Jimmy Kimmel with Marty Collins, Gatehouse Capital CEO

Dallas resident Marty Collins was right at home recently among a powerful conglomeration of Los Angeles' political luminaries, entertainment icons and business leaders as they gathered to celebrate the rise of Hollywood’s newest star at the iconic corner of Hollywood & Vine: the W Hollywood Hotel & Residences.

The “topping out” ceremony, featuring ABC-TV late night host Jimmy Kimmel as master of ceremonies, offered a dramatic preview in true Hollywood style; complete with aerial acrobats, streaming banners, plenty of cameras and media helicopters circling overhead.

“There will be only one W Hollywood when it opens November 2009, and we are proud to demonstrate our commitment to this unique project by celebrating a key construction milestone,” said Marty Collins, president and CEO of Dallas-based Gatehouse Capital, the developer of W Hollywood Hotel & Residences. “Let there be no doubt; Hollywood loves a comeback, and today’s celebration confirms that the most anticipated comeback of 2009 will be the return of the sophisticated, glamorous lifestyle to Hollywood & Vine at the completed W Hollywood.”

The choreographed topping out ceremony for W Hollywood Hotel & Residences, which included a dramatic performance by professional aerial acrobats unfurling celebratory banners from the rooftop, offered an early primer for the excitement sure to coincide with the arrival of the 143 W Hollywood Residences and the adjacent 305-room W Hollywood Hotel.

Topping out is a key milestone of the construction progress, occurring when a project completes its vertical rise. This milestone is significant for W Hollywood because it also charts a clear path to project completion in November 2009. From this point forward, all construction at the W Hollywood will focus on adding the building exterior shell, utility infrastructure, public art installations, landscape and luxurious interior finishes.

Gatehouse Capital CEO Marty Collins

“Together with our design consultants, we have created a guiding theme for the W Hollywood that will define a modern interpretation of Hollywood glamour and sophistication,” added Collins. “For our residents who choose to embrace this vision, we will be offering access to the Whatever/Whenever reality of the W Hotels brand at their doorstep, and for these fortunate residents and our future hotel guests, we are creating a lifestyle experience like no other offered in Hollywood today.”

Collins, who has driven the vision of a lifestyle renaissance at Hollywood and Vine for more than a decade with his plans, was joined at the celebration by a host of VIP guests, including: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti; ABC Late Night Host Jimmy Kimmel; W Hollywood Partner Clark Hanrattie of HEI Hotels & Resorts; Dean Henry, president of Legacy Partners (the developers of 1600 Vine, an adjacent apartment development paired to the W Hollywood); and a host of project consultants, luxury real estate brokers and community leaders.

Jeff Cohen, Senior VP Gatehouse Capital; Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles Council President; ABC-TV host Jimmy Kimmel, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; and Marty Collins, CEO Gatehouse Capital

“Hollywood and Vine is one of the world's most famous intersections and now it's making a Hollywood comeback with the W Hollywood Hotel and Residences,” said LA City Council President Eric Garcetti, whose district includes Hollywood. “When complete, the W Hollywood will be the landmark eastern gateway to our renewed Hollywood Entertainment District. This new project is registered for LEED certification with sustainable design, easy access to mass transportation, use of low impact design and construction techniques and a host of new technologies designed to conserve and reduce energy and natural resource consumption.”

LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa laughs at Kimmels' comments

"The Hollywood and Vine project brings good-paying jobs, transit-oriented development, affordable housing, and economic growth to the heart of our City," said Mayor Villaraigosa. "It is a sign of our ongoing commitment to smart investments across the LA landscape, and it will add yet another star to our 'walk of fame'."

Dean Henry, president of Legacy Partners, with Jimmy Kimmel and Marty Collins

The W Hollywood Hotel & Residences is the first branded residences providing hotel, retail and luxury for-sale residences in Los Angeles and will be located at 6520 Hollywood Blvd., fronting a full city block of Hollywood Blvd. from Vine to Argyle. Developed by Gatehouse Capital in partnership with HEI Hotels & Resorts, the $350 million development will offer a world-class lifestyle opportunity boasting lush landscaping, engaging art installations, striking design features and thoughtful living spaces, creating a lifestyle environment like no other residential property in Los Angeles.

More information on the W Hollywood Residences is at www.MyHollywoodResidence.com.