LC real estate 09 2021 by Larchmont Chronicle

LIBRARIES

DINNER, TOUR

TOWN HALL

Co-living and renovation discussed at historic Rossmore apartment building. Page 3

Explore with your library card. It’s not just for books. Page 13

Benefit events include a virtual tour, and a chefcurated meal.

Page 5

Real Estate Museums, Libraries Home & Garden

VIEW

Section 2

LARCHMONT CHRONICLE

SEPTEMBER 2021

HANCOCK PARK • WINDSOR SQUARE • FREMONT PLACE • GREATER WILSHIRE • MIRACLE MILE • PARK LA BREA • LARCHMONT

505 S. Rimpau Blvd. | Hancock Park | $8,995,000

274 S. Muirfield Rd. | Hancock Park | $6,999,000

228 S. Hudson Ave. | Hancock Park | $6,495,000

165 N. Las Palmas Ave. | Hancock Park | $4,499,000

Intriguing History, Architectural Splendor & Impeccable Provenance! Loveland Carr Group 323.460.7606 CalRE #01467820, #0888374

Staycation Paradise! 5Bd/4Ba up 1Bd/1.5 bas down. Marble kitchen, Den & media rm, pool & spa. Huge yard!

SOLD. Stunning 2 sty hm on Golf Course. 4 Ensuite bds, mds & bth, 1+1 GH w/kit. Recently Renovated. Elevator.

SOLD. Stately English Tudor on a beautiful treelined st. 5Bd / 4.5Bas, covered patio, large pool.

Lisa Hutchins 323.460.7626 CalRE #01018644

Cecille Cohen 213.810.9949 CalRE #00884530

Rick Llanos 323.810.0828 CalRE #01123101

4957 Melrose Hill| Hollywood | $3,199,000

1632 Virginia Rd. | Lafayette Square | $2,995,000

571 Cahuenga Blvd. | Hancock Park | $2,720,000

135 S. Alta Vista Blvd. | Hancock Park | $2,595,000

Historic Melrose Hill family compound w/4 bed, 3 baths, studio & 2 bed guest house. Large lot.

Top to bottom perfection. Beautiful remodeled 5 bedrm home—All w ensuite baths. 3,944 sf. Must See! Erik Flexner 323.383.3950 CalRE #01352476

SOLD. All redone in 2018. 3Bd / 3Bas + studio apt, pool. True Hancock Park! Move in ready! Lisa Hutchins 323.460.7626 CalRE #01018644

IN ESCROW. 2 Story character Spanish 4/3.5 + guest house. Appx. 3,100 sq.ft. 7,400 sq.ft lot.

122 S. Kingsley Dr.| Mid-Wilshire | $1,449,000

Rick Llanos 323.810.0828 CalRE #01123101

Cecille Cohen 213.810.9949 CalRE #00884530

922 1/2 S Serrano | Mid-Wilshire | $1,099,000

SOLD Represented Buyer. 4 Beds 3 baths, formal entry, living rm, family rm, large covered patio. Cecille Cohen 213.810.9949 CalRE #00884530

SOLD. Gorgeous Craftsman restored with new kitchen & baths. 3 beds, 2 baths & full of charm.

611 N. Bronson Ave. #7 | Hancock Park | 1,100,000 Architecturally significant penthouse w/2 bedrooms, 2 baths, views and lots of light.

Lovingly restored 2 Story townhouse. 3 Beds 3 baths, formal dining, wood floors, remodeled kitchen.

Rick Llanos 323.810.0828 CalRE #01123101

645 Wilcox Ave. #2B| Hancock Park | $925,000 SOLD. Off market. 1 bedroom 1 1/2 bath. Golf course views.

8712 Gregory Way #206 | Beverly Hills Adj | $740,000 SOLD. Wonderful Beverly Hills adj location one block from Robertson. 2Bd + 2Ba. Pool. 8712Gregory.com

1222 N. Olive Dr #409| West Hollywood | $585,000 Top floor condo 1br/1ba. 2 parking spaces. Quiet. Near Sunset Strip. Remodeled kitchen/bath. Pool

5885 Clinton St. | Hancock Park | $3,750 LEASED. 2 Story townhouse feels like a house. 3 Beds 2.5 baths, private front courtyard, rear patio.

Cathie White 323.371.3152 CalRE #02088625

Loveland Carr Group 323.460.7606 CalRE #01467820, #0888374

Barbara Allen 323.610.1781 CalRE #01487763

Rick Llanos 323.810.0828 CalRE #01123101

5113 Bluebell | Valley Village | $1,850,000

COLDWELLBANKERHOMES.COM Hancock Park 323.464.9272 | 251 N Larchmont Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90004 ©2021 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. CalRE #00616212

Larchmont Chronicle

SEPTEMBER 2021

SECTION TWO

A splash of cold witch hazel: Raymond Chandler’s prose Raymond Chandler, who some people consider the best writer of detective novels in English, didn’t like that sort of hyperbole at all. He thought it was just “critics’ jargon,” this separating works of literature into this sort, or that sort. But last week, bored and recovering from illness, I reached out to my shelf, and for no particular reason, “The Long Goodbye,” Chandler’s 1953 novel, came to hand. I began rereading: “The first time I laid eyes on Terry Lennox he was drunk in a Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith outside the terrace of The Dancers. The parking lot attendant had brought the car out and he was still holding the door open because Terry Lennox’s left foot was still dangling outside, as if he had forgotten he had one. He had a young-looking face but his hair was bone white. You could tell by his eyes that he was plastered to the hairline ...” Holy cow! In three and a half silky sentences, Raymond Chandler dares you to look away. His writing is catnip. It all pivots on Terry Lennox’s left foot, the one he may have forgotten he had. His similes and metaphors, idioms, wisecracks, along with hyperbole, personification and understatement are among the techniques he used to

