West Hollywood Billboard Restoration Proposal

A significant part of West Hollywood’s history might be revived with a new proposal that’s set to be discussed by the City Council next week.

City Councilman John M. Erickson is working on a proposal to bring back the West Hollywood billboard, and this topic will be addressed at the meeting scheduled for April 20th.

This original sign, designed by artist Michael J. Masucci, was placed in 1986 on a hill near the parking lot at 8555 Santa Monica Boulevard, next to the EZTV Art Gallery.

The billboard paid tribute to the famous Hollywood sign and was meant to showcase West Hollywood as a rising hub of creativity, distinct from the conventional Hollywood narrative.

Over the years, this West Hollywood sign has become a beloved cultural landmark, especially during the AIDS crisis, serving as a significant gathering spot for the LGBTQ+ community.

In contrast to the Hollywood sign on Mount Lee, which is difficult to access, the WeHo sign is easily reachable and has faced considerable vandalism throughout its existence.

As noted by the EZTV Online Museum, some letters of the sign were actually stolen over time, prompting EZTV to replace them occasionally.

However, EZTV eventually grew weary of these repairs, and the sign disappeared in 1991.

The proposal indicates that the current owners of the property will be contacted. This site, located at 8555 Santa Monica Boulevard, has plans for mixed-use development featuring apartments and retail spaces.

The document emphasizes that although the property owner has the rights to redevelop, the aim is to create a temporary installation of the billboard.

If the owners aren’t interested in participating, the City Council is open to exploring other city-owned locations for either temporary or permanent signs.

“Bringing back the West Hollywood Sign artwork would restore a visual landmark that upholds contemporary standards of durability and safety, all while honoring an essential segment of the city’s cultural narrative,” states the proposal.

The City Council staff will evaluate the outreach, cost, and feasibility of this initiative and will offer recommendations. If the project gets the green light, it’s expected to be included in the City Council’s budget for the fiscal year 2027, although the cost remains uncertain at this point.