By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
During an initial hearing on Wednesday evening, January 10, the Pacific Palisades Commercial Village and Neighborhoods Design Review Board unanimously voted to continue an item regarding plans for the forthcoming Pacific Palisades location of Equinox, pending requests to change a portion of the design of two outdoor walls.
Equinox, a “luxury fitness club,” confirmed to the Palisadian-Post in September 2023 it was slated to open at 17383 Sunset Boulevard in summer 2024, in a space previously occupied by Bay Club, which closed in May 2021.
“What we’re proposing today is Equinox basically taking over the old Bay Club,” Brad Rosenheim, who spoke during the meeting on behalf of Equinox, explained, “same space and doing some minor facade changes … the square footage … is really pretty much a net-zero gain or loss.”
The area of work for the project includes approximately 24,700 square feet of space. The project includes “tenant improvement/interior remodel of existing health club/gym” on three floors of Building C and the third floor of Building B, according to a planning package.
“The proposed project includes the installation of new storefronts, solid walls and landscaping,” according to Los Angeles City Planning Department. “The proposed project also includes the demolition of 248 square feet of floor area at Building B (third floor) and addition of 192 square feet of floor area at Building B (third floor) and 43 square feet of floor area at Building C (second floor), resulting in a 24,718-square-foot health club/gym.”
As proposed, the locker room would be on the ground floor, the main entrance on the second floor, and the majority of the workout and exercise space on the third floor. A “small area” on the third floor of Building B that was previously enclosed is proposed to be an outdoor space for exercise, with things like mounted pull-up bars and rubberized floor tile.
The applicant proposed to install an “opaque film” on the ground floor of Building C at the locker room—“otherwise, the building finishes are remaining,” according to project architect Lulu Saleh, who also spoke at the meeting. Planters were proposed to be added to the exterior balconies, which “will be finished to match the existing building facade” and feature drought-tolerant native plants.
“No deviations” from the Palisades Commercial Village and Neighborhood Specific Plan are requested and “no change of use was proposed.” Equinox signage is slated to only be installed “in previously approved places,” Saleh said.
After a presentation from project representatives, the members of the board posed a series of questions regarding the design, primarily focused on the proposed look of two outdoor facades.
DRB Board Member Tammy McKerrow-Poulos cited concern over a “patchwork” look of the two different types of film (translucent and opaque) that Equinox proposed to have, as well as a “blank white wall” that is “very visible” from Sunset Boulevard, including the Juicy Ladies space: “Without any treatment on it, it’s not going to look very good.”
Saleh explained that the opaque film would only be installed on the ground floor where the locker rooms are, covering almost the “entire floor,” with the “exception of one area,” which will be translucent: “So in terms of the patchwork, it’ll be sort of a whole ribbon, so there shouldn’t be that patchwork effect you’re concerned about.”
The “solid wall,” Saleh continued, is related to the “programmatic elements inside”—a cycling studio—but that planters and other “visual interests” would be added near the wall.
The DRB board members and Equinox project representatives discussed the elements of the wall and glass, ending with the members of the board saying they would want to see a redesign of the wall and opaque window before approving the project.
They voted unanimously to continue the hearing until the applicant could return with an updated design, with “a visual activation element at the ground level and to revert the proposed wall on the third floor to the existing glass panels,” Planning Assistant Brenden Lau confirmed.
The item may be heard again as soon as February 14, pending when the redesign can be submitted and agendized.
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