San Fernando Valley Blog

Buff and Hensman Everts House in Sherman Oaks Hits the Market

2013-05-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

3 Beds/4 Baths on 2,820 sqft on a total lot size of 0.28 acres built in 1979 located in Sherman Oaks. This home hit the market on May 9, 2013 for $1,297,000 and was last purchased on June 28, 1991 for $600,000 which at that time was sold by Frank S. Everts which means that this home has only changed hands twice since first built. This home was designed by the award winning architectural firm, Buff and Hensman, based out of Pasadena.

The listing description states:

The Buff and Hensman Everts House. Arrive through a double set of doors to your own outdoor living room. This courtyard encompasses a gorgeous pool surrounded by Sycamore and Trees of Heaven. Enter the home thru glass doors into an open floor plan that covers the entire first floor of the home. The master bedroom and bathroom are beautiful and meticulously maintained which include the original bed and cabinetry. ~~ Enjoy the light filtered thru the myriad of trees for a tranquil afternoon. ~~

You can view more SFV Architecture and R.E. here.

Images courtesy John Aaroe Group

Celeb R.E.: Marc Anthony Settles Down in Encino's Amestoy Estates

2013-05-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Above images courtesy Rodeo Realty

According to the gossip kings at TMZ, Latin singer-songwriter, actor, and record producer, Marc Anthony, has just purchased an Encino mock-Med mini mansion in the Amestoy Estates area which is located north of Ventura Blvd and South of the 101 Freeway (as a matter of fact the home is a stones throw away from the 101 and not too far from the old Edward Everett Horton ranch) for reportedly $2.5 million. Online property records dont reflect any transactions occurring in this amount or in Anthony's name so we have to assume that TMZ is correct and that the records will be updated in the near future.

The home measures 5 Beds/4.5 Baths on 6,263 sqft on a total lot size of 0.41 acres built in 1988. Prior to Anthony's purchase, this property was purchased for $1.4 million on January 14, 2011. The pictures shown above are from the 2011 listing and not the most recent sale. However, the listing description from when the home was first listed on October 4, 2012 is below which states that over $300K has been invested in the property so one can assume that the home looks much different than what is shown above.

Enter your entertainer's paradise. Tucked away behind gates and within a gated community is this gorgeous Spanish mansion. Over $300,000 in renovations have made this home an idyllic retreat. From the gorgeous hardwood floors to massive chandeliers to new electrical and plumbing no cost was spared. Enter into a grand foyer with soaring cathedral ceilings and impressive finishes. The home comes complete with 6 beds and 9 baths. The massive gourmet kitchen comes complete with commercial grade venting hood, SubZero Dual Fridges and Freezers, a Wolf Grill and Stove that would make a chef salivate. In the spacious master bed you can curl up by the fireplace or enjoy a cup of coffee on the balcony. The master bath is an absolute treat with a fireplace, dual steam showers, dual wash closets and dual vanities and, not to mention, every woman's dream... a store sized closet! Additional features are a recording studio and so much more. Inquire ASAP!

Prior to this home, TMZ stated that Anthony was leasing a 10,000 sqft Italian Renaissance villa in West Hollywood for $23,800 per month in October 2011 shortly after his separation from Jennifer Lopez in July 2011 with Anthony eventually filing for divorce on April 9, 2012.

Image courtesy Google Maps

Above images courtesy Prudential California Realty

When Anthony was married to Jennifer Lopez (married on June 5, 2004), they lived in a massive Hidden Hills mansion (shown above) which is currently occupied (and I guess 100% owned??) by Jennifer Lopez. The home measures 9 Beds/11.25 Baths on 17,129 sqft on a total lot size of 3.04 acres built in 1993. This home was purchased by the Lopez and Anthony on January 15, 2010 for $8.2 million from retired businessman, Andrew McIntyre, who was the former chairmen of AME Inc., which was acquired by Arctic Oil and Gas in the later 1980's. The listing description states:

SPECTACULAR, ONE-OF-A-KIND, CUSTOM ESTATE WITH ABSOLUTELY PANORAMIC, CITY LIGHT VIEWS. OVER 17,000 SQUARE FEET OF QUALITY AND LUXURY ON A HUGE (3-ACRE) DOUBLE LOT. FABULOUS, 20-SEAT THEATER, HUGE GAME ROOM, STELLAR GYM, RECORDING STUDIO, GOURMET KITCHEN, STUDY, BIG BONUS ROOM, FULL GUEST SUITE WITH PRIVATE ENTRANCE, WINE CELLAR, BIG SPORTS COURT, 8-CAR GARAGE WITH MOTORCOURT, EXPANSIVE ROLLING LAWNS, POOL, SPA, BBQ CENTER, MATURE TREES! WONDERFUL PRIVACY AND A PRIME, ASHLEY RIDGE LOCATION TOO. NOTHING LIKE THIS ON THE MARKET. (PLEASE SEE AGENT REMARKS REGARDING YEAR BUILT AS HOME WAS BUILT IN TWO-PHASES OVER TWO ADJOINING LOTS). QUALIFIED BUYER'S ONLY PLEASE.

