Sunset Boulevard Target Can Finally Be Finished, Court Rules

HOLLYWOOD, CA — That half-built Target store on Sunset Boulevard can finally be finished, a California appeals court ruled Thursday.

The store, vehemently opposed by some neighborhood groups for its height and scope, has been vacant at the intersection of Western Avenue and Sunset Boulevard since 2014 after community groups sued the city, claiming the Los Angeles City Council abused its power in approving the project. The odd and controversial sight of a massive half finished building on one of the busiest streets in the city even earned the building its own Facebook page called Target Husk.

City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell applauded the court’s decision Thursday.

"When I took office in 2013, the Target project was already approved and under construction. Through Council action, my staff and I worked with City departments to address the deficiencies cited by a judge related to the lawsuit that brought construction to a halt. The Appellate Court ruling is not only a win for the city, but a victory for the communities I represent," he said. "Local residents will soon have visual relief from the blight associated with the partially built store, and a brand new neighborhood-serving amenity that will provide hundreds of local jobs for the community. With this path forward, we can complete the project and bring this long, unfortunate saga to a close."

An attorney for the plaintiffs, the La Mirada Avenue Neighborhood Association of Hollywood and the Citizens Coalition Los Angeles, did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

Target's plans for the site include a 75-foot tall, three-story structure, with the top floor to house the 163,862 square-foot Target Superstore; the second floor to house a parking lot; and the ground floor to be home to several smaller retail stores, a pedestrian plaza and a transit kiosk.

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City News Service contributed to this report. Image courtesy of Target