Real Estate Primer

I read a lot of blogs (too many or not enough, I haven't decided). One I particularly enjoy is Pasadena Real Estate With Brigham Yen. Brigham is full of ideas and enthusiasm for a better Pasadena. He regularly posts about what's going on real estate-wise in town.

I took today's photo from a window in one of the offices of the Pasadena Professional Building at Union and Madison. This empty lot on Union St. is part of the Fuller Theological Seminary Campus. Here's a link to a view from the rooftop when the Herkimer Arms still stood there. That's City Hall in the background.

What's happening with the lot? As usual, Brigham has the scoop. When Fuller Theological Seminary removed the Greene & Greene-designed Herkimer Arms (not destroyed, thanks to preservation efforts, but relocated to Raymond just north of Maple), the Fuller Worship Center was supposed to go in. If you want to know why building hasn't begun, read Brigham's post. After all, it's his scoop.

Empty Emissary

I was a little shocked the first time I stumbled upon this mansion. A mansion is not something one normally stumbles upon.

But there it was hidden in plain sight, invisible from Orange Grove Blvd. and the surrounding streets, yet accessible when I got out of the car and began strolling through the Ambassador Campus and stumbling upon things.

This is, or was, the Hulett C. Merritt Mansion, built on Millionaire's Row in 1905. It subsequently became part of Ambassador College in the 1950s. Still later, the whole area became the Ambassador Campus, which included three mansions, several fountains and some lovely gardens.

Now the mansions are empty. Some of the fountains are dry. The gardens, though well-tended, lie untrampled, awaiting their fate.

According to real estate blogger Brigham Yen, City Ventures has purchased the property for development. There will be some condos. But don't freak out. According to the current plans, the mansions will stay.

More tomorrow.