Wings of A Bird Clipped: Moore House Demolished for New Mediterranean Design

It is official.  Yesterday, April 25, 2012, the Moore House was demolished after the LA Conservancy lost in their last ditch efforts to save the one-of-a-kind home designed by Llyod Wright, son of Frank Llyod Wright in 1958.  The City Council denied the preservation efforts and instead sided with owners Mark and Barbara Paullin in order for the owners to build a Mediterranean design on the site in Palos Verdes Estates.  The Paullin's have stated on numerous occasion they only bought the house known as the "Bird of Paradise House" for the views.  It was always their intent to build something of their own.  Unfortunately, it comes without much visionary direction as the new design is very generic and true to the other homes with similar aesthetic. 

Moore House, 1958 - Lloyd Wright

Owner, Mark Paullin, at the demolition site with visitors.

The wings of the bird have been clipped.

Grandson of Frank Lloyd Wright,  Eric Lloyd Wright, remembers the home and of a time when he and his father worked side by side. A third-generation architect, he helped craft the Moore house and still marvels over his father's design.  "It is, I think, one of his best," referring to his father's design. "It will be a great loss if that house is removed and another large box is put in its place."

As I have been an advocate of saving this home since June of 2010, it breaks my heart to see another mid-century modern being torn down through demolition.  Very very sad.

photos courtesy LA Times.

Moore House, PV PRESERVATION ALERT

PRESERVATION ACTION ALERT!

It sounds like Palos Verdes Estates received an incredible number of letters on the Moore House, but we cannot let up off our Preservation throttle.  Letters can still be sent to the city in support of LA Conservancy and our mission to notate specific properties with value to the community and society at large.  Even if you are not a resident of the Palos Verdes Estates community, it is important you speak out now before it is too late.  The options by the current owners are really not options as they want to tear down most of what is all ready there. 

There is still time to help preserve this unique mid-century modern home designed by the son of Frank, Lloyd Wright.  "The city Planning Commission is set to weigh the project in January", said city Planning Director Allan Rigg. 

Please take a moment and support LA Conservancy in preserving Modern Architecture.

To comment on plans to demolish and replace a modern, Lloyd Wright-designed home in Palos Verdes Estates, e-mail city Associate Planner Stacey Kinsella at skinsella@pvestates.org, or fax 310-378-7820.  Also, please cc mvavala@laconservancy.org   modernhomesla@gmail.com in order to keep a track of the support.

Daily Breeze Article 12/9/10:

http://goo.gl/HYDSy

Listing & Sale / Moore House / California Recovery - 6.20.2010 Newsletter/Email

Hey there!


I am trusting a good Father's Day weekend has befallen upon us all.

As business is keeping me very busy, I apologize to those who have been waiting for an update from me. Here it is! Within the email, I am touching base on a couple of stories/issues/listings. Take a quick scroll to see if there is anything here worthy of your time.

Mid-Century Condo Listing / Benedict Canyon Sale:

If you or anyone you know may be looking for a clean and gorgeous condo in a great architectural building in the West Hollywood Vicinity.

Listing:
Offered at: $499,999
MLS#10-449931
1550 N Laurel Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046



2/2 Condo in a great location in the heart of the Hills and Strip. The building is truly one of the finest of the 1960s. Huge covered terrace with 8' floor to ceiling sliders. Truly is an indoor/outdoor living scenario.


Recently SOLD:
Sold for: $720,000
MLS#10-442733
10037 Reevesbury Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210



Historic home sells for historic price! The Reeves Pillsbury hunting lodge / art studio from 1927 was purchased by some happy clients of mine. With over 1,400sf living space and a lot close to 20,000sf, this place was a steal. Amazing canyon views abound. This is a classic!


Historic Moore House at Risk of Demolition:



"...Created by Lloyd Wright, son of internationally renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and cited as being “highly intact” by the Los Angeles Conservancy, the home is threatened with being demolished so that the owners, PVE native Mark Paullin and his family, can build a new, larger home on the site.

“I always thought it was kind of an odd-looking house in [comparison with other homes in] the neighborhood,” said Paullin, who bought the home about four or five years ago. “I thought people would be happy that I was looking to [rebuild] it, make it fit in more with the rest of the architecture in the neighborhood...”

To read the full story, click here .


California Recovery:

Los Angeles Times


California’s unemployment rate, currently at 12.4 percent, will not return to single-digit levels until 2012 and the state’s inland areas will continue to be impaired by excess housing inventory and state budget cuts, according to a forecast released Tuesday by UCLA’s Anderson School of Business.



MAKING SENSE OF THE STORY FOR CONSUMERS

*
California’s economic recovery is contingent on consumer shopping behavior nationwide, as retail spending drives traffic at California’s ports and logistics centers, which are both substantial employers throughout the state, the report said. However, consumers are unlikely to increase spending until businesses begin hiring again, which many economists believe will only happen gradually over time.

*
The coastal areas of the state will benefit from growth in health care, education, and technology, while inland areas will be constrained by excess housing inventory and state budget cuts, impacting rural inland areas where government workers account for a significant percentage of the workforce, according to the forecast.

*
The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) recently issued its mid-year housing market forecast. Based on C.A.R.’s forecast, the median home price in California is expected to rise 9.1 percent this year compared with last year, while sales of existing, single-family homes will decline 4.7 percent. Rates on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages will rise to 5.3 percent compared with 5.1 percent in 2009 and 15-year mortgages will average 4.2 percent compared with 4.7 percent last year, according to the forecast

To read the full story, please click here.

As always, if you or someone you know is looking to sell or purchase real estate, please pass my name along. Referrals are always welcomed.

I hope this has given you some food for thought. Have a terrific day!

-Steve

Steve Ward
Realtor®, SFR®
Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource
modernhomeslosangeles
Keller Williams Realty - Los Feliz

213.305.8537 direct
323.300.1000 office
323.525.0102 fax
steve.ward.la@gmail.com
http://steven.ward.la.yourkwagent.com/

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