Next-door to Sunset Boulevard's historic Earl Carroll Theatre, a tower crane now stands tall as construction ramps up for a $54-million development from Essex Property Trust

Essex Hollywood, located at 6240 Sunset Boulevard, will consist of a seven-story building containing 200 apartments, 4,700 square feet of ground-floor retail space, and amenities such as a fitness center, a sky deck, a swimming pool, and two basement parking levels.

Designed by TCA Architects, the building will consist of wood-frame construction over a multi-level concrete base.  The contemporary podium-type building will be flanked on its eastern side by a pedestrian paseo cutting between Sunset Boulevard and Leland Avenue, allowing access to the adjacent theatre.

While Essex builds on the Earl Carroll Theatre's western side, another developer has plans for a property located immediately east.  Hanover Company is seeking to replace a strip retail center with another seven-story building featuring apartments and ground-floor retail space.

Across Sunset, the iconic Hollywood Palladium could be flanked by another mixed-use development - the two-tower Palladium Residences.  That project, which would feature over 700 residential units, has been challenged in court.