This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Vacant Silver Lake Church Turning Into Cool Hotel With Drinks And Dancing
Despite the protest of some of its neighbors, the church-turned-boutique-hotel in Silver Lake will be a new spot for you to eat, drink and dance. The hotel project at 1629 Griffith Park Blvd. from Dana Hollister (4100 Club, Cliff's Edge, Brite Spot) has finally secured the license to both operate a bar and let its patrons dance. According to a Facebook post from FE Design & Consulting, the firm that will be working with Hollister on renovations, the hotel will have a restaurant, a rooftop patio and "a full line of alcoholic beverages." The design firm includes among its clientele Little Tokyo's Wolf & Crane, Traction Brewpup and Sprinkles Cupcakes.
After years of delays, the project finally got approval from the L.A. Planning Department to begin last fall. However, the project wasn't given the go-ahead to have a bar or host special events or let anyone dance. It was a real Footloose situation. Or more accurately, neighbors were worried that the hotel would disturb be noisy, cramp parking availability and, according to Silver Lake resident Lucia Marano, would disrupt "the fabric and feeling of the community." Other neighbors disagreed, saying they'd much prefer a fun hotel to the 83-year-old church remaining eerily vacant. It looks like the Footloose crowd lost this round.
-
How to get the best eggs in town without leaving your yard.
-
Beautiful views aren't the only thing drawing Angelenos to the region
-
Gab Chabrán reflects on growing up in L.A. in a Latino home that doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving and the traditions they formed instead.
-
Oklahoma-style smash burgers and Georgian dumplings make for some excellent cheap bites in Glendale
-
Husband and wife Felix Agyei and Hazel Rojas combine food from their heritages, creating a marriage of West African and Filipino cooking
-
Baby Yoda cocktails. Boozy Dole Whips. Volcanic tiki drinks. If you can dream it, they're probably mixing it somewhere on property.