The new two-story City Playhouse will include a 99-seat theater and public spaces. (rendering courtesy of the city of West Hollywood)

Eight years after West Hollywood acquired the Coast Playhouse, located at 8325 Santa Monica Blvd., plans have finally been approved to replace the 99-year-old, 2,790 square foot structure with a two-story, near-8,000 square foot arts facility. The tentatively named City Playhouse will include a cultural event center and civic space, a 99-seat theater, rehearsal room and garden-adorned lobby space. The plans were formally approved at the May 20 City Council meeting.

The design was conceptualized by the firm Perkins & Will, and a steering committee for the project was led by Vice Mayor Chelsea Byers.

“I appreciate the process itself,” Byers said. “The steering committee that was established not only had a good representation from this body and other commissioners, including the public facilities commission, but there were a number of subject matter experts, people who work in theater, who really understand what it takes to build this sort of next generation theater.”

She added that after discussion over the nature of the build, the committee was able to put together what Byers deems an investment that is not just cost effective, but will bring “something to the community that will last for a long time.”

“[This project] is taking us to the next level,” Councilwoman Lauren Meister said.

The project’s approval was heralded by the community, led by the vigorous support of 92-year-old actress and resident Barbara Bain, who won three Emmy Awards for playing Cinnamon Carter on the original series “Mission: Impossible.” Bain spoke prior to the council’s approval.

“An extraordinary thing is happening here in this city,” Bain said. “We are considering approving a theater. It is happening nowhere else in the country. They’re ripping theaters down left and right, putting in cleaners and gas stations, Lord knows what else.”

Bain went on to note that West Hollywood calls itself “the creative city,” positioning the theater as an opportunity to prove and expand upon the moniker.

“I have been here since 1984 when you first became a city and watched that kind of growth – the creative solutions to many problems, the welcoming of people from all over, the embrace of so many new ideas – and you’re a leading city in that regard. And this is another chance to lead, to show what can be done,” she concluded.

Now, city staff will move into the design development and construction document phases, eventually returning to the City Council to approve a final contract.

Actress Barbara Bain spoke in favor of the City Playhouse design plan at the May 20 West Hollywood City Council Meeting. (photo by Jon Viscott)