Home Shopping: Folklore

Because I don't have a Guest Author for you today, I thought I'd tell you about a local author. Well, I'm reaching. He was born in San Marino, but he didn't exactly stick around.

His name was Tristram P. Coffin. He was a professor who studied and wrote about folklore. He died a couple of weeks ago in Rhode Island at the age of 89. (John says this makes him a Ghost Author.) The New York Times' obituary is detailed and interesting.

You can still easily find most of his books. Vroman's will even order one for you. He wrote about folklore in baseball, in holidays and even in Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.

Speaking of reaching, since Mr. Coffin was born in 1922 I plugged "1922 San Marino" into my search engine and found this house at 1922 California Blvd. in San Marino. It was listed for sale only a couple of days ago at $1,850,000. Do look at the slide show, there's a lot to be seen beyond the hedge.

Let me know if you buy it.

Home Shopping: To the Rescue

John saw an article in the Pasadena Star-News about an unincorporated area of Pasadena called Michillinda Park. A group of neighbors there is trying to save a vintage Craftsman house. We decided to drive over and have a look.

Michillinda Park is a lovely, historic neighborhood where peacocks graze on the median. Too bad it's unincorporated because that means there's no historic preservation ordinance and anyone who has the money can buy one of these...

...and tear it down to put in one of these.

To better illustrate my point, here's a panorama John made of these two houses:

I recommend you click the panorama to enlarge it. It looks like the two houses aren't next to each other, but they are. The reason the McMansion on the right is so much brighter than the Craftsman on the left is that there are no trees in the McMansion front yard. I wonder why, when all the old houses on the block have mature trees in their yards.

Click on the photos in the Star-News article. The house the neighbors are trying to save is a beauty. And the only way to save it is to find a buyer within a week.

Plus I sure hope someone finds that rodwiller.

Update 2/25/11:
According to the Pasadena Star-News, the house will be moved instead of demolished. Not great. A McMansion will be built in its place.

Home Shopping: Even Now

The sign in the window says NO TRESPASSING in more ways than I thought possible. What it means is, "the bank owns this house and don't even think about messing this up. Don't EVEN. Just have your agent call so you can buy the damn thing."

Maybe you should. I hear it's a good time to buy, if you have the means. I dared--yes I EVEN--to peek in the windows. You're going to have hardwood floors, a fireplace, wood trim and a healthy lemon tree in the side yard. That much I know.
I also know there are at least two sweet little old ladies on the block, and at least one guy who looks pretty good with his shirt off.










Late-breaking news: One of my Facebook friends, Iranian photographer Amir Sadeghi, was arrested yesterday at the office of Farhang-e-Ashti newspaper, his place of work, for having published images of the security clampdown on protesters last December 27th. More on Overdog.

Home Shopping in Julia's Neighborhood

Just one little block east of the famous house we visited yesterday I spotted this one for sale. There was a "Sale Pending" tag attached to the Sotheby's Realty sign on the lawn. So if you want this house you may have to get lucky, or at least hurry.

Take a look. What do you think? I'm already remodeling in my mind. I like the light, but the cement out back has to go. I'll have my office on the third floor at the back...

New Swank on South Lake

I'm always poking around on Hometown Pasadena, the brainchild of local publisher, editor, writer and whirlwind Colleen Dunn Bates. You can't help but scare up something great there because Colleen's got a little bit of everything. Last week she hooked me with this: Hometown Pasadena Five to Appear. It was an invitation to the open house for Granite Park Place, the new luxury condos currently under construction at the corner of San Pasqual and Lake. If you RSVP'd and showed up you not only got a peek inside the new condos, you got a free, signed copy of the latest edition of the book version of Hometown Pasadena.

Well, dayum. I wanted my free book.

I've featured these condos before. First here, then here. Obviously I was unprepared for the swank.
(Whether or not the interior design of the model is to your taste, you have to admit the dining table is out of this world. At least admit I need it in my house. It's ceramic or clay or something glazed. It probably cost at least as much as my car. I mean as much as my car cost new.)

The real estate personnel were gracious. Paul Sunshine of Domineum Marketing (right rear above), greeted me upon my arrival. He knew darned well I was not going to buy a condo. He knew I was not with the Pasadena Star-News but a mere blogger. He saw my blue jeans. Yet he gave me a friendly tour of the model condo.

