The West Hollywood City Council last week postponed an appeal of a recommendation to designate an apartment building called Sunset Lanai, at 1422 N. Sweetzer Ave., as a local cultural resource.

The City of West Hollywood is considering the Sunset Lanai apartments, which were built by architect Edward Fickett, as a historic resource. Fickett designed several apartment complexes in the city. (photo by Ian Lovett)

The property owner’s lawyer asked the council on Sept. 20 for the hearing to be rescheduled to allow for more time to review the staff reports.

The property owner, Edwin Silver, is concerned he would have to pay for additional costs to rehabilitate the property — designed by mid-century architect Edward H. Fickett — as part of the process for the historic designation.

But that isn’t the case, city officials said. Buildings that are deemed a cultural resource have a level of protection to save them from unwarranted alterations, demolition or removal, said Antonio Castillo, an associate planner for the City of West Hollywood.

“We have explained to them that they are not required to do anything to this site,” Castillo said.

This is one of about 80 properties in 2008 to be nominated as cultural resources in the city.

However, since the potential landmark has had on-site visits from the city, some issues relating to plumbing have come up. There is also water damage related to construction in the area, Castillo said.

The apartment building is one of five remaining of an original 37 in the city that have been identified as designed by Fickett, said Edward Levin, the chair of the city’s Historic Preservation Commission.

Last month, the City Council designated Fickett’s Sunset Patios apartment building at 1127 Horn Ave., as a cultural resource.

Two additional Fickett buildings are being considered by the historic commission, including the Fountain Lanai at 1285 Sweetzer Ave. and the Hollywood Riviera at 1400 Hayworth Ave.

Fickett is a well-known Southern California architect, having designed more than 60,000 homes and buildings in the region during a career spanning more than six decades. Fickett, who died in 1999, designed numerous residences, apartment complexes and commercial buildings in West Hollywood and the surrounding area, but only five or six are known to still exist today — most have been razed or developed as new projects.

Typical Fickett design elements include a courtyard pool with tropical plants and the apartments are also characterized by floor to ceiling glass walls, vertical wood siding and sloping rooflines.