Home Ground by

Paula Panich

make his prose unforgettable. He creates emotion through dialogue and description. Four paragraphs later, in that opening sequence of “The Long Goodbye,” the girl (of course there was a girl in that Rolls-Royce) responds to the parking lot guy: “She gave him a look which ought to have stuck at least four inches out of his back.” His language is a tonic. A splash of cold witch hazel in the face on a hot morning. “... and the color of her hair was a dusky red, like a fire under control but still dangerous.” (from “Trouble is My Business”). “It was a blond. A blond to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained-glass window” (from “Farewell My Lovely”). In “The Big Sleep,” Chandler’s detective Marlowe is invited into a greenhouse to speak to his new client, General Sternwood: “The plants filled the place, a forest of them, with nasty meaty leaves and stalks like the newly washed fingers

In Escrow 635 N. Martel | $1,995,000 3 Bed + 3.5 Bath |Melrose Village

of dead men.” You get the picture. This is no Eden. Chandler, born in the U.S. in 1888, was classically educated in secondary school at Dulwich College in Dulwich, London. He read Livy, Ovid, and Virgil in Latin, and Thucydides, Plato and Aristotle in Greek. He translated texts from Latin to English, and then, after an interval, from English to Latin. He studied French and German, too, and he lived in each country to become fluent. I am enthralled by the idea that the writer studied the street language of Los Angeles and played with it, as he did Latin and Greek. “I’m an intellectual snob who happens to have a fondness for the American vernacular, largely because I grew up in Latin and Greek,” he has been quoted as saying. “It would seem that a classical education might be a poor basis for writing novels in a hardboiled vernacular,” he said, “I happen to believe otherwise.” Chandler, who died in 1959, wrote an essay in the “Atlantic Monthly” in 1944 called “The Simple Art of Murder.” In it, he has little praise for the genteel practitioners of his trade, like Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers. He wrote, famously, “The English may not always be the best writers in the world,

CLASSICALLY EDUCATED, Raymond Chandler also studied the street language of Los Angeles.

Image by alittleblackegg is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

but they are incomparably the best dull writers.” But he does have praise for an American predecessor, Dashiell Hammett.

Hammett, he writes, “took murder out of the Venetian vase and dropped it into the alley ...”

Sold 8826 Lookout Mtn| $2.070,000 3 Bed+2 Bath| Hollywood Hills

NEW LISTING

507 N. Gower | $1,895,000 4 Bed+2 Bath+Bonus | Larchmont

Sold 3849 Bledsoe| $1,930,000 3 Bed + 2 Bath |Westside LA

Sold 222 S. Plymouth| $3,782,000 4Bd+ 3Ba+GH| Windsor Square

EXPERT SERVICE exceptional results

Sold 581 N. Plymouth| $2,265,000 3 Bed+2 Bath| Larchmont

NEW PRICE

Sold 1021 Westmount #101| $975,000

3 Bed + 2 Bath | West Hollywood

322 S. Rossmore | $5,250,000 5 Bed+5 Bath| Hancock Park Pete Buonocore

pete@coregroupla.com

www.coregroupla.com

323.762.2561

DRE #01870534

DRE #01279107

Larchmont Chronicle

SEPTEMBER 2021

SECTION TWO

Rossmore apartment project presented at a ‘town hall’ By Billy Taylor A neighborhood town hall meeting hosted by Atlantabased developer Domos Coliving attracted more than 30 local residents last month to hear details of plans to renovate the apartment building at 410 N. Rossmore Ave. National Public Radio’s Frances Anderton, host of the KCRW show “DnA: Design and Architecture,” was the event’s moderator. A panel of guest speakers included the project’s architect, Lorcan O’Herlihy, FAIA, Carlos Orozco with Morley Builders and

“This is a unique project with a lot of different components to it,” said Carlos Orozco, project executive at Morley Builders. Domos director of design and construction, Richard Loring. Domos Co-Founder Daniel Alexander was expected, but he had to cancel due to a family emergency. In his place, Jason Wright, a coliving resident at Hollywood’s Treehouse, was on hand to share his experience. The project’s architect, O’Herlihy, gave a quick overview of his inspiration

for the reconfiguration of the historic Hancock Park apartment building, including stepping-back the massing to allow for density to be focused in the middle of the building. He also noted that all residents currently in the rent-controlled building will return to larger units than they left. “This is a unique project with a lot of different components to it,” said Carlos Orozco, project executive at Morley Builders, who estimated that both the adaptive restoration and extension of the building would take 23 months to complete, once all necessary permits are received. Orozco said that his company plans to require workers to park at an off-site location throughout the process. Domos’ Loring, who has been living in the building, updated the crowd on current resident status and future unit count for the project. “When Domos purchased the building, we had 56 residents living in the building,” explained Loring, who noted that, since then, he personally has negotiated 41 buyouts. The 15 residents that opted to return to the building have had the option to pick their

ARCHITECT Lorcan O’Herlihy speaks of his inspiration for the reconfiguration of the historic Hancock Park residential building.

new units and have some customization of the unit. Existing residents will return to units completely renovated with added amenities such as dishwashers, air-conditioning, modern cabinetry and inunit washers and dryers. Unit, resident increase Loring gave a final unit count for the project. Once complete, the building will hold 54 traditional units and 33 coliving units — for a total 87-unit count. Currently, the building has 78 units. That (Please turn to page 8)

RESIDENTS attend an outdoor neighborhood town hall meeting at 410 N. Rossmore Ave.