Other celebrities living or previously lived in Encino discussed on this blog are the following:

Funnyman Kevin James recently sold two homes; the larger mansion for $5.5 million in May 2013 and the smaller home for $1.6 million in March 2013.
The late Warren Cowan, who was a publicist to the stars, just sold for $2 million on March 2013.
Shirley Jones of the Partridge Family is currently available for $2.1 million.
The late Fred Travalena's long time Encino home currently listed at $1,425,000.
David Hasselhoff's long time Encino Mansion currently priced at $3,795,000.
Joe Simpson's Royal Oaks Mansion which is currently listed for $4,395,000
The former Al Jolson Estate which was owned by Charlie Sheen at one time is listed for $6.5 million.
The former home of Selena Gomez just sold for $3.5 million in December 2012.
Heidi Saban Stills (father is billionaire Haim Saban) home just sold for $2.4 million in February 2013.
The former Macy Gray home is available for $5.9 million.
The former Joey Lawrence home just sold for $1.875 million in February 2013.

There are many celebrities who previously or currently call Encino home like Tori Spelling (former), Scott Baio (former), the Jackson Family compound, Leighton Meester, Annette Funicello's fire destroyed home, Brian Bloom, Tamar Braxton and Vincent Herbert (former), Vampire Diaries Director (former), Jennifer Morrison (former), Dave Grohl, Donald Penn, and Shirley MacLaine (former) to name a few (or several).

Other celebrities with recent real estate transactions or listings in Hidden Hills include the following:

The former Lisa Marie Presley estate is flipped for $22 million in April 2013.
Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne (music/reality) who just sold their mansion to Jessica Simpson for $11.5 million in March 2013.
LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian who purchased a $3 million short sale in December 2012.
Tamar Braxton and Vincent Herbert who purchased a Hidden Hills mansion designed by Ron Firestone on September 8, 2011 for either $3.4 million or $6.9 million who heaved it back on the market for barely one year later on October 11, 2012 for $7,595,000 and havent budged ever since.
Billy Blanks (Tae Bo) who recently sold his mansion for $7.3 million.
Ron Tutor (Construction) who previously leased to Britney Spears and is currently available for less than $10 million.
Beau Bridges (actor) who is trying to sell for under $3 million.
Drake (music) who recently purchased for $7.7 million.
Taylor Hawkin's (Foo Fighters music) purchase of a former Howie Mandel mansion for $2.7 million.
Morris Chestnut's short sale for $2.3 million.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's (wrestling/acting) who recently sold for $4 million.
Also, the Kardashians/Jenners live in this area.

You can view more SFV Celebrity Real Estate here.

Filming Locations: The Office (NBC U.S. TV Show: 2005 - 2013)

2013-05-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Image courtesy Fanpop.com

Image courtesy Barnes & Noble

Image courtesy Spoiler TV

Image courtesy Stuffpoint.com

Image courtesy Insidetv

After 9 hilarious seasons, The Office (U.S.) will air its last episode this Thursday on May 16, 2013 with a special 75 minute show. To celebrate the success of this series, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss some of the show's filming locations in the SFV which are well known by now. A majority of the show was filmed in Van Nuys to fill in as Scranton, Pennsylvania which is discussed below.

The Office is an American comedy television series broadcast by the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). It is an adaptation of the BBC series of the same name. The Office was adapted for American audiences by Greg Daniels, a veteran writer for Saturday Night Live, King of the Hill, and The Simpsons. It is co-produced by Daniels' Deedle-Dee Productions, and Shine America, in association with Universal Television. The original executive producers were Daniels, Howard Klein, Ben Silverman, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, with numerous others being promoted in later seasons.

