Beny Alagem’s condo tower proposal will appear on the November ballot

Beverly Hills is one step closer to getting its first skyscraper.

Developer Beny Alagem’s proposal to combine two approved condo buildings into one 26-story tower has received more than 7,000 signatures of support from Beverly Hills residents.

Now, the initiative to entitle what would be the tallest building in Beverly Hills will appear on the November 8 ballot.

According to Beverly Hills Weekly, Alagem’s Beverly Hills Garden & Open Space Initiative hired a canvassing team to collect well over the necessary 3,600 signatures needed to propel the initiative onto the ballot. The Beverly Hills Courier reported that “100 volunteers” joined the effort to gather signatures.

Located on the corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards, the development initially called for two condo structures totaling 110 units. These structures on Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevards were approved by the City Council under the Beverly Hilton Revitalization Plan in 2008. Now, Alagem aims to amend the plan so that the 110 units would be in a singular 375-foot tower. The lot is not currently entitled for that height, hence the campaign.

In place of the second condo structure would be a 1.7-acre public garden.

The passage of the 2008 Beverly Hilton Revitalization Plan involved 19 public hearings and a referendum. [Beverly Hills Courier] — Cathaleen Chen