While most people were down the hall chowing down on their beautifully catered bento box lunch, I shared the model condo's living room with no one but the string quartet. I took pictures while they serenaded me with a medley from Camelot. I wonder if the condos come with...? No, no, surely not. But one would have a string quartet if one were going to live in a luxury condo, doesn't one agree? In short, there's simply not a more congenial spot. Hey, I know my swank.

Judging from the number of unavailable units in the building, Granite Park Place is selling like Zhu Zhu Pets, even with the high price tag. Let's hope its presence perks up business on South Lake Avenue.

And oh yes! A coup! I got my free book! Signed by all five authors. Dayum.

Home Shopping: Fish Story

It has seen better days and it will see better days again.

My friend wanted to buy this house at 443 W. Altadena Drive in Altadena. She didn't make an offer because she couldn't afford the repairs it needs. She toured it over a week ago and still dreams about it, so we drove up to have another look. I peeked in the windows and took pictures while my friend waxed wistful about the acres of yard, the big bedrooms and the stained glass above the fireplace.

Irina Netchaev has interior shots on her website. She's also got all the info about the house.

I say "house," but "mansion" is a better word for it. Yes, it's a foreclosure. For $569,900. That tells you something about how much work it needs. The lucky winner will have to sink in some serious bucks to make it work, but the bones are there and they are gorgeous. For the buyer with vision, it's going to be a magnificent home. It'll be open for viewing Sunday.

As we drove away my friend gazed out the back window of the car. (It's okay. I was driving.) "I just love those palm trees," she said. For her, this is the one that got away.

Home Shopping in History: the Swain House

There's been a lot of activity over at 1165 N. Los Robles, so before it gets snapped up I thought I'd show you another historic home. We know this one's historic because it has a plaque. See it? It's right up there by the front door. This link takes you to Zillow's page about the house, where you can see a close-up of the plaque.

The Tilghman H. Swain house was built in 1911, another jewel along lovely north Los Robles. It isn't exactly a Craftsman. It's called Chicago Prairie Style. The architect was Parker O. Wright who worked out of Long Beach and who, near as I can figure, was no relation to Frank Lloyd.

If you really want to know about this house there's a whole biography of it in .pdf. It gives information about the architect, builders and residents over the years and includes copies of related newspaper articles, permits, etc. The biography was prepared by Tim Gregory, the Building Biographer, who works out of Pasadena. I love what this guy does. For a fee, he'll research the history of your house or building. You could do it yourself, but would you?

Home Shopping in History: the Stocks Home

North Los Robles Avenue has its imperfections. It's a broad, busy street. With direct access to the police station downtown, it serves as an artery for ambulances, fire engines and police cars, all of which use sirens. And let's admit it: when you live on north Los Robles, you live on the border of a troubled section of northwest Pasadena.

But take another look at Los Robles. The shady stretch between Washington Blvd. and Woodbury Avenue teems with historic homes. The Stocks home, so historic it's featured by Pasadena Heritage, is for sale. There are actually three homes on the property, all visible from the street. I couldn't see the pool without trespassing, though, and you know I'm a law-abiding citizen.

Oh yes I am! Don't start. Go harass the Altadenahiker.

What was I saying? Oh yes. They have a nice slide show about this house over at Pasadena Heritage, so go take a look. My favorite part is the porch. I pass this house regularly, and I drool over that porch. Not literally. It's set back a bit too far from the road.

Home Shopping on San Rafael Avenue

As the brochure says, "there is simply no address quite like it in Pasadena..." A South San Rafael Avenue address is an exclusive address. Yesterday I got to take a look at a property for sale at 500 South San Rafael avenue for an unheard of $3,500,000. Does that sound expensive to you? Nah. According to the agent, my friend Jeremy Hardy of Craig Estates and Fine Properties, many properties along that street are worth $6 million or more, even in this economy.

I'm standing on the second floor balcony. You're looking at the pool house, which has a kitchen and bathroom, and can serve as a private guest house. The home itself was built in 1904 by an adventurer named Frederick Burnham, who later served as president of what was then the Southwest Museum, now the Southwest Museum of the American Indian. Mrs. Alice Campbell-Johnston altered the house significantly when she lived there from 1927 to 1942. It doesn't look like a 1904 house at all. (Alice must have been related to Frances Ellen Campbell-Johnston, who built the Church of the Angels nearby.)

