Green Hotel for Venice?

Controversy! As Curbed was first to catch onto, the Ambrose Hotel group is proposing to put in a 57 room hotel where the original Eames Workshop currently sits on Abbott Kinney and it's becoming quite the hot topic. Don't worry, they will incorporate the workshop into the lobby of the hotel, thus at least preserving that bit of history. The hotel is going to great lengths to set new standards in being green featuring the use of non toxic cleaning products, water conserving everything and drought tolerant landscaping. The hotel group has a history of using electricity through Clean and Green Wind power and are pursuing a LEED Certification.

Locals are looking past all the buzz, though, to the parts of the hotel that would exceed the current neighborhood height restrictions. This would effectively open the area up to more structures taller than are currently acceptable. There are also major concerns about the addition of 57 new cars (and tourists) everyday further congesting Abbott Kinney. Not to mention most Venetians' fears about the changes happening to their neighborhood.

I don't want to be a traitor to my own neighborhood (and I have lived here a long time), but have you seen the rooftop pool?

The Venice Beach Neighborhood Council will be determining the fate of the building at a meeting starting at 4:30 this afternoon.

–Laure

Comments (6)

Having lived in Venice since 1985 I often feel sad about the changes the commuity has under gone in the last 8 or 9 years.With the crazy rise in property value the artists have had to leave for cheaper rents in other parts of town as well as the families who have lived for generations in the Oakwood section of Venice.Gone are traffic free streets,a couple of good resturants, a small number of quality shops, and a diverse eccentric community.Abbott Kinney now has a pinkberry and plenty of shops for all the 20 something kids who have moved in to shop, our very own SoHo!!! Im sure we'll be getting a GAP just like them soon!
Oh yeah, and Laure will have a hotel pool to swim in.

posted by lisa on August 1st 2007 at 7:42pm
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Lisa--thanks for your comment. I was hoping to hear from some other Venetians. I've lived in venice on and off since '87 and know the change that you are talking about. I remember when half the buildings on Abbott Kinney (then Washington) were all but abandoned and when it wasn't safe for me to walk anywhere alone (according to my dad of course). Although it's been a little horrifying to see the neighborhood change so quickly(and watch the chances of me being able to own a home here plummet), I do appreciate that this is a destination for people. That we have something that they would like to be a part of, even if that changes essentially what it is.

posted by laure on August 1st 2007 at 8:32pm
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Part 2:
I find it both perplexing and ironic that a staff writer of a design oriented website should make a seemingly positive comment about a proposed hotel that would not only change the face and "feel" of a community but would also TEAR DOWN THE CHARLES AND RAY EAMES FACTORY!!!!!!!!!!
Know who they are???????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This would not be happening in a city like Paris, London, or New York!! Maybe its because so many people move to LA for personal ambition rather than the love of the city and its history
An IKEA generation

posted by lisa on August 1st 2007 at 8:41pm
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I own
Never fealt threatened to walk the streets (at 5'5" 115 lbs) alone-guess thats why I stayed. Maybe Ill move to Manhattan Beach once they all move here - "even if it changes essentially what it is" -
Ahh, Corporate America

posted by lisa on August 1st 2007 at 9:00pm
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Honestly Lisa I think you are taking this building of the Hotel too personally. I understand that living in Venice gives you a great deal of your identity, but judging from "Part 2" I'm guessing even if Venice changes your personality won't.

posted by EmptyDesk on August 2nd 2007 at 10:20am
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Lisa,
interesting comment about the Eames building, but where were you 15 years ago when nobody in the county of Los Angeles wanted to help to create a museum in this Building!!!
The swiss company VITRA bought everything and transfered all of it to Basel, switzerland!! Then the whole inside was gutted when Side FX moved (at least 10 years ago).
So why dont you kick yourself now that it's too late!!!!

posted by figaro on August 2nd 2007 at 1:11pm
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