The city of West Hollywood invites community members to attend initial neighborhood conversations about an artist residency program at Laurel House and Park on Friday, Dec. 2, from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Plummer Park Community Center, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. A consultant team will lead a discussion about the site, the creative community in West Hollywood and how an artist residency program may contribute to the community.

The community is also invited to share thoughts with the consultant team and city staff on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 3-5 p.m. at Laurel House and Park, 1343 N. Laurel Ave.

The neighborhood conversations will be led by consultants Kimberli Meyer and Sara Daleiden, who will guide the development of the artist residency program. Meyer, an independent cultural producer, curator, writer and designer working in art and architecture, served from 2002-16 as director the MAK Center for Art and Architecture at the Schindler House. Daleiden specializes in facilitating civic engagement using arts and cultural exchange strategies, and encourages people to value neighborhoods, public space, civic art and business development.

The city-owned Laurel House and Park is located on a 30,000-square-foot lot, and includes a 7,177-square-foot former single-family home and a 2,379-square-foot unattached accessory structure. The original portions of the structures were built in 1917. The conversion of the original single-family residence into four apartment units and the southerly four-car garage addition were completed in 1941.

The property was designated as a local cultural resource by the city of West Hollywood in 1994. In 2010, the West Hollywood City Council directed staff to develop a plan to open the grounds at 1343 N. Laurel Ave. on a temporary basis for public use. From 2013-14, the city conducted an extensive community visioning process and in 2018, the West Hollywood City Council received a report from the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission recommending an artist in residency program at Laurel House and Park. In October, the City Council confirmed that the site should be used for arts and culture programs and directed staff to issue a request for proposals from qualified architectural design firms to continue the programming and design process.

For information, call (323)848-6846, or email rehemann@weho.org.