I enjoy visiting houses like this and felt lucky I got to see this one. It's a fantastic lot--more than 55,000 square feet. And it's mostly flat, which is unusual for a lot so close to the Arroyo. The back yard is almost completely taken up by a tennis court. When I move in I'm going to take that out and just plant stuff.

Jeremy said the house doesn't have a website. But Redfin has already picked up the MLS listing and there are several pictures. Take a look and you'll get an idea of the place. Here's Jeremy, standing below the balcony where I stood when I shot the pool house pic.
Say hi to my pal!

Home Shopping, If You're Not Superstitious

Hey, it's Friday the 13th (again)! I wonder what that does to home sales, even in a bull market. I suppose if you're superstitious you just wait a day.

But when it's the home of your dreams you kinda want to jump on it, don't you?

Take this snappy little number. It's been more than a week since I went by there. It might already be gone.

Click on the little pic below for info if your heart's aflutter.

Home Shopping With Dave, Part 3

Look closely. Click to enlarge. Yes, it's a putting green.

I don't think I'd want one in my back yard. Then again, I have dog poo in my back yard. I must want it there, because otherwise I'd go out and poop scoop instead of sitting here blogging, wouldn't I?

Dave Knight and I visited a third high-end Pasadena property on our caravan (visit yesterday and the day before for details). This one's in the Chapman Woods area, a $3.5 million property on Madre Street. For grace and charm I prefer yesterday's home but this one has some nice amenities, like a tennis court and a 1200 sq. ft. guest house. The main house has about a hundred bathrooms (I exaggerate - there are actually only six). My favorite amenity is an unmanicured area beyond the tennis court, where the kids have their own jungle.

Dave and I did some talking during the caravan. (No, we didn't, of course not! We sat silently in the car as we rode from house to house.) Dave found his way into real estate by way of charity work; he'd been with a group that helps the needy find housing, and thought he could do good work in the business. He has a wife and a three-month-old son to support so he's gotta make a living, but regardless of commissions he still gets a charge out of finding a great deal for someone who needs it. Those were the stories he relished telling: the friend who got a house for $130,000; the older couple who decided not to sell based on Dave's advice. "I lost that deal," he said, "but they would have lost everything."

If Dave looks familiar, here's why: I first met him last October, at the now famous Pie Night.

Home Shopping With Dave, Part 2

Did someone mention points for the stager? I love the candelabra on the basketball court.

I'm on a caravan with Dave Knight, Pasadena realtor. (Yesterday's post will give you a little background.) I didn't get good pictures at the first house we visited in Linda Vista, sorry. The place was nice, clean, ready to move in. Nothing fancy, though, I must say, and the asking price was $1.275 million.

This place, however, is special. The rooms flow from one to the other. The lot is gorgeous, overlooking the Arroyo and Brookside Park. And you can have it all for less than $2.4 million.

When we entered it was obvious we were in an exclusive home. We introduced ourselves and shook hands with the selling agents. Dave is a young guy, and the other agents were seasoned pros. We chatted about the house - its beautiful surroundings, flowing floor plan, artistic lighting. Dave wanted to know, so he just up and asked: "How does a new agent like me get a listing like this?"

The other agents couldn't have been nicer. Out poured all kinds of friendly advice: "keep up your contacts," "participate in the community," "do charity work," "it's all about your connections," and more.

This exchange was my favorite part of the caravan. I've experienced actors helping actors, writers helping writers, and now realtors helping realtors. I know business is competitive, but people really can be good to each other.

Anyway.

Tomorrow: Part 3, our final installment, where we'll learn why Dave looks familiar (if Cafe Observer keeps our secret), and we'll see a backyard accoutrement some folks might kill to have.

Home Shopping With Dave, Part 1

You may remember Dave Knight, but for now I'm not going to tell you from where.

When I began the irregular but not indifferent Home Shopping series here on Pasadena Daily Photo, I contacted a few local real estate agents to tell them what I was doing. Because I'm not an expert in the field I asked if they'd occasionally check in and add their input. The fabulous Irina Netchaev contributed excellent info on Mediterranean Altadena, for example, enhancing that post with her knowledge.

It's obvious I need assistance. There's a lot I don' t know about real estate. Did you know these people regularly go on caravans? They're not trekking across the desert on camels to visit mysterious oases. No, they're trekking across Pasadena in air-conditioned vehicles to view glorious properties, eat lovely snacks and schmooze with their kind.

