The Dolly Varden Hotel, a 1930s building in Long Beach, may be scheduled for demolition to make way for new homes — unless it qualifies as a historic landmark.
The 93-year-old, three-story building at 335 Pacific Avenue does not qualify for historic preservation, according to a June 27 message received by the Long Beach Heritage Board. long beach post. A report by city consultants found that hotel founder Leland Dolley, as well as the Art Deco building itself, are not considered to have played a central role in Long Beach’s history and therefore are not eligible for restoration protection.
However, the hotel’s rooftop sign reads “Dolly Varden Hotel, Bath In Every Room,” and was designated a historic landmark in 1995. It has always been a prominent landmark on the downtown Long Beach skyline. The building also has eight-year-old murals on its façade that the committee wants to study.
The committee will discuss the fate of the Dolly Vardon sign and mural at a meeting in late July.
The historic landmark could be placed on a new residential tower to be built on the site of Dolly Varden. An application has been submitted to construct an 8-story, 141-unit apartment building on the hotel property.
About 78 percent of the apartments will be micro-units, between 380 and 440 square feet. In 2022, the Long Beach City Council approved the use of micro-apartments as well as buildings dedicated to micro-apartments that can accommodate smaller infill sites.
Studio OneEleven has designed the proposed residential tower to replace the Dolly Varden Hotel. One of StudioOneEleven’s notable projects is The Bloc, an open-air retail center in downtown Los Angeles.
– andrew ashe