SEPTEMBER 2021

SECTION TWO

Larchmont Chronicle

Theatre recognized, but fight to save site continues By Billy Taylor The Fairfax Theatre was recently nominated to the National Register of Historic Places, but because the owner objects to the designation, the battle to preserve the 1929 theater continues. The California State Historical Resources Commission (SHRC) voted unanimously July 30 to nominate the Fairfax Theatre to the National Register following a presentation by Steven Luftman. The building owner’s legal representation, Bill Delvac, argued at the meeting that the building no longer maintained integrity as a theater — but his assertion was not accepted by the Commission.

Following approval by the California SHRC, the nomination was sent to the State Historic Preservation Officer for submission for consideration for the National Register. The final determination is made approximately 45 days after receipt of the nomination by the Keeper of the National Register in Washington, D.C. However, while a determination for the Fairfax Theatre was still pending, an objection was received from the building’s owner, Alex Gorby. Consent of the property owner is not required, but properties cannot be listed on the National Register over the objection of a private owner.

FAIRFAX THEATRE was a catalyst in forming a new Jewish community when it opened in 1930.

Local designation In other news about the building, the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission voted at its Aug. 5 meeting to recommend the property for

local designation. In fact, two groups, Save Beverly Fairfax and the Art Deco Society, have teamed up to advocate for the building being recognized for both its Art Deco architecture as well as for the importance the location had in forming a new Jewish community on the west side of Los Angeles when it opened in 1930. The first Jewish deli on Fairfax Avenue, the first kosher meat market and the first Jewish bakery were located in the theatre building. (The original center of the Jewish community in Los Angeles was in Boyle Heights, where Canter’s Deli first opened before expanding to Fairfax in 1948.) THE ORIGINAL CENTER of the Jewish community in Los Angeles was in Boyle Heights, where Canter’s Deli first opened before expanding to Fairfax in 1948.

Photo: Scott Beale / laughingsquid. com

Supporters say that the building is in jeopardy. There was a recent fire in the alley along its west side, and the owner’s neglect of the building continues to attract homeless encampments. “We can think of no better gateway to this historic neighborhood than this Art Deco theater. This is a neighborhood in transition. There is no better time to recognize the Jewish community in this area than now,” said Margot Gerber, president of the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles. Visit artdecola.org/Fairfaxtheatre-2021 to learn more about the campaign to save the Fairfax Theatre.

Larchmont Chronicle

SEPTEMBER 2021

SECTION TWO

Architect’s works to be celebrated at curated dinner and tour

Celebrate the life and legacy of Los Angeles architect to the stars, Paul Revere Williams, with two events to benefit the Los Angeles Conservancy. “Paul Revere Was Here” will take place on Sun., Sept. 26. Join Williams’ granddaughter, archivist Karen Hudson, and Conservancy president, Linda Dishman, on a tour of four homes in “Revered Residences – A Virtual Event,” from 6 to 7 p.m. The price is $35 for members, and $75 for the general public. An in-person afresco dinner

will be held at Phenakite in the Williams-designed Anne Banning Community House from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The 1963, two-story colonial revival building previously served as headquarters for the Assistance League of Southern California. Enjoy a brief tour of the building and grounds followed by the curated meal by celebrated chef Minh Phan. Proof of vaccine is required. For tickets and more information on the events, visit info@laconservancy.org or call 213-623-2489.

WELCOME HOME

IN ESCROW 165 NORTH LAS PALMAS AVE. - $4,499,000 Character English on a great block 5 Bedrooms + 4.5 Baths + Pool

REPRESENTED THE BUYERS BUYERS

SOLD OVER ASKING AS

103 SOUTH ARDEN BOULEVARD

335 SOUTH ORANGE DRIVE - $1,975,000

Majestic Mediterranean, Sold off-market 4 Bedrooms + 3.5 Baths

SOLD OVER ASKING 122 SOUT SOUTH T KING TH KINGSLEY SLEY S Y DRIVE E - $1,449,000 Glorious restored1909 Arts & Crafts Craftsman Bungalow 3 Bedrooms + 2 Baths

Sold in 4 days with multiple offers 3 Bedrooms + 2 Baths

LEASED IN 5 DAYS DA 611 NORTH BRONSON AVE., #7 - $1,100,000 Dramatic 2-story Penthouse Full of light and walls of windows 2 Bedrooms + 2 Baths

5885 CLINTON ST. - FOR LEASE $3,750/mo. Location, Location, Location! Spacious townhouse next to LATC 3 Bedrooms + 2.5 Baths

COMING SOON!

SOLD 2220 AVENUE OF O THE ST STARS, TARS S, #150 #1502 02 - $1,499,000 Century City, Incredible Views 2 Bedrooms + 2 Baths

RICK LLANOS

Large family compound in magical Melrose Hill. Main house has 5 bedrooms, guest wing or home office plus separate 2 bedroom guest house all on a 13,000 sq. ft. lot. $3,199,000

S SOLD 3330 NORTTH H KNOLL D DRIVE - $ $1 1,745,000 Remodeled Lake Hollywood, Great Views 3 Bedrooms + 2 Baths

HELPING CLIENTS FIND AND LIVE THE “LA DREAM” IN THE HANCOCK PARK/ WINDSOR SQUARE AND SURROUNDING AREAS FOR OVER 30 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 2021

