New Fault Maps Might Mean an Unhappy Ending for Hollywood Developments

A state geological survey has released new maps of an active earthquake fault that runs through a dense area of Los Angeles, including Hollywood and the Sunset Strip. Until the new maps were released, Los Angeles city officials with the Department of Building and Safety had been using outdated maps when reviewing projects for approval.

Rong-Gong Lin II, Rosanna Xia, and Doug Smith report that several new projects might have had a more lengthy review if the newer maps had been in play: “The state's new map shows that three prominent Hollywood developments — the proposed Millennium Hollywood skyscraper project, the Blvd6200 development and a planned apartment complex on Yucca Street — are within the roughly 500-foot fault zone.”

Tamara Audi reports that “State officials said lack of funding and an overwhelming task prevented them from moving more quickly on the new maps. So far, the state has mapped 5,000 miles of active faults in California, with 2,000 more miles left to go.” Governor Jerry Brown’s recent budget proposal calls for $1.49 million in new funding for fault mapping, including to another article by Rong-Gong Lin II and Rosanna Xia.

Audi’s reportage also focuses on a proposed $664 million development project called Millennium Hollywood, which is the subject of a contentious battle between the project’s developers and neighborhood groups. Los Angeles officials approved the Millennium Hollywood last year based on the old maps.