Damn, those live animals are expensive. KTLA reports the Orange County-based megachurch Crystal Cathedral, whose church was designed by architect Philip Johnson has filed for bankruptcy. "The megachurch, birthplace of the "Hour of Power" televangelist broadcast, announced its filing Monday. Church spokesman John Charles said the church owes about $7.5 million to a host of vendors for services such as advertising and providing the use of live animals for Easter and Christmas services." [KTLA]
On Sunday the AIA/LA held its second fall home tour of the year. The first had us weaving through the Hollywood Hills, now come along with Curbed into four houses off Sunset Boulevard in Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades. Today we're looking at John Dutton's remodel of John Byers' La Mesa House.
The front of this house is a Santa Monica historic landmark--it's from a 1924 adobe house designed by adobe all-star John Byers--but most of the back is new, replacing additions made from the fifties through the seventies, according to architect John Dutton's website. Dutton restored the front and built the back around an open central courtyard (previously closed, according to a docent). He also added a contemporary guest house and of course an infinity pool, both looking out on excellent Riviera Country Club views. According to the AIA/LA, "Research from Byers' archives as well as forensic analysis of the original house provided clues as to the materials and finishes that were used for the rest of the house." And indeed the restored and recreated details in this house are pretty gorge.
· AIA/LA Fall Home Tour Archives [Curbed LA]
The domed butane tanks of San Pedro have been around since the early '70s, but lately locals are getting itchy to figure out ways to mitigate dangers they may pose. The fatal San Francisco gas explosion in September has especially stoked anxiety over the home and retail-adjacent domes, reports the Long Beach Press-Telegram. This year, the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council spent $10,000--one-quarter of their annual budget--to study potential risks of the gas-filled domes. While catastrophe is an unlikely scenario, bad things could happen, and spread around a seven mile radius, if a big earthquake hits on the Palos Verdes fault. The neighborhood council's Planning and Land Use Committee meets on October 28th to see what steps can be taken to reduce any potential risks; for it's part the company operating the tanks, Plains LPG, say they monitor the domes 24 hours a day and their facility is equipped with sensors and shut-down systems. Image via Press-Telegram
· Butane Tanks Worry San Pedro Residents [Press-Telegram]
Just a couple weeks ago a reader was wondering what's happening with NBC Universal's mega-development Evolution Plan, and just like that North Hollywood Patch launches with a thorough report on where all the relevant parties currently stand. A draft environmental impact report is scheduled to come out by the end of the year, the Studio City Neighborhood Council Planning Committee hates it and hopes it dies in the water, the Chamber of Commerce seems ok with it, Yaroslavsky and LaBonge are skeptical, and the Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council just wants the Campo De Cahuenga left alone. [North Hollywood Patch]
This well-preserved atomic-age ranch-style house in La Canada strikes us as the perfect place for a couple of rocket scientists from the nearby Jet Propulsion Laboratory to call home. Built in 1958, it's got four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, built-ins galore, a heated pool, and children's play area. Asking price for the property, which sits on a 15,000-square-foot lot, is $1.1 million.
· 1336 OLIVE Ln [Redfin]
A lurid backstory involving an insulin-induced homicide attempt and Truman Capote just makes the fabled Clarendon Court, in Newport, R.I., all the more alluring. So alluring, in fact, that our sister site Curbed National has nominated the $17.8M listing for its House of the Day. [Curbed National]
We've seen glitz, we've seen glam, but we have not seen the likes of Chateau D'Or, a Bel-Air 18th century French palace-inspired home that makes Candy Spelling's Holmby Hills spread look like the servants' quarters. The listings references the "gilded moldings, massive fireplaces & stunning chandeliers" as well as that "luxurious master suite," while there is also a "formal dining hall that easily accommodates 50 people." One of the shots shows the place all lit up--wow, the monthly electricity bills must rival the GDP of most small countries. It's listed at $39.995 million. UPDATE: The new photo set blinded us. Yes, this home has been on the market previously. Headline updated!
· 10451 REVUELTA Way [Redfin]
Solar companies say they're worried demand for solar panels will fall if a Department of Water & Power proposal to reduce rebates to homeowners and companies passes, reports the Los Angeles Business Journal. "The city’s power agency claims the rebate program has exceeded its $33 million annual budget for this year and next, and also notes that the cost of solar panels has dropped sharply. As a result, the DWP is proposing a 30 percent cut in rebates to residential and small business customers for solar panel installation....Ken Button, president of Verengo Solar Plus, an Orange-based solar roof panel installer that does about 40 percent of its business in Los Angeles, said that the DWP proposal would add about $4,000 in up-front, out-of-pocket costs for a typical homeowner." The DWP defends itself by saying that the solar panel expenses have dropped, and the rebate program has become so popular that $70 million in rebates would have to be paid out if all the applications were accepted, " more than twice the $33 million annual budget for the program."For a comparison, Southern California Edison’s solar rebates are half of the DWP’s rebates, according to the LABJ.
