The Los Angeles City Planning Commission has voted to recommend approval of a proposed project which would expand the Hilton Universal City hotel at the doorstep of Universal Studios.

The proposed project from Sun Hill Proeprties, which would rise next door to the existing 24-story hotel tower at 555 E. Universal Hollywood Drive, calls for the construction of a new 18-story building featuring 395 guest rooms. Combined with the existing tower, the Hilton would have 890 guest rooms after completion of the project.

Aerial view looking eastAnkrom Moisan

Ankrom Moisan is designing the tower, which would have a diamond-shaped footprint and plans for a rooftop pool. Other project elements include the addition of 460 new parking spaces, adding to an existing 652 stalls which exist on the site today.

Pending approval of project entitlements by the City Council, including a zone change, construction of the Hilton Universal expansion is expected to occur over 30 months.

"We are immensely gratified by the City Planning Commission’s unanimous vote in favor of our proposal to expand the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City," said Sun Hill Properties president and chief executive officer Mark Davis in a statement. "The journey to execute this project could not have been possible without the support of the community, labor, and Councilmember Nithya Raman. We still believe in the future of LA and the continued growth of our primary demand driver, Universal Studios Theme Park, the key magnet to attract tourism to the City of Angels. In four short years, we will be welcoming the world when Los Angeles hosts the Summer Olympics for the third time, and we are doing our part to help get the city ready for this momentous occasion."

Hilton Los Angeles Universal CityGoogle Maps

Originally slated to begin construction in 2023, and later 2024, the project's developers have recently sought incentives from the City of Los Angeles to build the project, citing a need for financial assistance. Such incentive packages have previously involved a partial rebate of transient occupancy tax revenue which would normally be paid to the city.

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