Place
William Mellenthin Birdhouse Apartments
This 1954 courtyard apartment is one of the only multi-family residences designed by famed builder William Mellenthin
Active
Support tenants and neighbors in designating this rare apartment as an L.A. Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM).
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William Mellenthin Birdhouse Apartments | Frank Richter
Overview
The suburban dream is a little denser- but no less picturesque – in this six-unit courtyard apartment designed by renowned builder and developer William Mellenthin. In the postwar period, Mellenthin designed over 3,000 homes across Los Angeles. His influence is best seen in the San Fernando Valley where his iconic cupola birdhouse design graced single-family homes across the growing suburbs.
In the 1950s, Mellenthin began to apply the Traditional Ranch style to multi-family residences. Few remain, however, making the William Mellenthin Birdhouse Apartments an extremely rare building type.
The Mellenthin Birdhouse Apartments are important rent-stabilized units. The courtyard and landscaping creates a community atmosphere for tenants, some who have lived there for over two decades. In September 2024, neighbors and residents nominated the Birdhouse Apartments as a L.A. Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM). On April 30th, 2025 the Los Angeles City Council voted to approve the William Mellenthin Birdhouse Apartments as an HCM.
While the HCM nomination was in the process, an Executive Directive 1 (ED 1) project was approved at the site. The date of approval, March 13, 2025 came after Cultural Heritage Commission approval but before the Planning Land Use and Management (PLUM) Committee voted on the HCM. This marks the first time an ED 1 project has been able to supersede an HCM nomination in this way, but it will certainly not be the last example.
The Conservancy still believes that demolition of a proposed HCM is a discretionary action and subject to CEQA, even if an ED 1 project has been approved. We urge Councilmembers to work with us to address this issue – it creates a dangerous playbook where ED 1 can be used to invalidate pending HCMs.
About This Place
About This Place
The William Mellenthin Birdhouse Apartments are a rare, and intact example of a courtyard apartment in the Traditional Ranch style in Van Nuys’ Valley Glen neighborhood. It is a triplex court composed of two detached triplexes.
Whimsical yet modest, each apartment is a miniature version of Mellenthin’s full-size single-family ‘Birdhouses.’ Mellenthin and architect Frank S. Hinksman designed the Birdhouse typology in the late 1930s, inspired by Mellenthin’s childhood in Minnesota. The wooden birdhouse adorned the gables of Ranch style homes. The style became so popular that other designers began incorporating them into their developments.
Mellenthin’s homes were known for high quality craftsmanship and materials. Whimsical yet modest, the Traditional Ranch-style triplexes offer cozy country-style interiors and shared outdoor space.
Neighborhood mailer drumming up support for the Mellenthin Birdhouse Apartments, courtesy of Frank Richards.
Our Position
Residences like the William Mellenthin Birdhouse Apartments demonstrate historic models for densifying our neighborhoods while retaining character and a sense of community. It’s crucial that we protect older, rent stabilized buildings that make up a majority of L.A.’s remaining affordable housing.
Neighbors and residents worked together to nominate the to tell the story of their home and what it means to them today. The Conservancy is proud to support their effort to designate this important multi-family residence.
Though the HCM has been approved, the site is still at risk due to the entitled ED 1 project. We are looking at ways to enforce all relative provisions of the Cultural Heritage Ordinance and City Code to make sure the building and its residents are afforded due process.