The Los Angeles City Council approved guidelines Tuesday that are designed to protect the Hollywood Walk of Fame from damage caused by nearby construction projects. The plan comes at a time when the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is preparing to rehabilitate the Walk of Fame, particularly in the area near Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.

The sidewalk around some of the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of the Hollywood and Highland complex has become damaged. The area will be the first to be replaced in a rehabilitation project. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The proposal for guidelines was authored by City Council President Eric Garcetti, 13th District, and seconded by Councilmember Tom LaBonge, 4th District. The terrazzo sidewalks around the Walk of Fame stars have sometimes been damaged over the years during adjacent construction projects, and there has never been a formal plan in place requiring contractors or developers to consider impacts to the attraction.

“Millions of people from all over the world have come to Hollywood and seen the Walk of Fame, and we want to make sure that it is still here for many future generations to enjoy,” Garcetti said. “For the first time, this motion creates guidelines to preserve the Walk of Fame and keep it as the world class attraction that it is.”

Leron Gubler, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which oversees the Walk of Fame, said he did not know why such guidelines had never been considered before, but added that the Chamber, through the Hollywood Historic Trust, has had to pay for repairs or seek restitution from contractors when damage occurs.

“The Walk of Fame has been around for more than 50 years and there had been no city protection policy for the Walk of Fame,” Gubler said. “Anytime anybody wants to do construction, they just cut across it. This will spell out what must be done if someone wants to do construction. They must have a plan in place to protect the Walk of Fame.”

The new guidelines stipulate that the city’s Bureau of Engineering will review all plans for work around the Walk of Fame, and will coordinate the review with the Cultural Heritage Commission and consult with Hollywood Heritage and the Hollywood Chamber prior to approvals being granted. Prior to construction, developers will be required to provide a preservation plan to the city’s planning department outlining efforts to preserve the Walk. Developers will have to submit samples of the terrazzo, brass lettering and dividers, and marble chips they will use if they need to repair or replace parts of the Walk of Fame, and the materials must be approved by the city. Any materials that must be removed and stored during construction must be stored away from the job site in a clean, dry place, and contractors will be required to keep a record of who has custody of any stars that are removed during construction.

Gubler said no specific incidents came to mind involving the actual stars being damaged by construction, but said projects often cause cracks and other problems in the sidewalks. He added that there have been numerous incidents when the sidewalks have had to be removed and replaced to allow plumbing to be installed for buildings adjacent to the Walk of Fame. The developers of the W Hotel and Residences voluntarily came to the Chamber with plans to protect the Walk of Fame during construction, which closed the sidewalk in the 1600 block of Vine Street. Approximately 70 stars on that stretch were removed in 2007 and held in safekeeping until they were replaced in 2009 when the project was completed. The new guidelines will address those types of situations, Gubler added.

“When the damage occurs, we have to come in and have it replaced properly,” Gubler said. “The Hollywood Historic Trust has to do the repairs.”

Gubler said depending on the type of damage, the repairs can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce contracts with Top End Constructors to do all work on the Walk of Fame. David Paternostro, president of Top End Constructors, said sometimes the stars have to be taken out and replaced.

“It depends on how extensive the damage is, and it can be in the thousands of dollars,” Paternostro said. “It usually takes about three days. The stars are taken out and ground and polished, and the repairs are made to the sidewalk. It can be pretty extensive.”

Gubler said the Hollywood Chamber is planning to embark on an extensive project to repair the sidewalk in front of the Hollywood and Highland complex. The terrazzo sidewalk around approximately 100 stars located between Highland Avenue and the Hard Rock Café will be replaced. Extensive surface cracking has occurred in the area, and while no official determination has been made as to what is causing the damage, Gubler said it may be related to vibration caused by the subway that runs underneath or the large amount of foot traffic in the area. The Chamber has raised approximately $3 million to complete the project. An official start date has not been set, but Gubler said the goal is to have the work completed before the Cirque du Soleil show “Iris” opens at the Kodak Theater in July. Paternostro said the stars and terrazzo will have a two-foot thick, steel-reinforced concrete base underneath that is designed to prevent future cracking. Currently, the stars and sidewalk are built over a nine-inch base. Paternostro added that the entire project will likely take one month to complete.