The series depicts the everyday lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. To simulate the look of an actual documentary, it is filmed in a single-camera setup, without a studio audience or a laugh track. The show debuted on NBC as a mid-season replacement on March 24, 2005, and features Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B. J. Novak and Ed Helms among the main cast. Series star Carell, who portrayed Michael Scott, left the series near the end of the seventh season. Since its debut, the show has aired 199 episodes and is currently airing its ninth season, which has been confirmed to be the series' last. The series is scheduled to conclude with a one-hour finale on May 16, 2013.

The first five seasons of The Office received critical acclaim, were included on several top TV series lists, and won several awards including four Primetime Emmy Awards, one of which was for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2006. The series initially debuted to low ratings, but during its second season it became the highest-rated scripted series on NBC and was eventually chosen to follow Super Bowl XLIII. Off-network syndication of The Office began in late 2007 on TBS and Fox-owned stations in the United States (Wikipedia).

The filming locations from The Office were originally found by IAMNOTASTALKER.com so big props to that site for posting. All images shown below courtesy IAMNOTASTALKER.com unless noted.

The Office was primarily filmed at the Chandler Valley Center Studios located at 13927 Saticoy Street Van Nuys. This location is behind the former GM Plant as well across the train tracks from the former Schlitz Brewery site that I discussed in the Tower of Wooden Pallets post. According to a Yahoo article published on February 25, 2009, the author provided a list of recognizable items that could be seen from the street level at the time the article was published. Today, no references to the show can be found. You can also see more at IAMNOTASTALKER.com.

The entrance to Dunder Mifflin
The Dunder Mifflin Parking Lot
Various "Dunder Mifflin" and "Vance Refrigeration" signs
Michael Scott's office window that looks out over the parking lot. (In reality, the interior of his office is a set located in the soundstage next door.)
Michael Scott's parking sign
Prop cars belonging to various characters in the parking lot. (Complete with prop "Pennsylvania" license plates.)
The location of Michael Scott's "staged suicide attempt" from the episode "Safety Training"
And more! (The better you know the series, the more you will recognize!)

Above images courtesy BTTFtour.com

Dwight Schrutes car can be seen from the street.

In addition to Dwight's car, Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly's car can be seen followed by Andy's Prius and Meredith's mini-van.

Props from the show stored in a nearby parking lot state Jim Kit, Elevator, and Vance Refrigeration. The above images courtesy Living In A Television Show.

The next images show the location today which unfortunately has no references or props from The Office as in the previous pictures above.

The Chili's Grill & Bar from Season 2, Episode 1, "The Dundies" and Episode 7, "The Client" was actually filmed at the former Black Angus Steakhouse (now demolished) at 14640 Roscoe Blvd in Panorama City. You can see more at IAMNOTSTALKER regarding this location.

Above images from "The Dundies."

Above images from "The Client."

Michael Scott's condo was located at 7303 Bonnie Place Reseda and was purchased in Season 2, Episode 3, "Office Olympics". The condo which Michael mistakes as his was filmed in Season 6, Episode 22, "Dream Team" is located at 7302 Bonnie Place Reseda. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.

Oscar Martinez's house which was revealed in Season 2, Episode 13, "The Secret", was filmed at 5232 Longridge Avenue Van Nuys not too far from the location above. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.

Pam and Dwight meet at Paty's Restaurant in Season 3, Episode 3 ,"The Coup" which is located at 10001 Riverside Drive in Toluca Lake. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.

Phyllis Vance's Wedding from Season 3, Episode 15, "Phyllis' Wedding", was filmed at the First Church of North Hollywood at 4390 Colfax Avenue Studio City which has also been used for other TV shows, commercials, and films. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.

Pickwicks Pub was used in Season 3, Episode 18, "Cocktails" and in Season 4, Episode 9,"Local Ad." Pickwicks is located at 21010 Ventura Blvd in Woodland Hills. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.

Also used in Season 3, Episode 18, "Cocktails" was David Wallace and his wife, Rachel's, home used to throw a party for all of the Dunder Mifflin managers. This home is located at 5133 Louise Avenue in Encino. and is the original home of the Adohr Milk Farm. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.

In Season 3, Episode 19, "The Negotation", The Hungry Fox Restaurant was used which is located at 13359 Sherman Way in North Hollywood. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.

The Westfield Fashion Square Mall was used as Steamtown Mall in Season 3, Episode 22, "Womens Appreciation." This mall is located at 14006 Riverside Drive Sherman Oaks. You can see more at IAMNOTSTALKER regarding this location.

