"He built the extra floor without a permit. The neighbors complained and he lost the ability to build out the floor. The county, which governed the area at the time, accused Ashkenazy of exceeding the height limit of the original plan and prevented him from developing the floor for occupancy."
"The ninth floor has mostly been used as storage space since the 200-suite hotel opened as Le Bel Age shortly before West Hollywood became a city. Workers are constructing swanky suites that will rent for as much as $1,299 a night on the top floor, which was off-limits until recently."
"Our company looked at all the unused space and saw the potential for an additional level of luxury at our hotel. Northwood Investors bought the hotel last October and secured permission from the city to create luxury suites on the empty floor. The $23-million upgrade will include the addition of 21 suites and a new fitness center."
The London West Hollywood hotel's ninth floor, known as the "ghost" floor, remained undeveloped storage space for nearly 40 years due to a zoning violation. Original developer Severyn Ashkenazy constructed the floor without proper permits, exceeding the approved height limit. County authorities prevented him from occupying the space, and it remained unused after the hotel opened as Le Bel Age in 1984. Following Northwood Investors' purchase in October, the city granted permission to develop the floor. The $23-million renovation project will add 21 luxury suites and a fitness center, transforming the space into high-end accommodations designed by David Collins Studio.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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