I accompanied Dave Knight on a caravan last week. We visited three Pasadena properties, each listed at well over $1 million. I took just a few pictures so as not to be obtrusive. I learned some things. I did not indulge in snacks.

When I took this picture, Dave was standing on the back porch of a glamorous home not too far from the Gamble House. I was on the basketball court.

Part 2 tomorrow.

Home Shopping #3: Mediterranean Altadena

Karin, the Altadena Hiker, knows where all the good stuff is in her neighborhood. This Mediterranean Mansion looks suitable, doesn't it? When a home goes on the market these days it gets its own website. Take a look at this.

I love all the French doors, the archways, the dark wood. The back yard and patio are fab. I'm just going to mention that I could do without the murals. As for the kitchen, I haven't decided what to do with it yet. Maybe it needs a remodel or maybe there's just too much in there. It's different, I'll give you that. Otherwise, this house is ready for me to move in.

Ah. Then again, there's that staff I mentioned the other day. I'll have to have at least a cleaning lady (or I'd be happy with a cleaning man), a gardener, a cook and a masseuse to keep this place in order.

Home Shopping #2

I spotted this cutie in Bungalow Heaven and had to pull over. "Hey baby, whatchya doin' on this gray day? You look like a charmer to me." I took a picture, brought it home and brightened it a little to cheer it up.

Of course you can't tell a book by its cover, and location is everything. Let's see, what other cliches might apply here? Oh yeah: you'll have to look under the hood to find out if this house has good bones. Ouch.

Bungalow Heaven is a neighborhood, for those who don't know. The whole 'hood is on the National Register of Historic Places, which can be good and bad if you're a homeowner. If you're considering buying a historic property it's worth knowing everything you can about the National Register. In some ways it restricts you; in some ways it protects you.

I'm not in the business of selling houses, but I figured I'd post the contact information in case you're in the business of buying.

Home Shopping

I thought of this home as a possible contender for Laurie's challenge to "show [her our] local Craftsmans!" The sun was at a low angle when I shot it, so I was able to catch some of the wrap-around porch without much shadow.

I ended up using a house with more pronounced Craftsman elements for the challenge, but I still like this one. It's giving me ideas. There are homes for rent and for sale in Pasadena. Would you like to see some? We've got all kinds: mansions, cottages, gorgeous monsters and run-down fixers. This one's got four bedrooms and two bathrooms, it's in a historic district (Orange Heights) and it even has its own website.

I'm shy about photographing people's homes. I imagine someone's going to come storming out with a shotgun and shoo me away from the property. But so far that hasn't happened. People here are used to having their houses photographed. And if there's a For Sale sign out front I feel bold.

So what do you think? Want to go home shopping in Pasadena with me?

Update: Either I'm prescient or this real estate agent knows where I live. I just received a flier about an open house at this very house this Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 PM. If you're interested or nosy, now's your chance.

Housenography

As long as John and I have lived in the Pasadena area we've been aware of the huge house on North Lake Avenue. We used to drive by it every day when we lived in Altadena. We couldn't guess much from the street; the house was behind a brick fence and mostly what we could see was the high peak of the roof. The lot was huge and the house sprawled over much of it, and even though at that time the house was an unattractive pink, we coveted it.

Now the "gracious English estate" is painted white, looking more distinguished and on the market for just under two million dollars. We went to the open house last Sunday. Gracious it is, an aging beauty with good bones. The 9-bedroom house was built in the 1920s by architect Kenneth Gordon, who built other distinguished properties in this area.

Above is a rear view of the house. I decided to use it because many locals know the front view but we never get to see the house from behind. Yesterday's "secret window" photo was taken in a room we discovered by opening a door we found inside a closet, that led into a room beyond the closet. It could be a secret hiding place, known only to the house's owner. On the floor plan it's called "storage."

For a little extra fun, below are the patio and a view of the pool from an upstairs room. (Click to enlarge the photos.)

We wandered. The house is almost 4500 square feet. There's a pool house, guest house, an old-fashioned tennis court and a converted garage. The traces of the times still show in places: the tennis court has changed very little since the 1920s, for example. A peace sign is painted on the inner wall of a shed.

I won't lie. The house needs some cosmetic work. But I still covet it.