Pam buys the lamp from the estate sale during Michael Scott's Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race for the Cure was from Season 4, Episode 1, "Fun Run", is located at 5306 Longridge Avenue Van Nuys. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.

Jim and Pam's house was filmed in Season 5, Episode 8, "Frame Toby" and Season 7, Episode 21, "Michael's Last Dundies" at 13831 Calvert Street Van Nuys. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.

From "Frame Toby".

From "Michael's Last Dundies".

Darryl Philbin's house is located at 14152 Emelita Avenue in Van Nuys. This location was used for Season 6, Episode 2, "The Meeting." You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.

The Smokehouse Restaurant was used in Season 6, Episode 4/5, "Niagara" which is located at 4420 West Lakeside Drive in Burbank. With this restaurant located across the street from Warner Brothers, it has become the popular hangout for Hollywood folks going back to 1946. This location is also popular for film shoots and was recently used in the 2012 film, Argo. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.

Also used in Season 6, Episode 4/5, "Niagara" was the location of the church for Pam and Jim's wedding which was the Congregational Church of the Chimes located at 14115 Magnolia Blvd in Sherman Oaks. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.

Also used in Season 6, Episode 4/5, "Niagara" was the location for Pam and Jim's wedding hotel which was the Sportsmen's Lodge located at 12825 Ventura Blvd in Studio City. This hotel has been popular with Hollywood folks and has also been used for a variety of film shoots. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.

In Season 6, Episode 21, "Happy Hour", Jillian's was used as Sid & Dexter's Sports Bar which is located at 1000 Universal Studios Blvd in Universal CityWalk in Universal City. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.

Larry's Chili Dog was used in Season 7, Episode 14, "The Search" which is located at 3122 W. Burbank Blvd Burbank. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.

In Season 7, Episode 15, "The Search", Kung Pao Ching Bistro was used as Mr. Choo's Food Restaurant which is located at 11838 Ventura Blvd in Studio City. Also the Civic Center Gas Station and Mini Mart were also used in this episode which is located at 6171 Van Nuys Blvd in Van Nuys. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.

Barone's Famous Italian Restaurant was used in Season 7, Episode 21, "Michael's Last Dundies" which is located at 13726 Oxnard Street in Valley Glen. You can see more at IAMNOTSTALKER regarding this location.

Meredith Palmer's house was located at 14142 Emelita Street in Van Nuys. This home was used in Season 7, Episode 21, "Michael's Last Dundies" which is also next door to Darryl's house mentioned above. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.

Toby Flenderson's house is located at 5752 Calhoun Avenue in Van Nuys. This home was used in Season 7, Episode 21, "Michael's Last Dundies" which is a couple blocks northeast from Jim and Pam's house mentioned above. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.

Kelly Erin Hannon's Florida house from Season 8, Episode 18, "Last Day in Florida" and Episode 19, "Get the Girl" was filmed at 7777 Cherrystone Avenue Panorama City which is directly behind the Chandler Valley Center Studios mentioned above. You can see more at IAMNOTSTALKER for finding this location.

Its possible that other episodes were also filmed in the SFV but I have not had the opportunity to review all 9 seasons to find them so enjoy the above mentioned locations. I remember watching one episode where Burbank Blvd in the Sepulveda Dam was used for a driving scene to re-create the look of a bucolic Pennsylvania. Also, Hansen Dam was used as Lake Scranton while Dwight's farm was filmed in Simi Valley. If you know of any other scenes filmed in the SFV, please do share.

On a separate note, a majority of the cast lives in the SFV including Jenna Fischer (Pam) who purchased the Casey Stengel estate in Glendale in November 2012 (before Glendale, was living in Studio City), Steve Carell (Michael) lives in Toluca Lake with a prior home in Studio City, Rainn Wilson (Dwight) used to live in Van Nuys on Hamlin street which was from 1999 to 2002 but now currently resides in Agoura Hills, Rashida Jones (daughter of Quincy Jones) attended The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks along with Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian, and Angela Kinsey (Angela) lives in Valley Glen to name a few.

You can view more SFV Filming Locations here.

