Legendary NoHo Recording Studio To Be Demolished for Project By JACQUELINE FOX Staff Reporter One of the Valley’s oldest recording studios, where artists such as the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton have worked, is slated for the wrecking ball to make way for the NoHo Commons project. Rafelson Media now occupies 20,000 square feet inside the former home of Amigo Recording Studios on Cumpston Street in North Hollywood, which served the music industry for more than five decades. In addition to the Rolling Stones and Clapton, artists such as Arlo Guthrie and Little Feat laid down tracks for many of their early albums inside the brick building near the NoHo Metro Station, followed by contemporaries, such as Randy Newman and Britney Spears. Rafelson, a music media firm, is one of several businesses in the area being forced to relocate to make way for the NoHo Commons project, a mixed-use “transit village” development that will include housing, retail and a high school. The CRA is exercising eminent domain to acquire the land for the 740-acre project, and several buildings, including the Amigo Studio site, must be leveled to complete it. Rafelson officials are upset at having to uproot after only being in the building for three years. “It’s pretty tragic,” said Wyatt Peabody, Rafelson’s director of development. Like the Los Angeles Unified School District, which is using eminent domain to take over sites for roughly 80 new schools across the county, the CRA can use the same power to acquire property for purposes of bettering a community. Neither agencies have to pay fair market value for the business itself, but rather offer assistance for moving and potential “good will” on lost revenues. And amounts vary on a case-by-case basis. Peter Rafelson, president and founder of the company, declined to comment on the move or what the CRA has offered him in relocation assistance. But his attorney, Tony P. Parrille of Parrillle and Associates, says he’s hoping to bargain with the CRA for more than is currently being offered so that finding a new building won’t present such a financial burden. Robert “Bud” Ovrom, the CRA’s executive director, said he wasn’t aware of the history of the Amigo building and expressed some consternation about relocating Rafelson, as well as other businesses in the area. “Frankly, this is the first I’ve heard about it and I’ve been uncomfortable in some cases with relocating perfectly viable businesses,” said Ovrom. “I will definitely look into it.” Ovrom has only been at his job since February. Cliff Goldstein, a partner with J.H. Snyder Co., the Commons developer, also said he wasn’t aware of the history behind the Amigo building and said he hadn’t spoken with Rafelson directly. Rafelson produces products for the TV and film markets, and provides recording, editing and dubbing services to the music, film and TV industries. Rafelson wrote the hit single “Open Your Heart” for Madonna and is known for his work with the dance act Fem2Fem. His father, Bob Rafelson, was a co-creator of the The Monkees, and also produced films such as “Easy Rider” and directed “Five Easy Pieces.” Parrille said it’s important to the company to remain in the area, close to the film and TV studios and other ancillary businesses. But the high cost of real estate in the area is presenting some tough challenges. “The problem with Rafelson, is he has to find a site that is within the area of media,” said Parrille. “But, as an attorney who represents this company and a few others in the area, I can tell you it’s becoming more difficult to find sites to move to because the costs of property here have increased and there are fewer and fewer industrial/commercial sites available.” Rafelson has its eye on two potential sites for purchase, both within the $3 million range. Some funding is coming from a local bank, but that and the CRA settlement won’t be enough, so the company has turned to the Valley Economic Development Corp. for help. According to Vladimir Victorio, the VEDC’s new director of lending, his agency is hoping to come up with roughly $30,000 for Rafelson.