SECTION TWO

Larchmont Chronicle

Home on June Street, Firestone awarded by WSHPHS

After a nearly two-year hiatus, the Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society Landmark Awards are back! The Society, at its first live event on Aug. 29, in the garden of the Windsor Boulevard home of June Bilgore, presented its coveted Historic Landmark Award for best residential preservation and the prize for best respectful renovation and adaptive re-use. This year’s recipients were Joseph Guidera, for his preservation stewardship of 303 N. June St., and Matt Winter and the team of: M. Winter Design, Downtown Los Angeles hospitality company Pouring

On Preservation by

Brian Curran

With Heart and Conroy Commercial — for the restoration and adaptive reuse of the Firestone Tire and Service Center at 800 S La Brea Ave. Few houses in Hancock Park can claim the distinguished pedigree of 303 N. June Street. This spectacular specimen of the Mediterranean Revival style is no-

table for not only being the work of the distinguished and prolific architecture firm Hunt & Burns, but also for its connection to Alta California and the Ranchos of early Los Angeles. Commissioned by Patrick J. Watson, a scion of the Watson and Domiguez clans of Rancho San Pedro, the house’s design integrated rancho style elements in the entrance hall, such as the post and corbel columns, the rustic balustrade and staircase, as well as Spanish mudejar decoration on windows and ceilings. The architects even had installed Judson glass windows depicting

Clint Lohr

Realtor®, GRI, CNE, SRES 818-730-8635 rholcwl@pacbell.net clintlohr.kw.com

KELLER WILLIAMS® LARCHMONT 118 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90004 Each office is independently owned and operated

Donating clothes for the homeless? Please call me!

P.J. Watson’s ancestral home, the Rancho Dominguez. The house was fully restored and upgraded for modern living in 2011 by Joseph Guidera, principal of the legendary design firm Ron Wilson Interiors. Guidera also relandscaped the property, retaining and enhancing several of the original features and outbuildings. The house was chosen as the first Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society virtual home tour, which enabled members to tour the home with Mr. Guidera and view his exceptional collection of furniture and art. Los Angeles’s historic development has long been synonymous with the automobile. This deep relationship with the car evolved into a rich heritage of experimental roadside and automotive architecture that defined Los Angeles from the 1930s through the 1960s. The 1937 Firestone Tire and Service Center is a surviving illustration of this architectural type in our community. Just off the Miracle Mile, itself an experiment in commercial planning for the automobile, the Firestone Tire and Service Center at 800 S. La Brea Ave. is also a striking example of the Streamline Modern

style, which, through the use of aerodynamic design, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy — “gave the illusion of speed, precision, and efficiency, with uninterrupted horizontal lines and rounded corners.” The Firestone Tire and Service Center closed in 2016 after 78 years of business and was acquired by Conroy Commercial and leased by DTLAbased hospitality company, Pouring With Heart. Soon after, a four-year restoration and rehabilitation began under the direction of Matt Winter of M. Winter Design, who pristinely preserved the majority of the original structure while preparing the building to become the new home of the All Seasons Brewing Company and the midcity outpost of Chica’s Tacos. Today the red paved drive is now patio seating. Where once tires were fit and fixed, are skee ball alleys and communal dining tables. In a tip of the hat to the building’s old use, the restoration even uncovered the names of mechanics who worked at Firestone and now showcases them. Congratulations to the 2021 winners of the Landmark Awards!

Larchmont Chronicle

SEPTEMBER 2021

SECTION TWO

Homes for an Era, Agents for a Lifetime

TO BE REPLACED at Larchmont and Rosewood.

Five-story apartments on Larchmont approved

A five-story, 21-unit residential building on N. Larchmont Boulevard, at Rosewood Avenue, has been approved by the City Planning Dept. The project includes two parcels, one at 500-506 N. Larchmont Blvd. and the other at 5267 W. Rosewood Ave. The project was approved with conditions on Aug. 27 to include a 50 percent increase in density under the city’s Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) Affordable Housing Incentive Program. The project qualifies partially based on its proximity to two intersecting bus routes at Melrose and Gower (one the DASH bus). Two of the 21 dwelling units

will be for extremely lowincome households. The 26,648-square-foot building also includes 21 automobile parking spaces and 24 bicycle parking spaces. A second-floor recreation room and private balconies are among the project’s features. Earlier this year, the project architect Aaron Brumer presented a new design that included a muted color scheme in response to neighbors’ requests to blend the design into the neighborhood. Neighbors’ main complaint, however, was about the fivestory height, compared to the 2-, 3- and 4-stories-tall neighboring buildings.

SOLD

LEASED

180 N. Las Palmas Ave.

404 N. Formosa Ave.

4919 Elmwood Ave.

4 BR / 3.5 BA Family Room + Pool Offered at $3,880,000

3 BR / 2 BA Offered at $1,895,000 Represented Buyer & Seller

3 BR / 1.5 BA + Den Offered at $3,950/MO Represented Landlord & Tenant

NEW

FOR LEASE

2945 Nichols Canyon Rd.

137 S. Citrus Ave.

435 N. Formosa Ave.

4 BR / 3 BA, 2,791 SF Mid-Century Gem Offered at $2,649,000

3 BR / 2 BA Charming Spanish Home Offered at $7,000/MO

3 BR / 2 BA Beautifully Remodeled Home Offered at $5,500/MO

Naomi Hartman Leah Brenner

323.860.4259 / 4245 nhartman@coldwellbanker.com lbrenner@coldwellbanker.com CalRE #: 00769979 | 00917665

Members ~ Society of Excellence www.naomiandleah.com

©2021 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. CalRE #00616212

Larchmont Chronicle

SEPTEMBER 2021

SECTION TWO

Rossmore

(Continued from page 3) is an increase of 9 units, tech-

nically, but it gets complicated because the 33 coliving units might have up to four-or-five leaseholders.

