Hollywood & Vine
Groundbreaking Launches New Era. Chamber
Support was Crucial in Moving the Project
Forward
 A
veritable Who’s Who of Hollywood was present
this past Monday at the groundbreaking ceremony
for the long-anticipated Hollywood & Vine
project. The $600-million development is
expected to bring back the glamour to that
storied intersection. A very complicated land
deal resulted in a lengthy, five-year process of
approvals that involved a 99-year lease of Metro
land above a subway station, land swaps, and
securing several adjoining properties to
assemble 4.65- acres. Actor Jimmy Kimmel emceed
the groundbreaking ceremony. In recognition of
the Chamber’s strong advocacy role in
championing the project over the years-long
process, Chamber President & CEO Leron Gubler
spoke at the ceremony. “Like an aging star
sometimes has to do, Hollywood is reinventing
itself – as an exciting, urban neighborhood,” he
said. “We are going to show what is possible in
creating an urban center with a high quality of
life. We will point the way for the rest of
L.A.” He expressed special appreciation to
developers Gatehouse Capital and Legacy Partners
for sticking with the project through the
lengthy process. The project includes a
305-room W Hotel, 143 W Residences (condos), 375
luxury apartments ( including 79 affordable
units) and 61,000-sq.ft. of retail space. The
City gains substantial benefits from the
project, which is expected to generate
$167-million in tax revenue to the City over 30
years, and another $92-million in tax increment
revenue to the CRA over the same period, of
which $25-million will be set aside for
affordable housing. Completion is anticipated
by mid-2009.
Preparations Move Into
High Gear for Academy Awards
Mikel Gordon and
Jonathan Harris of the Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences briefed the Chamber’s Tourism
Committee this week on planning for the 79th
annual Academy Awards, to be broadcast Sunday,
February 25th from the Kodak
Theatre. The Academy is following the same
street closure plan as was done last year.
Hollywood Blvd. between Highland and Orange
closes for the duration from Monday, Feb.19th
at 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, February 27th.
For additional information related to street
closures, go to: www.Oscars.org. Chamber
members are also invited to visit the free
display by the Academy at Hollywood & Highland
of 50 Oscars. The display is open through
February 23rd. Hours are noon to 8
p.m. through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on
Friday.
Chamber Plans Media
Center to Promote Hollywood
The Chamber
will host its fifth annual Awards’ Media Center
on Thursday, February 22 and Friday, February 23
for local, national and international members of
the media who will be covering the Academy
Awards. The media center is an opportunity for
the Hollywood business community to put its best
foot forward with the media and to pitch them on
stories about Hollywood. The center usually
attracts between 75 and 100 members of the press
over the two days. Businesses helping to host
the event include: Pink’s Hot Dogs, Hollywood
Roosevelt Hotel, California Pizza Kitchen,
Joseph’s Café, Music Box @ Fonda, and Rolbeca
Bakeshop rolls. Contributions have also been
made by Hansen’s Beverages and Frito Lay. Anyone
desiring to help staff the media center is
welcome to contact Chamber Vice President of
Publicity, Ana Martinez-Holler, at
(323)469-8311.
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 Call for
Nominations for Women of Distinction Awards
The Hollywood
Chamber of Commerce is now accepting
nominations for the 14th annual Women of
Distinction Awards luncheon, which will be held
on Tuesday, May 15, at the Globe Theatre at
Universal Studios. Each year, the Chamber
honors women from the community who have shown
outstanding dedication to Hollywood.
Nominations for this year’s awards will be
accepted through February 28th. Applications
are available for downloading on the Chamber’s
website at
www.hollywoodchamber.net, or at the Chamber
office, 7018 Hollywood Blvd. Past nominations
may be reconsidered, but an application must
still be re-submitted. Co-chairs Maureen
Schultz of Capitol Records and Laurie Goldman of
GO! Goldman Organization note that they are
seeking active members who would like to serve
on the Planning Committee and help raise
awareness, funding and prizes. It is a great
way to get involved with the community and with
the honorees! If you are interested in serving
on the committee or sponsoring or promoting your
business with a prize donation for this
important event, please contact Elizabeth at the
Chamber (323)785-1760 or via email at
info@hollywoodchamber.net.
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