Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words
Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words
One unlucky pedestrian was briefly swept off his feet by the current but lived to tell the tale with nothing worse than a soggy story. No injuries were reported, which might be the only dry part of this entire saga.
One unlucky pedestrian was briefly swept off his feet by the current but lived to tell the tale with nothing worse than a soggy story.
No injuries were reported, which might be the only dry part of this entire saga.
West Hollywood, CA - Early risers in the City of Stars got more than their usual dose of drama Thursday morning when a water main older than most Hollywood marriages decided it was time for retirement.
Shortly after 3 a.m., a 36-inch trunk line installed in 1916 burst near Sunset Boulevard and Holloway Drive, sending a raging torrent through the streets like Mother Nature was auditioning for her own action movie. Aerial footage from AIR7 captured the chaos: fast-moving rivers swallowing intersections, parked cars bobbing like rubber ducks, and apartment garages getting an unwanted car wash.
One unlucky pedestrian was briefly swept off his feet by the current but lived to tell the tale with nothing worse than a soggy story. No injuries were reported, which might be the only dry part of this entire saga.
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crews, working with the county fire department, finally shut off the geyser around 7 a.m. using the delicate art of "not making it worse." Most customers kept their water service, but several streets remain closed while officials assess the damage, including a freshly minted sinkhole and buckled pavement that now looks like abstract art.
No injuries were reported, which might be the only dry part of this entire saga.
Mayor Karen Bass pointed out the obvious: maintaining century-old pipes is harder than keeping a reality TV show running. In related news, local bus yards got an unscheduled deep clean, and residents are advised to avoid the area unless they packed their waders.
Most affected streets in the West Hollywood water main break (as of July 16, 2026):
- Palm Avenue: Heaviest flooding here - water raced down the entire street from the break site all the way south to Santa Monica Boulevard.
- Sunset Boulevard (at Holloway Drive): Origin of the break; major flooding and sinkhole nearby on the Sunset Strip.
- Holloway Drive: Immediate area of the rupture.
- Larrabee Street: Closed in both directions between Sunset and Santa Monica boulevards.
- Hancock Avenue: Also closed northbound/southbound in the same block.
- Santa Monica Boulevard: Significant flooding and closures (especially from Westmount to San Vicente); water poured into the area and a nearby bus yard.
The flooding was concentrated in the grid between Sunset Blvd (north) and Santa Monica Blvd (south), with water flowing downhill from the break point and swamping streets, parked cars, garages, and the bus facility. Officials have closed multiple blocks in this zone - avoid the area and detour via Melrose if possible.
Impact on nearby West Hollywood hotels (as of July 16, 2026)
The water main break at Sunset Blvd & Holloway Drive caused heavy street flooding primarily on Palm Avenue, Larrabee St, Hancock Ave, and stretches of Santa Monica Blvd between Sunset and Santa Monica. Major hotels were not directly flooded (no reports of water entering lobbies or rooms), but several experienced indirect impacts:
- Access and traffic disruptions: Sunset Blvd and Santa Monica Blvd are closed in sections, forcing detours via Melrose Ave or farther routes. Guests arriving/departing may face significant delays.
- Nearby affected properties:
- Hotels and boutique properties along the Sunset Strip (within a few blocks of Holloway/Palm) are dealing with road closures and possible parking garage issues if they front flooded streets.
- Apartment-style hotels or those with underground parking near Palm Ave likely saw flooded garages (multiple reports of swamped parking and cars being moved).
- Water service: Most customers, including hotels, retained water pressure. Only a small number of accounts were affected.
Popular hotels in the immediate zone (Sunset Strip / WeHo core):
- Mondrian Los Angeles, Sunset Tower Hotel, The London West Hollywood, and Chateau Marmont - primarily access challenges; no major flooding reported inside.
- Properties closer to Palm Ave/Santa Monica Blvd may have minor operational hiccups (e.g., staff commuting issues or guest warnings about detours).
No evacuations or major closures of hotels have been announced. The City of West Hollywood and LADWP recommend avoiding the flooded grid, but hotels themselves remain open and operational. Check directly with individual properties for real-time updates on valet, parking, or shuttle services.
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