Beverly Hilton up for sale

Not many specifics so far - the Beverly Hills Courier broke the bare-bones story this morning, citing sources, and the Business Journal added a few nuggets this afternoon, also from sources. It was four years ago that owner Beny Alagem proposed adding two condo towers and a Waldorf Astoria hotel on the Hilton property. Lots of opposition ensued, and the project got placed on the Bev Hills ballot where it was narrowly approved. By that time, however, the real estate market had collapsed and so the idea was shelved. Next to the hotel was another bright idea that never made it: Two British developers had proposed a condo complex on the site of the old Robinson's-May department store - until they overextended themselves and were upended by the economy. The property was foreclosed on and recently bought by a Hong Kong and Singapore investor group that plans some sort of development. Alagem's move was triggered by several unsolicited offers, according to the Business Journal, so who knows where this is headed.