As planned, the reconfigured building will include 11 four-bedrooms, 22 five-bedrooms, 42 one-bedrooms, sev-

en two-bedrooms and five studios. Loring stressed that only one occupant will live in each coliving bedroom. What exactly does that mean for the resident count? The Chronicle did the math. The existing 78 units can legally be occupied by up to 156 residents (two per unit), according to one interpretation of the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). An alternative interpretation of DFEH code section 503(b) would permit 234 people (three per unit). The Domos proposed plan can accommodate 208 single leaseholders, according to Loring, who notes that renters in the 54 traditional units will have the opportunity to have up to two people on the lease (unlike those in coliving bedrooms), which could increase the total resident number to 262. Assuming that all of the traditional units have two people on the lease, at capacity, it is a total increase of either 28 residents or 106 residents, depending on the interpretation noted above. Opposition A majority of local residents in attendance voiced concern and opposition to the project. Several homeowners from

the neighborhood felt the scale of the project was too large, while others worried that a lack of enough resident parking in the building would inevitably mean that those residents would seek to park their vehicles on nearby streets. Daniel Enzler, general manager of the Wilshire Country Club, located directly across from the project, expressed concern for traffic on Rossmore Avenue, which can already be problematic at times, he said. Orozco responded to traffic concerns by noting that the City of Los Angeles will dictate what happens on Rossmore: “Morley Builders doesn’t get to decide,” he said. “Currently, the project is in the planning stages, but once it moves out of the planning stage, we would apply for the traffic permit — it is a process that you have to follow, and we are not there yet,” said Orozco. Loring added that Domos is working to improve traffic on Rossmore once the construction project is complete: “We have applied to the Bureau of Engineering for a street-widening permit for this building,” he said, adding that Domos hopes to add a pullout lane to be used for pick-up and drop-off for residents in the building.

344 South Kingsley Drive

Grand Dame located in an historic LA neighborhood. 20 offers! Price upon request.

250 South Citrus Avenue

AS E

$2,690,000

Stylish, classic English in prime location. Cooks kitchen with Viking range, storage and lots of surface area. Huge family room with glass walls looks out upon a pretty brick patio surrounded by greenery. Sunny and light-filled rooms. Luxurious master with fireplace, walk-in closets and dressing room.

1308 South Keniston Ave

Leased in one week! Located in desirable Longwood Heights. $3700.

6 Generations in Hancock Park (323) 697-5808

TheWoodwardTeam.com

Nobody knows it better

BRE: 00513357, 00811870, 01128275

Larchmont Chronicle

SEPTEMBER 2021

SECTION TWO

Legislature approves State Senate’s latest ‘housing’ bills, despite City opposition

By John Welborne Despite the Los Angeles City Council’s nearly unanimous vote, on Aug. 18, to officially oppose proposed Senate Bill 9 and Senate Bill 10, many local area State Assembly members joined the Assembly majorities on Aug. 23 and 26 to approve those two controversial new state edicts. With 41 votes required for adoption, SB 10, from San Francisco’s State Sen. Scott Wiener, was adopted on Aug. 23 — initially with only 41 “ayes,” but later with 44 “ayes” after some Assembly members changed their votes. Similarly, SB 9, from San Diego’s State Sen. (and Senate President Pro Tempore) Toni Atkins, also was adopted — initially with only 44 in favor, but later with 45 “aye” votes — on Aug. 26. These bills are the latest iterations of previously defeated Sacramento bills seeking to take land-use decision making out of the hands of locally elected officials and the communities that those local officials represent. According to 5th District City Councilmember Paul Koretz and others in opposition to the bills, SB 9 and SB 10 have been falsely marketed as affordable housing solutions. Koretz and his staff report-

ed that “earlier versions of these deleterious pieces of legislation” have been exposed as “tools to incentivize luxury housing and worsen the affordable housing crisis of Los Angeles.” Said Koretz: “These bills are an outrage. They have been cleverly marketed as helping build affordable housing and protect the environment, but they do the opposite. In fact, these bills do nothing to help solve homelessness, nothing to build workforce housing or address any of the real short-

ages of affordable housing, and [they] would make developers and investors richer in the process. If they . . . are signed by the governor, they will drive up the cost of real estate by de facto up-zoning most properties and decimating environmental review.” Koretz also observed, the week preceding the Assembly actions, that there are mechanisms to increase the inventory of truly affordable housing, however, “SBs 9 and 10, like their defeated predecessors, are not those mechanisms.”

At press time, both bills were being referred back to the State Senate, which needs to concur with the Assembly’s various amendments. Such concurrence is expected, and

the next and final decisionmaker will be Gov. Gavin Newsom, who may veto the legislation, approve it, or do neither (which is the same as granting approval).

OPPONENTS of Senate Bills 9 and 10 say approval by the governor will damage existing residential neighborhoods without creating affordable housing, all the while making big profits for real estate developers. Drawing courtesy of unitedneighbors.net

Featured Listings for the Month of September by

ACTIVE

621 S Mansfield 69 Fremont Place | Offered Avenue at $8,000,000 5 Beds/6 bas. Living space with permit **6,521S.F. = ** 5,138/main Listed at $3,199,999 house + 1,333/GH w/1 bed & 1ba, full kitchen & laundry inside.

