By Bari Cohn
Staff Writer
The Hermosa Beach City Council is working to finalize a plan to build a new hotel on the Hermosa Beach Strand potentially as early as the beginning of 2018.
The Strand & Pier Hotel will be located on the strand and Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach. The developers hope that with the amazing location and new design, this hotel will be a great way to bring visitors into Hermosa Beach.
“The hotel will bring numerous economic benefits to the community,” Hermosa Beach Community Development Director Ken Robertson said. “In addition, it will bring in the Transient Occupancy Tax revenues, which will help bring some much needed economic activity to the location, as well as some lodging for visitors.”
Members of the community were able to meet with developers in July, to discuss and share their ideas. Some of the ideas have included reducing the height of the building from 45 to 30 feet, and also creating a first floor of cafes and restaurants that are open to the public.
“Hermosa Beach is a fabulous town and definitely has so much wonderful character,” Hermosa Beach resident Nicole Perez said. “But it also has a grittier side, and sometimes a very disruptive nightlife. Maybe a new hotel could shift Hermosa’s reputation from a party town, to a little bit more sophisticated.”
Bolour Associates, a commercial real estate company, will be working with the Hill Glazier Studio and Provenance Hotels to develop the Strand & Pier Hotel. Provenance Hotels is an award winning urban boutique hotel company with locations all over the country.
“I hope the city is considering the implications of adding so many rooms, traffic, and crowds,” Perez said. “Hopefully the building won’t block too many views or take away from the small, quaint feel of the city.”
The Hill Glazier Studio’s main goal is to merge beauty with efficiency; they will be using the most eco-friendly and durable techniques while building the architecture. Not only do they want to make sure the structure of the building is safe, but they also want to focus on implementing green ways of transportation and environmentally friendly appliances throughout the hotel.
“If the additional tourists and crowds can bring in significant revenue to continue to improve the city for residents then it will be a good thing,” Perez said. “But I can’t help but worry about the traffic, crowds, noise and other issues that adding a big hotel can bring.”
It is estimated that the city itself could gain nearly $1.5 million per year from through the hotel, as well as the opportunity to promote for local businesses and events.
“The concerns the community has is possible increase in traffic and congestion, as well as overall congestion in that district,” Robertson said. “But there is still a long process where all of this must be evaluated by the community.”
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