With its bay windows, balconies and peaked roofs, the nearly 5,00o-square-foot apartment house at the corner of North Edgeware Road and Colton Street is perhaps one of the most eye-catching examples of the large and classic-style homes and apartment buildings that dot the blocks on the southern fringe of Echo Park. A quick search of online archives did not turn up any info on who designed or built the 98-year-old structure (If you got any history, please share). However, the building gets more attention than most in this area because it stands alone on a hillside, looming over Vista Hermosa Park, which wraps around the wood-sided and shingled residence on two sides. But there’s a possibility this eye-catching piece of the past may soon, like many other nearby older homes and apartments, disappear under new development.
The building, which sits on an approximately 14,000-square-foot lot, went on the market this week at an asking price of $1.28 million, according to Redfin. The listing description is enough to put old-home lovers on bulldozer watch:
Great Development Opportunity. Can build 23 units Condominium … Seller is motivated.
The building, according to the listing, has been carved up into 13 units.
http://vimeo.com/25883143
Terrific! Thanks for sharing that.
P.S. Edgeware between Colton and Second appears to have once been Kern St. According to insurance maps, the renaming took place after 1921, and there was no house on the southeast corner of Colton and Kern/Edgeware before then either. It seems the house now at 172 N Edgeware must have been moved to this lot, perhaps from somewhere in the neighborhood, during redevelopment of the area for the nearby school, say.
Such a beautiful building wish I could buy it. And only legally 4 units according to zimas.lacity.org
I wonder what the inside looks like
Someone please save it and convert into restaurant/ bar/ beer garden!
Not sure if you’re joking, but that’s a great idea!
It is beautiful, and it already has plenty parking spaces.
Perhaps build a nice large timber deck on top of that,
what a UNIQUE place that would be.
Where are the politicians stepping in to ensure that more of LA’s history isn’t lost to development?
Oh, they’re in the pockets of the developers. Not surprising. LA has a long-standing, demonstrated disregard for historic properties.
Any and all houses of this age should be PROTECTED!
south of the 101? who cares?
This house is a piece of history from another location. From what I learned in a Calarts class a decade ago from an instructor named James, it was moved from Hollywood. The class focused on lesser known histories of Los Angeles. I’ll probably recall his last name and share if I do.
108 year old structure
Other cities have a mandatory review if a structure above a certain number of years in age is proposed for demolition. Think it’s 50 years in Pasadena. LA — nothing.
That house really adds to the pleasant ambience of Vista Hermosa Park. I hope they don’t replace it with some crappy looking condos like that monstrosity across from Angelus Temple.
Tear it down and put up another Orsini building! I just can’t get enough of those!
I remember taking friends around Crown Hill many years ago. Nothing but crack houses and This house. It stood out like a beautiful woman in a crowd of plebians.
more on the area is here:
http://crownhillchronicles.blogspot.com/
Isn’t Crown Hill west of Glendale?
No, I think (accent on think) it starts at Boylston.
http://photos.lapl.org/carlweb/jsp/FullRecord?databaseID=968&record=1&controlNumber=70488
This House is a gem and must stand… it can be saved for all to enjoy in the future.
Where is Eric on this issue? Call his office now before they raise this Cultural Tourism destination.