3223 W. 6th St. #206 Leased $3,500

June Ahn ACTIVE

267 S. San Pedro St. #110 | Offered at $425,000

2 Beds / 2 bas TERAMACHI is a SENIOR (55+) complex, swimming pool, gym, koi pond, laundry inside & 24hr security guard.

Sold

Rare Corner Unit with two sides of windows! "Live above the Rest" Prestigious High Rise Condo in the heart of MidWilshire

June Ahn

International President’s Elite

Cell: 323.855.5558

juneahn21@gmail.com www.juneahn.com CalRE #01188513

Hancock Park | 251 N. Larchmont Blvd. | Los Angeles, CA 90004

116 N. Lucerne Blvd.| Offered at $2,275,000 Represented Buyer | Over asking. 3 beds + Den, 2 bath One Story Tudor home

The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2021 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker

SEPTEMBER 2021

SECTION TWO

Larchmont Chronicle

A magical life was well-lived at The Ravenswood

By Suzan Filipek Before Richard deGrandcourt was a neighbor to Mae West and host of a séance to contact Houdini, he mowed lawns in the neighborhood. “At seven-years-old, I began mowing all the lawns around the neighborhood with the old push mower. Having been a cub scout and Little League Baseball kid, I had wore both uniforms proudly,” deGrandcourt told us recently. He invested his earnings into his passion: magic. His dream began in 1958, when on a bike ride with his

Family-Run

Richard deGrandcourt

father in the Hollywood Hills, they stumbled upon a deserted mansion, which would eventually be the home of the

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esteemed Magic Castle private club. But on this day, it was dilapidated and rundown. “As we walked around, I heard a voice speaking, which said, ‘You are the Great Ricardo.’” Some time later the premonition came true, when, after he did a magic performance at the Hollywood American Legion, a widow of a magician, who saw the show, gave the young deGrandcourt her husband’s collection of illusions and items from Germany and England, including a silk collapsing top hat and tails. And, like magic, he was the Great Ricardo! He performed some 2,000 shows for the Red Cross and other charities, as well as children’s birthday parties at Hamburger Hamlet and other restaurants. But first he would learn a few tricks from actor Cary Grant, who was in the audience when deGrandcourt visited a show at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. His parents had dropped him off at the theater to watch the show with Harry Blackwell, and the amateur magician was transfixed. Grant, a magic buff, explained the tricks behind the acts to the young deGrandcourt. Later, deGrandcourt spent his hard-earned money to pay for law school, and, occasionally, to take dates to Musso & Frank and the Brown Derby. He opened the Richard deGrandcourt Talent and Lit-

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erary Agency on Vine Street and Hollywood Boulevard, and in the 1970s lived in The Ravenswood, an historic Art Deco building. Its purple neon signage “on top of our magical home” lit up Rossmore, he recalled. “At one time, we had six maids who serviced all the apartments each day and a restaurant downstairs with room service. Valet garage 24-

hour car service, and two telephone operators at the desk. ‘Good morning, The Ravenswood,’ they would announce, and then transfer and screen calls with the old wire-style switch board.” Contacting Houdini His neighbor and landlord, the sultry actress Mae West, held séances at the site, which inspired deGrandcourt to try (Please turn to page 11)

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Larchmont Chronicle

SEPTEMBER 2021

SECTION TWO

MAGICAL acts from Richard’s early years included cards and a rabbit.

DeGrandcourt (Continued from page 10)

to contact Houdini. The lavish production included actors dressed as Egyptian guards hired from the Paramount studio. Academy Award-winning film editor Gene Ruggiero (“Ninotchka,” “Oklahoma”) directed the mysterious evening in the Egyptian garden room of The Ravenswood. It’s still unclear if the great escape artist ever showed. There were reports of static and rattling noises, and at least one person saw someone in a straightjacket on the roof,

mont Boulevard was featured in the Larchmont Chronicle on page 2, a publishing feat! “Even Mr. Blackwell, [a longtime Chronicle columnist], wasn’t on page 2,” said deGrandcourt proudly. While today he splits his time between a home in the Hollywood Hills and a boat in

MAE WEST & W.C. FIELDS in “My Little Chickadee,” 1940.

Photo: twm1340 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Newport Beach, the Great Ricardo fondly remembers his time in Larchmont and Han-

cock Park, and he still wonders about that mysterious evening at The Ravenswood.

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AS A CUB SCOUT in 1951 on Gramercy Place, a young deGrandcourt mowed lawns.

deGrandcourt notes. DeGrandcourt met his late wife, Barbara Dulien, when he saw her picking roses in front of her home, once owned by Fatty Arbuckle on the 400 block of Muirfield Road. She had been a fashion designer, and her visit to Landis Department Store on Larch-

Larchmont Chronicle

SEPTEMBER 2021

SECTION TWO

East meets West, Porsche legacy, ‘Witch Craft’ at area museums

East meets West in the exhibit “Legacies of Exchange: Chinese Contemporary Art from the Yuz Foundation” on view at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd. The exhibit features works by Ai Weiwei, Huang Yong Ping, Wang Guangyi, Xu Bing, Yue Minjun and others. It features Chinese contemporary art created in response

to international trade, political conflict, and global artistic exchange and the works have been pulled from the Yuz Museum’s esteemed collection of contemporary art. Legacies of Exchange spotlights encounters, exchanges, and collisions between China and the West. This exhibition is part of LACMA’s ongoing partnership with the Yuz Museum in Shanghai, China,

