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RICHARD NEUTRA'S KRONISH HOUSE SOLD TO PRESERVATION-MINDED BUYER |
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Great news! On Friday, October 14, the Conservancy received word that escrow had closed on the Kronish House -- and that the buyer intends to restore the home. “The Kronish House has dodged the wrecking ball, and we could not be more thrilled,” said Linda Dishman, the Conservancy's executive director. “This outcome is a testament to the very hard work of many people, the willingness of the City and the owner to give preservation a chance, and the power of public support.” Designed by modern master Richard Neutra and completed in 1955, the Kronish House came very close to being demolished this summer. It was sold in a foreclosure auction in January for $5.8 million and placed on the market in April for nearly $14 million. Over the summer, the owner began the demolition process by applying for a permit to cap the sewer line.
The Conservancy, its volunteer Modern Committee, Dion Neutra, and others launched intense advocacy efforts that fueled an extraordinary public outcry, including nearly 600 letters to the City of Beverly Hills. The City negotiated with the owner in August to delay demolition until at least October 10. The Conservancy and many others then focused their efforts on finding a buyer for the home. As the October 10 deadline passed, the preservation community grew increasingly concerned about the likely imminent demolition of the home. Fortunately, final talks were under way with a buyer who had come forward with an interest in restoring the highly intact home. The name of the buyer and the final sale price have not been disclosed. To everyone who wrote a letter, attended a hearing, made a phone call, or spread the word about the plight of the Kronish House, thank you! Your efforts made a crucial difference. The Conservancy and many others worked to prevent the demolition of the 1955 Kronish House in Beverly Hills, designed by legendary architect Richard Neutra. Also active in the effort was Dion Neutra, Richard's son and project architect for the house.
The home is one of only three Neutra designs ever built in Beverly Hills, and it’s the only one that remains intact (one was demolished, the other completely altered). It spans almost 7,000 square feet on a nearly two-acre lot at 9439 Sunset Boulevard. The house isn’t visible from the street, though recent photos are available on CurbedLA and the real estate listing. It was sold in a foreclosure auction in January for $5.8 million and placed on the market in April for nearly $14 million. Over the summer, the owner began the demolition process by applying for a permit to cap the sewer line. There was no replacement project planned for the site. We asked for a large turnout of people to demonstrate the strong support for saving the Kronish House, and you delivered! Nearly 600 letters and e-mails to the City of Beverly Hills made all the difference in helping buy much-needed time for the historic Kronish House. At a City Council meeting on August 2, the Conservancy strongly urged the Mayor and City Council of Beverly Hills to take action as soon as possible to prevent the imminent demolition of the Kronish House. You can read our letter to the City for our full position.
Fortunately, the City Council heard our plea and those of many others, asking the owner to postpone demolition to allow the exploration of other options. The owner’s representative for the property agreed to hold off on demolition until at least October 10. Otherwise, the Kronish House could have been demolished as early as mid-August.
The Mayor and members of the City Council went an additional step further, directing the Planning Commission to review its preservation ordinance and procedures to ensure landmarks like the Kronish House will not be so easily lost in the future. The Conservancy applauds this action and looks forward to working with the City and residents to help craft stronger tools for preservation in Beverly Hills. The City is taking positive steps toward providing preservation incentives through the Mills Act property tax relief program. The Kronish House would be a great candidate for rehabilitation under the program. During the 60-day reprieve, the Conservancy and many others focused their efforts on finding a preservation-minded buyer for the home. After months of hard work, the Conservancy received word on October 14 that escrow had closed on the Kronish House -- and that the buyer intends to restore the home.
Built for Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Kronish, the home has a formal, pinwheel-shaped design. Three wings radiate from a glass-enclosed garden area visible from several rooms. The house features walls of glass and slick, smooth surfaces. The original pool was also designed by Neutra. The house featured fine finishes and innovative amenities. “This is Neutra on a grand masterful scale, and akin to the Josef Von Sternberg House (demolished in 1972) in being more a “villa” with its commanding presence, unusual amenities, and fine finishes that are really only seen at this level of craft in his residential work in Italy and Germany,” says Barbara Lamprecht M.Arch., architectural historian and restoration consultant. “The Kronish House is an exceptional work of architecture even within the Neutra canon.” In her definitive book, Richard Neutra: Complete Works (Taschen 2000), Lamprecht quotes Neutra regarding his work on the Kronish House:
The Teardown Trend in Beverly Hills The 1935 apartment building at 9936 Durant Drive, by noted architect Robert Derrah, is also slated for demolition. And a few years ago, the City approved the demolition of the former residence of both George Gershwin and Rosemary Clooney. The City of Beverly Hills is one of many in Los Angeles County that has no protections for its historic resources. In preparing our 2008 Countywide Preservation Report Card, the Conservancy found that more than a third of all jurisdictions in the county have no such protections. The Conservancy offers technical assistance to local governments who wish to strengthen their preservation policies. For more information, please contact us at info@laconservancy.org or (213) 623-2489.
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Wilshire May Company This Streamline Moderne department store with its prominent cylindrical gold tower signals the western entrance of Wilshire Boulevard's Miracle Mile district. The Conservancy swung into action when the May Co. building was threatened with demolition for office towers and a hotel during the early 1990s. After successfully nominating the building for City Historic-Cultural Monument status, the Conservancy worked with County officials to ensure the building's reuse by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Now LACMA West, the May Co. had a splashy reopening in 1999 when it played host to a blockbuster Van Gogh exhibit. Photo courtesy of Julius Shulman |
