L.A. Conservancy v. City of W. Hollywood

*1033 Los Angeles Conservancy (Conservancy) petitioned the superior court for a writ of mandate to compel the City of West *1034 Hollywood (the City) to set aside the City's approval of a real estate development project known as "the Melrose Triangle" project. The Conservancy argues that the environmental impact report (EIR) was flawed in its analysis of alternatives to the project, the City failed to respond to public comments, and the City's finding that a particular alternative to the project is infeasible is not supported by substantial evidence. The trial court denied the petition, and the Conservancy appealed. We affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL SUMMARY

Real parties in interest Charles Company and System, LLC, applied to the City for permits to develop a three-acre triangular site bound by Santa Monica Boulevard, Melrose Avenue, and Almont Drive. The site, adjacent to the City's western boundary and known as "the Melrose Triangle," includes a building located at 9080 Santa Monica Boulevard (the 9080 Building). The 9080 Building was built in 1928 and remodeled in 1938 based on designs by the architectural firm of Wurdeman and Becket, "notable Los Angeles architects whose…