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a joint effort to create collaborative exhibitions and to provide both museums with greater access to a more diverse collection of artworks. The exhibit ends March 13, 2022. Visit LACMA.org for tickets and more information. ❏ ❏ ❏ The Petersen Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd., has opened the second part of two Luftgekühlt exhibits, “Prototype Giants,” which focuses on the history and legacy of the Porsche 956 and 962 race cars. The seven-car display in the Petersen Vault at the Petersen Automotive Museum includes the Miller 962 that won the Rolex Daytona 24 in 1989 and a Coca-Cola-sponsored 962. The Porsche 956 was built to comply with the 1982 FIA World Sportscar Championship (WSC)’s new Group C regulations and was the first racing car to feature an aluminum monocoque chassis and ground effect aerodynamic elements. The 962 became one of the most dominant race cars ever, winning the WSC in 1985 and 1986, the IMSA GT championship from 1985-88, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1986 and 87, the 1994 24 Hours of Le Mans 1994 (a modified customer car), and other racing series for 10 years straight. The exhibit continues

YUE MINJUN, “INFANTA,” 1997, Yuz Foundation, © Yue Minjun.

Photo courtesy Pace Gallery

through Nov. 19. Visit Petersen.org. ❏ ❏ ❏ “Witch Craft: Rethinking Power” opens Oct. 3 at the Craft Contemporary, 5814 Wilshire Blvd. Artist Moffat Takadiwa transforms postconsumer waste — such as used toothpaste tubes, spray cans, computer keyboards — into lush, densely layered sculptures and tapestry-like wall works that embody the complexities of contemporary Zimbabwean politics, culture, and reference his Korekore heritage. For his first solo museum exhibition, Takadiwa created new works that defy gravity by floating in mid-air and cascading off walls. These pieces are Takadiwa’s investigations of power from a distinctly African perspective — one that acknowledges spirituality as a powerful resource for Africa’s future growth. Visit contemporarycraft.org. ❏ ❏ ❏ See fossils of titans of the Ice Age world who once roamed the area in the “Mammoths and Mastodons” exhibit at the La Brea Tar Pits, 5801 Wilshire Blvd., ongoing. Travel back to that time in the 3D Theater to see “Titans of the

THREE LITTLE WITCHES, 2021. The work is made of found toothbrushes and computer keys. Photo courtesy of the artist

Ice Age.” Visit tarpits.org. ❏ ❏ ❏ The West Coast debut of the exhibit, “Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall,” comes to the Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., Nov. 7 and is through April 17. Visit nhm.org.

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older who have an LAPL card. Register through the Discover and Go portal to obtain a free or discounted pass to participating museums and attractions. Two active reservations are allowed per library card. Valid ID also is required. Visit lapl.discoverandgo.net for more information.

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Enchanted and Carved - back at Descanso

View imaginatively carved pumpkins in October and wander through an enchanted forest of light during the December holidays at Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge. Presale of tickets for both events began Sept. 1 for Descanso members and will start Fri., Oct. 1 for non-members. Carved, open from Mon., Oct. 11 to Sun., Oct. 31, 6:30 to 10 p.m. nightly, is a familyfriendly one-mile walk among both pumpkins carved by local artists and oversized sculptures made of hay, sticks and other natural materials. There also is a pumpkin house, a hay maze, and harvest-themed food and beverages for sale. Enchanted Forest of Light, a nighttime, interactive onemile walk through light sculptures, returns Sun., Nov. 21 and runs through Sun., Jan. 9, and is open 5:30 to 10 p.m. nightly. New this year will be a town of magical stained glass creations built in the Rose Garden by contemporary sculptor Tom Fruin. Ticket prices are $25 to $28 for members and $32 to $35 for non-members. Visit descansogardens.org.

Talk on book of fashion designer Author Richard MatukonisAdkins will discuss his book, “Adrian, American Designer, Hollywood Original,” at a meeting of the Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society on Wed., Sept. 22. The virtual event will take place from 7 to 8 p.m.

In 1933, “Fortune” magazine praised the M-G-M designer in an era when Hollywood designers were becoming on par with French couturiers. For tickets and more information on the event visit windsorsquarehancockpark. com.

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SECTION TWO

SEPTEMBER 2021

Larchmont Chronicle

SEPTEMBER 2021

SECTION TWO

POLICE BEAT

Burglar takes toiletries, and a rash of grand thefts auto side the man’s bathroom window on the 400 block of S. Norton Ave. The suspect, who was taken into custody when police arrived, was found to have in his possession the victim’s bathroom toiletries. Jewelry and money were stolen from a home on the 800

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block of S. Norton Ave. after a suspect unscrewed window bars to enter the property on Aug. 11 at 11 a.m. Jewelry and money also were stolen from a home on the 400 block of S. Van Ness Ave. after a suspect broke a side window to enter the property on Aug. 11 at 12:30 p.m. GRAND THEFTS AUTO: A 2019 Hyundai Tucson was stolen while parked on the 500 block of S. St. Andrews Pl. between Aug. 1 at 4 p.m. and Aug. 2 at 8 a.m. A 2018 Hyundai Sonata was stolen while parked on the 300 block of S. St. Andrews Pl. on Aug. 2 between 12:05 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. A 2019 Hyundai Sonata was stolen while parked in a parking lot on the 500 block of S. St. Andrews Pl. between Aug. 2 at 6 p.m. and Aug. 3 at 8:15 a.m. A 2019 Kia Forte was stolen while parked on the 900 block of S. Bronson Ave. between Aug. 4 at 8 p.m. and Aug. 5 at 7:30 a.m. A 2013 Kia Sportage was stolen while parked on the 700 block of S. Wilton Pl. between Aug. 7 at 9:25 p.m. and Aug 8 at 6:30 a.m. A 1996 Ford van was stolen while parked on Maplewood Avenue between Van Ness and Wilton between Aug. 8 at 4:30 p.m. and Aug. 9 at 8:30 a.m. THEFTS FROM VEHICLES: A catalytic converter was stolen from a 2009 Toyota Prius on Aug. 8 at 9:15 a.m. while the car was parked on the 500 block of S. Norton Ave. WILSHIRE DIVISION BURGLARIES: A laptop computer and a watch were among the items stolen from a home on the 100 block of N. Arden Blvd. after a suspect

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broke a front door lock to gain entry and ransack the interior on Aug. 9 between 6:50 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. A bicycle was stolen from behind a gated and locked driveway on the 400 block of S. McCadden Pl. after a suspect broke the gate lock between Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 15 at 11 a.m.