The Thies Residence by Carl Maston in Studio City Hits The Market

2013-05-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

11051 Wrightwood Lane

4 Beds/3 Baths on 3,320 sqft on a total lot size of 0.39 acres built in 1958 in Studio City which hit the market on May 3, 2013 for $1,995,000 and was last purchased on January 6, 1999 for $860,000. This home was built by Carl Maston who graduated from USC's school of architecture. Maston also designed the Valley Ice Skating Center in Tarzana that was demolished I believe sometime in the 70's and replaced with a strip shopping mall located at 18361 Ventura Blvd. Here is a bio from USC:

Carl Maston (1915-1992) was an influential mid-century modern architect based in Los Angeles. Known for his stark modern style and inventive use of concrete structural solutions, his 100+ works can be seen throughout Southern California. Born Carl Mastopietro in Jacksonville, Illinois, he first studied music before settling on architecture while at USC. Upon graduating in 1937, he went to work for several local architectural offices before setting off on his own in 1946.

For the next 40 years, Maston and his office completed projects such as commercial buildings, shopping centers, institutional buildings, private homes, residential buildings, and military housing units locally and nationally. His first of several design awards was for Maston (or Marmont) House in West Hollywood, a late Craftsman-style home. In 1946, he was commissioned to build the Pandora Apartments -- the first of his experiments with the garden aparment design. Along with Ray Kappe, Maston went on to contribute to the quintessential California apartment complex, particularly with the National Boulevard Apartments. Other notable completed projects include Hillside House, the Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design, the Chiat House in South Pasadena, Valley Ice Skating Center in Tarzana, and the Creative Arts Building at Cal State San Bernardino. In addition, he helped create the Los Angeles Community Design Center and served on the Los Angeles Planning Commission for five years.

Maston was the 1989 recipient of the USC Distinguished Alumni Award for excellence in design and innovative leadership in public service. Semi-retired but still teaching courses at USC and accepting architectural commissions, Carl Maston was 77 when he died of colon cancer in Los Angeles.

The listing description states:

The Thies Residence, an exemplary architectural home from Carl Maston, award winning graduate of the USC school of architecture. Modernist lines abound throughout this home evidenced by folded plate ceiling details to the endless rows of floor to ceiling glass windows. The indoor/outdoor flow feels seamless. Spend summer days taking a dip in the sparkling pool or collecting your thoughts by the koi pond. Polished cement flooring adds to the sleek luster of this light and bright home.

You can view more SFV Architecture and Real Estate here.

Images courtesy John Aaroe Group

Francis Lederer's Historic Canoga Mission Home Hits the Market

2013-05-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

23132 Sherman Way

Somebody pinch me because I must be in a dream after randomly searching online listings where I found the historic and truly one of a kind home built for actor Francis Lederer in 1933 which was declared a Historic Cultural Monument on November 15, 1978 at #204. Lederer also owned the stables across the street which is now the Canoga Mission Gallery which was declared on December 4, 1974 and both sites comprised a 300 acre ranch owned by Lederer who was also the Honorary Mayor of Canoga Park during a good portion of his life prior to his death in 2000 at the age of 100. Lederer was also a promoter of the West Valley especially Canoga Park where he helped establish the sister city program between Taxco, Mexico and Canoga Park in 1963.

Some more info on this historic home (from Wikipedia):

In 1934, Francis Lederer began design and construction, with the help of artisan builder John R. Litke, of his landmark residence and stables on the hilltop of a large rancho in the Simi Hills in Owensmouth, renamed Canoga Park, renamed again to present day West Hills. It is in the western San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California. The house is sophisticated example of a distinguished blending of Mediterranean Revival style with Mission Revival Style architecture in which the interior and exterior integral design, artisan work, and construction details are in a refined landmark quality. The rich building materials were chosen with greatest of care and painstakingly employed to make the finished buildings appear centuries old. The imported original 14th and 15th century Italian Renaissance and Spanish Renaissance museum-quality art pieces, decorative arts elements, and furnishings, are of particular rarity, value and interest.

The stables are in pure Mission Revival Style architecture, also designed by Francis Lederer with John R. Litke in the 1930s. It was built beside Bell Creek. Marion Lederer, his wife, transformed them into the Canoga Mission Gallery in the 1970s, which continues to present day.

The residence and stables are both protected Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monuments. The 1994 Northridge earthquake damaged the house. It is currently undergoing a major renovation. The estate is next to the very large 1845 Mexican land grant Rancho El Escorpión, which was his southern rural viewshed and remained undeveloped open space until 1959. The home and grounds are still in the hands of the Lederer family, and will become a public historical resource center.

