A better Best Western Hollywood Hills

Hollywood's much-loved Best Western Hollywood Hills Motel—home of fabu '60s throwback Warner Ebbink–designed 101 Coffee Shop—is getting a facelift.

Best Western Hollywood Hills plan (used by permission of KoningEizenberg Architects).

Architects KoningEizenberg have submitted plans for the refurb, which largely deals with redirecting traffic flow in the hotel's parking lots and some associated landscaping, but also includes non-structural updates to the hotel's exterior (awnings!) and some cool streetscaping that will make it a better neighbor for the new La Belle at Hollywood Tower apartments right across the street.

Best Western Hollywood Hills plan (used by permission of KoningEizenberg Architects).

One salient point in the plan is to retain the noted "Last Cappuccino Before the 101" mural on the east side of the building as part of the new exterior design. This sign is now considered "iconic and part of what gives some character to the neighborhood," according to KoningEizenberg and the environmental graphics firm attached to the project; neighbors tend to agree. Other existing murals will be deleted.

Best Western Hollywood Hills plan (used by permission of KoningEizenberg Architects).

The hearing for the project's Conditional Use Permit before the Planning Commission is coming up on April 6 at 10 am at City Hall, Room 1020. Neighborhood groups have already endorsed the improvements wholeheartedly, but further letters of support are encouraged.

The hotel, first built in 1927, has been owned and operated by the Adler family since 1948. And by the way, 101 Coffee Shop addicts, don't worry: the restaurant and its stellar jukebox will remain unchanged.

Best Western Hollywood Hills plan (used by permission of KoningEizenberg Architects).

Full drawings as submitted to the Planning Commission have been posted here and here in PDF format (large files).