Development and depression

W Hotel and Residences, Hollywood
Calling Dr. Kildare. The massing is energetic but the clinical design and lack of fine detailing make the building feel cold.

The new W Hotel and Residences continues to struggle skyward on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Argyle Avenue in spite of the deepening economic crisis. This is one of the few projects proposed over the past three years for the eastern end of downtown Hollywood that has actually managed to get off the ground. Others—including the (overly?) ambitious Blvd 6200 and the construction of the originally planned office tower atop the Pantages Theater (both projects of The Clarett Group)—seem to be stalled like a VW Dasher with spark plug issues.

The original elevation drawing for the Pantages Theater, showing the 10-story office tower that was never constructed. History repeats itself, 80 years later.
Click the image for a larger view.

The Pantages project was originally cut short, so to speak, by the Great Depression; how ironic—and very disappointing—that it has happened again, 80 years later. Seeing a 12-story Art Déco structure take its rightful place directly across the street from the energetically massed but predictably clinical W Hotel would have been a delight.

If the Pantages tower ever does materialize, I might even consider checking into the W Hospital Hotel for a room with a view north.