Court Approves Sunset Millennium Project

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has upheld approvals for a massive Sunset Strip mixed-use project, which will straddle the intersection of Sunset and La Cienega boulevards.
By: ANDY FIXMER: Los Angeles Business Journal Staff
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has upheld approvals for a massive Sunset Strip mixed-use project.

Superior Court Judge David Yaffe rejected arguments of Save the Sunset Strip Coalition that the City of West Hollywood inappropriately approved the project, which will straddle the intersection of Sunset and La Cienega boulevards.

Sunset Millennium is to contain two hotels with 296 rooms combined that will be branded a W and a J.W. Marriott and a 190-unit condominium building with room for ground floor shops and restaurants.

The developer, Apollo Real Estate Advisors, estimates the project will create about 400 jobs in the hotel, restaurants and shops, that it will generate $2.8 million in fees and taxes for West Hollywood, and result in 400 parking spaces for public use.

“We feel validated by the judge’s ruling and are eager to move forward with our project,” said Apollo principal Richard Ackerman in a statement. “It has been a long, and sometimes difficult, road to reach this stage, but now it’s time to begin work on what we think will be the crown jewel of the Sunset Strip.”

The project was first approved by West Hollywood seven years ago but only the first phase of the project was completed. The city approved the second phase in April and opponents – including the Grafton and Mondrian hotels – filed a lawsuit to block the development.

Yaffe’s decision paves the way for Sunset Millennium developer Apollo Real Estate Advisors to begin construction later this year. Construction is expected to take 26 months to complete.