· Solar Businesses Burned by DWP [LABJ]
Some more details have emerged in the San Gabriel purse grab saga: It turns out Mayor Albert Y.M. Huang and his companion got into a food fight at the restaurant (Via the SGVT: The "woman grabbed a dumpling container and threw it at the gentlemen's chest. Huang then threw vinegar at the woman.."). The things escalated when the two went outside. Huang has now issued a statement calling the incident a" great misunderstanding between friends." [SGVT]
The Los Angeles Business Journal's Real Estate issue is out, a package that drops some information about the new 5550 Wilshire Boulevard building, owned by New York-based investment group BlackRock. Because BlackRock doesn't speak publicly about its projects, coming across information about the building hasn't been easy. But now an exec at Foster City-based Legacy Partners, the builder on the project, talks to the LABJ. It turns out this building, built as 163 condos, is going rental, after all. "The building’s one- and two-bedroom units range from about 800 to 1,600 square feet; prices range from about $2,000 to $5,000 a month. Additionally, the building is now on Craigslist, courtesy of Westside Rentals.
· Foster City Builder Finds Success in L.A. Rentals [LABJ]
· Mysterious 5550 Wilshire Project Very Close to Completion [Curbed LA]
· 5550 Wilshire Could Go Rental [Curbed LA]
The Los Angeles Times profiles urban planning theorist/UCLA professor Donald Shoup, a piece which has already generated 101 comments--and arguments--on the paper's web site. Charging a premium for parking and eliminating off-street parking requirements are two of Shoup's well-known positions, a stance which has made him the " godfather of this parking idea," said Ventura Mayor Bill Fulton. More: "Fulton, in fact, said he recently became a full-fledged Shoupista when Ventura implemented a Shoup-style parking management program and quickly saw the intended results. By charging for 400 of the 2,900 public parking spaces downtown, the city has spurred employees of local businesses to park at free city lots and walk to work rather than use curb spaces needed by customers." Additionally, Westwood and Pasadena are compared in terms of what happens--or doesn't--to a neighborhood when cities charge more for parking.
· He puts parking in its place [LA Times]
· Prop 19 continues to lead in polls, says LAT [LAT]
· Homebuilder confidence at highest levels in four months [Bloomberg]
· Countrywide's Mozilo was sometimes gloomy about company's outlook [NYT]
· Community hearing next month for Wilshire Grand hotel project [DLANC]
· LA chronicler/photographer Richard Miller passes away [LAist.com]
· Johnson Fain now has 46 employees, down from high of 70 [LAT]
· Temple City still looking to transform its shoddy looking downtown [PSN]
· Proposal to tax billboards and supergraphics heads to subcommittee [LAT]
· New LAUSD report raises questions about starting new projects [Daily News]
· Majestic launches new web site for NFL Industry stadium [SGVT]
PASADENA: The blog of realtor Brigham Yen has news that a hearing will take place this month on the rehab of the long-ago abandoned Hotel Constance, built in 1926. Developer Park Place Commercial is hoping to make the hotel functional again (and add five residences)--the project recently got over $11 million in federal funds but construction must start this year or Uncle Sam will politely ask for that money back. [Curbed InBox]
LOS ANGELES: Streetsblog, which keeps us (and you) informed on all manners of things related to transportation is in the midst of a fundraising drive. Check out news on their big fundraiser tomorrow, and the link to their Pay Pal page. [Streetsblog]
NORTH CENTRAL: Racked is totally bummed out that three long-time staples in the area are closing their doors. Sirens and Sailors, Warwick, and now Mercado are all gone, and when Racked stopped by Mercado a few days before it closed, "there was practically nothing left."
WEST HOLLYWOOD: Racked stopped by C Savage Salon recently to check out its makeover, eat some snacks from next-door neighboor Jar, get prettied up, and of course discuss the geography of salonery with a stylist: "Of the East Side, said he appreciated the laid-back atmosphere and friendly clientele, but it's hard not to be impressed by the general fanciness, attention to detail, and level of pampering one finds in the Beverly Hills salons."
WEST HOLLYWOOD: Have you heard that it's LA Fashion Week? Probably not. But anyway, Racked attended the Geoffrey Mac show at Skybar and found "a column wedding dress with a fabric swirl in the back (it was probably supposed to look like a big rosette, but looked more like a cinnamon roll); and a flirty number best described as 'Barbarella Does Brocade.'"
· On the Racked Archives [Curbed LA]
The Great California ShakeOut is coming, and Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions got the party literally rocking last night with a performance of "Earthquake Quartet #1." The composition describes "the earthquake cycle in which plate motions build up strain until it is suddenly released during earthquakes," and was both written and performed (on trombone, viola de gamba, and voice) by USGS geophysicists. "The latter part of the piece," as described by a press release, "is based on the idea that society and culture, including music, takes place with the earthquakes as an often ignored backdrop." Dr. Andrew Michael, whose research involves the improvement of earthquake probability estimates, composed "Earthquake Quartet #1," and you can hear it here. [2008 performance on a shake table via LA Moves]
· Earthquake Quartet #1 [LA Moves]
· Earthquake Quartet #1 [USGS]
