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CAC - Consideration of a New Permanent Mural Concept by Stephanie Hendrix for the Hotel at 8801 Washington Blvd. Toward Fulfillment of the City’s Art in Public Places Program Requirement for Ivy Station.
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Meeting Date: December 17, 2019
Contact Person/Dept: B. Christine Byers / Administrative Services - Cultural Affairs
Phone Number: (310) 253-6003
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: Courtesy Notice to Property Owners, Occupants, and Businesses within 500’ Radius (to End of Block) (Sent via US Mail on 12/09/19); (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - Cultural Affairs Commission (12/13/19)
Department Approval: Sol Blumenfeld, Community Development Director (12/13/19); Serena Wright-Black, Assistant City Manager (12/13/19)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Cultural Affairs Commission (“CAC”) consider the information provided, together with the recommendation of the CAC Public Art Subcommittee, and approve a new permanent mural for the hotel at Ivy Station towards fulfillment of the City’s Art in Public Places Program (“APPP”) requirement for the Ivy Station development project.
BACKGROUND
Lowe is the developer (Applicant) of the property at 8824 National Boulevard (Ivy Station). The project is comprised of office, residential, retail, restaurant and hotel space with subterranean parking and approximately one acre of open space. Ivy Station, with its proximity to the Metro Expo Line and downtown Culver City, is being programmed as a dynamic, vibrant, active area that provides connections to visitors, tenants and residents alike. The majority of the property is within Culver City, with a portion of the office building (adjacent to Venice Boulevard) located within the City of Los Angeles.
Pursuant to CCMC Section 15.06.120, new commercial development projects with a building valuation of $500,000 or more are subject to the City’s Art in Public Places Program (APPP) requirement. Lowe’s Art in Public Places Program allocation (1% of the applicable Building Permit valuation) is $1,416,008 for the Culver City portion. To date, this includes the 1% APPP allocation in conjunction with Building Permits B16-1043, B16-1044, B16-1045, and B16-0755. Lowe has already paid $300,000 into the Cultural Trust Fund toward the proposed Washington/National TOD Gateway Public Art Project (being implemented by the City), thereby leaving $1,116,008 available to cover administrative costs, including an art consultant fee, and costs associated with commissioning site-specific art for the property. The percent for art allocation associated with the portion of the project sited within the City of Los Angeles ($394,794) will be invested in events and programming over an approximately 24 month period and is being coordinated through the City of Los Angeles’s Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA).
The Applicant has chosen to fulfill the Culver City APPP requirement for Ivy Station with several art installations across the property, including points of entry to the property from National Blvd. and the Metro Expo Line station. The Applicant has collaborated with LeBasse Projects who has been responsible for facilitating artist selection, coordinating City review of the proposed art concepts, as well as overseeing fabrication and installation of all artworks. One goal of the public art program for Ivy Station is to showcase both local and international artists, as well as provide an opportunity for newer artists to create landmark permanent artworks. In May 2019, the CAC considered and approved six concepts by various artists/artist teams. At that time, the Applicant intended to commission a seventh artwork (mural) for the 2nd floor balcony of the hotel (located at 8801 Washington Blvd.) which would be brought forward for consideration later in the year.
LeBasse Projects worked with Lowe, KFA (project architect), Studio Collective (interior designer) and Hyatt (hotel operator) to review a selection of muralists for the 2nd floor hotel terrace which is both visible from the street and public right of way (sidewalk) below. Two Los Angeles based finalists were selected from a list of more than a dozen diverse artists; these were Stephanie (Steph) Hendrix and Bonnie Reiss. Ms. Hendrix was the final choice and she has completed several projects in Culver City (Coolhaus and Hi-Lo Liquor), thereby having had an opportunity to learn more about the city as well become acquainted with members of the community. Her proposed mural for the Ivy Station hotel is in an abstract manner intended “…. to highlight the diversity of the neighborhood and the ways in which it is learning to integrate and grow.”
The open-air balcony is over 84’ feet long on the street side, approximately half the length of the Washington Blvd. side of that building. Per images included in the attachment, the ceiling where the mural is to be sited has plenty of natural light during the earlier part of the day. Various forms of artificial lighting - up lighting and recessed - are proposed when daylight is no longer sufficient. There are additional electrical outlets should more lighting than what is currently proposed be required so that the mural meets the City’s minimum visibility requirement (10 hours per day, 7 days per week).
The CAC Public Art subcommittee (Vice Chair Pali and Commissioner Williams) met with the Applicant, LeBasse Projects and the artist on October 14, 2019. Because of concerns over lighting and visibility, the Applicant met again with the staff and subcommittee on November 18, 2019 at which time they provided additional information. The subcommittee concurred that the proposed artwork by Steph Hendrix met the APPP requirements as currently outlined in CCMC Section 15.06.135. There was agreement between staff, the subcommittee, and the Applicant that approval of the concept by the CAC was conditioned upon the art having appropriate lighting and that the developer would make adjustments as necessary to ensure that the City’s visibility requirements are met.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The cost for design, fabrication and installation for this project is borne entirely by the Applicant. The responsibility and cost for future maintenance and restoration of the artwork is the responsibility of the property owner pursuant to Section 15.06.150 of the CCMC.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 19-12-17_ATT_Art Installation Proposal: Ivy Station
RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
That the Cultural Affairs Commission:
1. Approve a permanent mural concept by Stephanie Hendrix for the hotel at 8801 Washington Blvd. toward fulfillment of the Art in Public Places Program requirement for Ivy Station with the condition that the lighting be adjusted as necessary to ensure meeting the City’s visibility requirement.