Hotel-housing complex inches forward at 8240 Sunset Boulevard

An initial study published this week by the City of West Hollywood offers up new details regarding The Harper, the latest hotel and housing complex planned for the Sunset Strip.

The proposed project from local real estate development and construction firm A.J. Khair, announced last year, would rise from a corner lot at 8240 Sunset Boulevard, replacing two small office buildings and a surface parking lot. In their place, plans call for a new building featuring a 167-room hotel in addition to 45 apartments, restaurants, shops, and various amenities.

The new apartments are planned in a mix of one- and two-bedroom units, and would include nine low-income affordable units in addition to 36 market rate units. The residential section of the property would feature a private courtyard for residents, with most units designed with at least two faces of exposure to permit natural lighting and cross ventilation.

The new hotel, in addition to guest accommodations, would feature 3,121 square feet of lobby space, meeting rooms, and service areas. Planned amenities include a rooftop pool deck, a cafe, a courtyard, and other lounge and garden areas shared with residents.

Commercial uses would include nearly 7,000 square feet of indoor space, located at street level and on the eighth floor, as well as outdoor dining areas.

AXIS/GFA is the project's executive architect, which would include seven- and nine-story buildings.

"The Project would include curved glass gateway elements, in addition to a floating corner street front courtyard with outdoor seating open to the Sunset Boulevard streetscape with an interior open-air courtyard and oculus open to the sky," reads a narrative included with the initial study. "The Project would incorporate landscape and greenery to create an organic appearance. The main hotel structure would float above the street level, both on Sunset Boulevard and North Harper Avenue, with both expansive openings and glass walls."

As with other recent hotel projects on the Sunset Strip, numerous digital signs are proposed for the exterior of the building.

According to the initial study, construction of the Harper is expected to occur over a 30-month period commencing in June 2023. That scheduled is contingent on the approval of project entitlements by the City of West Hollywood, including a general plan amendment, a zone change, and a development agreement.

The project's combination of a hotel, housing, and commercial uses within a single site represents a tried and true formula for the Sunset Strip, which has recently seen the completion of two similar projects: the Pendry Hotel & Residences and the Edition Hotel & Residences. Additional developments are slated for properties at 8850 and 9034 Sunset Boulevard.

• Another hotel and housing complex planned for the Sunset Strip (Urbanize LA)