THEFTS FROM VEHICLES: A wallet and technology equipment were stolen from inside a 2020 Hyundai Elantra after a suspect broke the driver side door to gain entry while the vehicle was parked in a building garage located at the corner of La Brea Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard.

Lucerne party house owner warned, but violates again By Billy Taylor The owner of the now infamous Larchmont “party house,” located at 310 N. Lucerne Blvd., had his day in court Aug. 25 for a bail review motion based upon recent incidents at the location, including ongoing and prohibited short-term rental

activity. A pre-trial hearing for the ongoing case was scheduled for Tues., Sept. 14. In court for the bail review, property owner Youval Ziv’s attorney told the judge that his client was in the process of selling the home. In the end, (Please turn to page 15)

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OLYMPIC DIVISION BURGLARIES: A man woke up and noticed his bedroom door had been closed, on July 31 at 11:30 a.m. Upon further inspection, the screen to his bathroom window had been removed, and a suspect was found hiding in a ditch out-

Larchmont Chronicle

SEPTEMBER 2021

SECTION TWO

Bad beats are here to stay, the river and other tales

If you play much poker, you are familiar with bad beats. We all suffer them on occasion; sometimes, it seems, too often. And it costs precious chips when they attack. A bad beat is a strong poker hand that gets beat by a long shot, often by a hand that should have been folded early on. Fortunately, bad beats are fairly rare; but you sure do know it when one hits you. To better help you understand them, here is a bad-beat story I will never forget. It happened to an opponent in a 4-8

limit hold’em game in which I played several years ago. Richard, a good, solid player was seated on the button, and was dealt Kh-Jh. That’s a good drawing hand with lots of possibilities. If the heart-flush did not develop, he still had two honor cards that could improve to a strong hand. Five players saw the flop: Ah-Qc-10h. He had flopped an Ace-high straight! Plus he held four-tothe-nut flush and a chance to catch a royal straight flush — and he was on the button

Lucerne house

was a brazen violation of the judge’s warning, given to Ziv just one day prior. Naderi confirmed that her office was on it: “Yesterday, officers responded to the location based on a call for illegal filming. Any citations issued, or reports prepared, will be provided to the Judge,” she concluded.

George Epstein

(last to declare), giving him an edge over his opponents. There was a bet and a raise and two callers before the action got to him. I could see he was thinking hard as to how best to play his hand in this situation. After studying the board and his hand, apparently reassuring himself of its strength — practically invincible, Richard decided to call the raise rather than reraising. With four opponents in the hand, he had a good opportunity to build a huge pot. Let the others do the raising. Why force out any “contribu-

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fectly. Then, he asked the dealer to deal him out. It was obvious that he wanted to avoid going on tilt. After a few minutes, he smiled at me and looked to the dealer: “Deal me out,” he said, as he gathered the rest of his chips and left the casino. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to prevent being the victim of a bad beat. Suffer the consequences and be determined to go on, always playing the best you can — or take a long break. George “The Engineer” Epstein, a long-time local resident, is the author of three books including “The Art of Bluffing” and “Hold’em or Fold’em – An Algorithm for Making the Key Decision.”

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(Continued from page 14) the judge scolded the owner and warned him that any future violations would result in bail being set. No surprise to local residents, a violation occurred at the address one day later. For more information, we asked Wilshire Neighborhood Prosecutor Mehrnoosh Naderi about the status of the case. Naderi confirmed that her office had appeared in court on the matter after requesting the bail review: “Our office had filed a bail review motion based on the last couple of incidents that occurred at 310 N. Lucerne. “Unfortunately, the court decided to admonish the defendant based on the violations and further stated that any further violations would result in bail being set. The defendant’s attorney indicated that they were 48 hours away from escrow closing on the location. As you know, bail is a decision the judge makes. We can file the motions to request it and argue it, however, ultimately it is their decision,” explained Naderi. A pre-trial hearing for the ongoing case is scheduled for Tues., Sept. 14. The very next day, LAPD senior lead officer Dave Cordova was called to the Lucerne property after a filming crew arrived at the location to start an unpermitted film shoot, according to reports from local residents. The incident

Poker for All

tors” at this point. Plus, by not reraising, he kept the strength of his hand well concealed. He could do his raising on the turn and river when the bets were doubled, which he did without hesitating and got several callers. The turn and river were both deuces. Richard’s acehigh straight looked good. But then, on the river, the Big Blind (BB) reraised Richard’s bet. Richard paused as he called. Now came the showdown. The BB turned up his 10-2 in the hole for a full-house. His runner-runner deuces did the trick along with having made the pair of 10s on the flop. A bad beat for Richard! As he showed his hand after it was over, we got into some conversation. As I mentioned above, Richard’s rationale was quite apparent. I could only agree with him and reassured him that he had played it per-

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SECTION TWO

SEPTEMBER 2021

Larchmont Chronicle