The Melrose Triangle, nestled between Santa Monica Blvd and Melrose, with its western border at Doheny and Beverly Hills, has seen little progress since the project was stalled. Armand Gabaee, co-partner with his brother at the Charles Company, is the developer for the project. Gabbaee pleaded guilty in 2018 to bribery.
During our last quarterly business meeting, Genevieve Morrill, President and CEO of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, addressed John Keho, the Director of Planning and Development for the City of West Hollywood. Morrill asked, “I wanted to ask about Melrose Triangle – and what the status of that big hole in the ground is?”
Keho replied, “So, it’s a big hole in the ground, that’s the status unfortunately. The City provides entitlements, planning entitlements, and building permits that guarantee a property owner those rights and permits for a period of time. There are restrictions that they have to fulfill certain activities within a specific timeframe to vest and make those things permanent. One of those activities is obtaining building permits, and they have to keep those permits active to maintain their validity. This involves requesting inspections from the city at least every six months. Unfortunately, our rules don’t specify the number or type of inspections required; it’s just an inspection.
“So this project is taking a long time. I believe they are still in the plan-check phase for some aspects of revising the project. However, in the meantime, they have active permits, and they come for inspections to keep those permits valid. The project is live, although it may not appear that way to many people. It is, in fact, a live project.
But is it really? What if it’s for sale? Interest rates have doubled, and there is a surplus of office space nationwide. Well, imagine living close to the beach or Lake West Hollywood, and grab a pre-roll at one of West Hollywood’s finest dispensaries.
We spent $250 million on West Hollywood Park. For another $250 million, we can have our very own lake and beachfront property. This fulfills all of our green goals and satisfies our Vision 2020 plan. Imagine a Fairy’s wheel, electric go-karts, a rainbow amusement park of our own, gender-neutral Jet Skis, a rainbow surfing wave, and a drag beach. It’s just another bond offering. Maybe the County Supervisor will pitch in.
This is 2023, and Lake WeHo can be ready for the 2028 Olympics… but Melrose Triangle? Will it happen in my lifetime? I’d rather have blue dreams about Lake WeHo.
I know this article is meant to be flippant, but I would love this idea.
Gabbae was convicted of bribery, and the story just leaves it at that. BAD reporting.
Looks like this development project bit the pro development City hall in the butt
Who busted this jerk for bribery, to do what? Did our star donate money to a campaign and expect more development favors?
Grreat hilarious article. Great laughs!!!
So it’s taking a long time…..what else is new in CA?
Yeah, getting prosecuted for a crime sometimes throws a wrench into the fine workings of bribery.
Thank you for the update, but I am wondering where John Kehoe’s quote ends from the meeting and where commentary begins…
I think West Hollywood should be a city for the HOMELESS (or should I used that stupid Far Left NAZI language term “unhoused” which means HOMELESS in English).
Wow, just wow. So angry
Why would you take my statement as “angry”. Did it disturb you somehow? Did you not like that I used an alternative term for the homeless?
That is interesting that you seek out anger in factual comments. I used descriptive language to describe a fact. Please share what part is angry.
Have a blessed day.
Is your name really Ida Lupino????
That’s nasty and uncalled for language. Also, it appears that you are hiding behind a fake name.
And yet you have zero to say about it’s substance…except, the truth is “nasty and uncalled for”.
If you don’t like my name, don’t read it.
That is YOUR opinion. Don’t read stuff that might offend your delicate eyes.
THINK of all the pot you could grow there! You could give free pot to everybody!
Just realized that the Gabbay campaign contributions have run wide and deep. Years ago they were a substantial chunk of Abbe Land’s windfall, every family member still breathing probably including all available cats and dogs. Good job Abbe! Perhaps you can be appointed Life Guard at the Triangle Lake Resort. LOL!
Change the rules idiots! Any permit requires demolition to completion within 18 months or heavy fines.
That’s completely unreasonable for large projects. Come back to reality!!
Unfortunately “our inspections don’t specify the number of types of inspections required”. LOL, that sounds like how AKA ran amok without the correct definition of leasable units. Sounds like the Planning Department needs a dictionary and a course in comprehension.
A lake—who would think of some so useless in the dry urban desert—dump bodies, algae, sun tan for more skin cancer—-will the dolts stop thinking Housing
I vote no on lakes—we need places to rent not get more bugs—lakes-bugs big time. Then it will dry up. So make aquifer save water—or apartments with appropriate trees no ficus destroying sidewalks