Affairs Subcommittee of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 5:00pm. Additional community meetings will be scheduled when the architect begins work on the plans for the site.

Performing Arts and Cultural Affairs Subcommittee April 13, 2023

On Thursday, April 13, 2023, the Performing Arts and Cultural Affairs Subcommittee (PACA) of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission received a presentation from the consultant team Kimberli Meyer and Sara Daleiden. The presentation included a draft document for the Laurel House Artist Residency Program. The Subcommittee received the presentation and recommended approval of the draft program document.

The Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission ratified the Subcommittee's recommendation on April 27, 2023.

Click here to review the staff report and attachments

Neighborhood Conversation #4 + #5, September 26-27, 2023

On Tuesday, September 26, 2023, and Wednesday, September 27, 2023 neighbors met with staff, consultants, and the Page & Turnbull Architectural team to preview initial designs and provide feedback on the architectural plan development for the Laurel House Artist-in-Residence Renovation Project. Neighbors asked questions and provided feedback at the meeting.

The initial designs can be previewed here: Laurel Board 1 - Laurel Board 2 - Laurel Board 3 - Laurel Board 4

Additionally, the September 27^th meeting was recorded on Zoom and can be watched here:

Performing Art and Cultural Affairs Subcommittee, January 11, 2024

On Thursday, January 11, 2024, the Performing Arts and Cultural Affairs Subcommittee (PACA) of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission received a presentation of the final Laurel House Artist Residency Program from the consultant team Kimberli Meyer and Sara Daleiden. The Subcommittee received the presentation and provided a recommendation for the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission to approve the final Laurel House Artist Residency Program.

Click here to view the presentation

Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission, January 25, 2024

City Council, July 15, 2024

On Monday, July 15, 2024, the City Council received an update on the Laurel House and Park project.

Staff, working with the design team Page & Turnbull have incorporated the feedback gathered from the community meetings and presentations with the Historic Preservation Commission on November 27, 2023, Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission on October 26, 2023, and the Public Facilities Commission on December 13, 2023 into the final schematic architectural design set . Following the completion of the schematic design an estimate of probable costs was prepared for completion of the project. This estimate will be used during the Design Development phase to assist in updating the design to reduce project costs through value engineering or modifications to the program.

In addition the City Council received an update on the Laurel Avenue Artist Residency Program Guidelines for the Laurel House and Park, as recommended by the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission.

VIEW THE LAUREL AVENUE ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAM (approved by the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission on January 25, 2024 and City Council on July 15, 2024)

Previous meetings

Monday, July 15, 2024 - City Council received an update on the Laurel House and Park and Artist Residency Program as part of an item for the city's Capital Projects Implementation.

Thursday, January 25, 2024 - Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission approved the final Artist Residency Program as recommended by the PACA Subcommittee.

Thursday, January 11, 2024 - Performing Arts and Cultural Affairs Subcommittee of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission. Consultant team, Kimberli Meyer and Sara Daleiden, and staff presented the final Artist Residency Program.

Friday, December 2, 2023 - Neighborhood Conversation #1: Let's Talk about an Artist Residency Program. Deep dive discussion with the consultant team, Kimberli Meyer and Sara Daleiden at the Plummer Park Community Center, 5:00-6:30p.m.

Saturday, December 3, 2023 - Neighborhood Conversation #2: Let's Talk about an Artist Residency Program. Drop-in discussions with the consultant team, Kimberli Meyer and Sara Daleiden at the Laurel House Park, 3:00-5:00p.m.

Thursday, February 9, 2023 - Performing Arts and Cultural Affairs Subcommittee of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission. Consultant team, Kimberli Meyer and Sara Daleiden presented different types of Artist-in-Residence programs and the Subcommittee provided direction to proceed with an Interdisciplinary approach. Public meeting via teleconference, 5:00p.m.

Thursday, February 23, 2023 - Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission approved the Subcommittee's recommendation to proceed with an Interdisciplinary approach and build a way to consider the other types after Laurel Artist-in-Residence Program was established. Public meeting via teleconference, 5:00p.m.

Friday, March 17, 2023 - Neighborhood Conversation #3: Let's Talk about an Artist Residency Program. The consultant team led discussion about the Laurel House Artist Residency program at the Plummer Park Community Center, 5:00 -6:30p.m.

Thursday, April 13, 2023 - Performing Arts and Cultural Affairs Subcommittee of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission. Consultant team, Kimberli Meyer and Sara Daleiden presented the draft Laurel House Artist Residency Program. Public meeting at the Plummer Park Community Center, 5:00p.m.

Thursday, April 27, 2023 - Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission. Public meeting at Plummer Park Community Center, 5:00p.m.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 - Neighborhood Conversation #4. Page & Turnbull Architectural Team presented the Laurel House architectural plans. Public meeting at Plummer Park Community Center, 6:00-7:30p.m.

Wednesday, September 27, 2023 - Neighborhood Conversation #5. Page & Turnbull Architectural Team presented the Laurel House architectural plans. Virtual presentation, zoom, 1:00p.m.

Thursday, November 16, 2023 - Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission. Page & Turnbull Architectural Team presented the Laurel House architectural plans. Public meeting at City Hall, 5:00p.m.

Monday, November 27, 2023 - Historic Preservation Commission. Page & Turnbull Architectural Team presented the Laurel House architectural plans. Public meeting at City Hall.

Wednesday, December 13, 2023 - Public Facilities, Recreation, and Infrastructure Commission. Page & Turnbull Architectural Team presented the Laurel House architectural plans. Public meeting at City Hall, 6:30p.m.