The home measures 2 Beds/2 Baths on 4,796 sqft on a total lot size of 6.62 acres built in 1933. This home was first listed on Februrary 26, 2013 (and rather quietly because I have not heard of any other websites reporting this listing) for $1,599,000. Assuming the furniture is original and included with the sale, that must be worth a good chunk of change that easily boosts the value of this home due to its rarity. I cant believe its been on the market for this long. According to the listing:

Back on Market! Canoga Mission Historic Landmark Property on four separate parcels totalling just over 6.5 acres on the market for the first time. Built for Frances Lederer, this authentic Spanish style home has amazing valley views and a detached two unit guest house. Courtyard style home with French doors from almost every room makes this the perfect entertainer home. Property features stunning dining room with fireplace, huge living room with arched windows and massive fireplace, cantina with wet bar and fireplace and library with yet another fireplace. There are no words to properly describe this home. The authentic detail is stunning, and the "Calabasas" stone used in construction was quarried on site. This is an opportunity to own one of the West Valley's only Historic Landmark Homes.

The Lederers left this property after it was damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake and continued to live in the Palm Springs home at 1385 El Alameda which was sold for $390K on July 12, 2011 (they also owned a Malibu beach house at 31220 Broad Beach which sold for $3,812,500 on September 5, 2001. I believe the home is still owned by Lederer family but a review of the property records shows that producer turned real estate investor Nile Niami of Toluca Lake purchased this property on October 30, 2001 for $195,000 which would be shortly after the deaths of the Lederers in 2000. But that doesnt seem right to me so just reporting what I find.

You can view more SFV Architecture and Real Estate here.

Images courtesy Prudential California Realty

And some aerial views from Google and Historicaerials.com

The property today with the latest development being the condos at the bottom. Image courtesy Google Maps.

Image courtesy Google Maps

In 1952, Canoga Park was mostly empty. Image courtesy Historicaerials.com

In 1959, Canoga Park was starting to be developed. Image courtesy Historicaerials.com

In 1978, Canoga Park was mostly developed including the West Hills Hospital and the stretch of Sherman Way turning into Platt. Image courtesy Historicaerials.com

By 2003, all land was developed except for Lederer's property, however the portion near the Post Office would be developed a couple years later encroaching onto the Lederer property. Image courtesy Historicaerials.com

Celebrity R.E.: LL Cool J's Rental Where He Beat Down A Burglar Hits The Market In Studio City

2013-05-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

Image courtesy Keller Williams

Image courtesy Google Maps

The location where LL Cool J beat down a 56 year old transient for breaking into his Studio City home back on August 22, 2012 at approximately 1:30 AM has been listed on the market for $5,950,000 on April 24, 2013. The media and paparazzi descended onto this location when the news broke out back on a hot summer day trying to get shots of LL Cool J and/or the transient. LL Cool J ended up untouched while the transient was rushed to the hospital with a broken nose, jaw, and ribs. The transient was charged with first degree burglary while LL Cool J was not charged with anything. Looks like all those fighting scenes in various TV shows and movies has paid off.

The home measures 6 Beds/7 Baths on 7,566 sqft on a total lot size of 0.72 acres built in 2004. The listing description states:

Stunning, immaculate Tuscan palace high above Longridge Estates, sits this incredible, gated, 6 Bedroom, 7 Bath home with more than 7500 square feet of elegant living space plus a guest quarter on a 32,000 square foot lot. All of the finest materials were used and no expense spared. Was built as developer's primary residence in 2004. Chef's kitchen with huge center island, top-of-the line appliances, formal living and dining rooms as well as a spacious family room make this an entertainer's dream. Magnificent master suite includes huge walk-in closet, office, luxurious master bath with roman tub and private terrace. Home is accented with custom faux painted walls, coffered ceilings, granite, travertine and hardwood finishes. Sparkling pool, outdoor living area with fireplace, barbeque and kid's play area take great advantage of the nearly 3/4 acre, mostly flat lot. The grand, gated entry leads up to a Motor court with parking for up to 10 cars as well as a 3 car garage with spacious, one bedroom guest quarters above. This is a must see! Will not last!

This home was last purchased on August 16, 2002 for $1,075,000 which appears to be a land purchase with the home being constructed in 2004. This home is not owned by LL Cool J but rather a corporate entity by the name of Juliette Industries LLC based in Sherman Oaks. This isnt the first time this home has been listed as it was first placed on the market back on August 21, 2010 for $5.8 million, reduced to $4.8 million on December 12, 2011, then $4,895,000 on March 4, 2011, then in error with an amount of $15,000 on March 24, 2011, and finally on June 28, 2011 for $4.8 million.

One thing to keep in mind about this location is that the home is near Harvard Westlake High School which was recently in the news for their proposed development to expand their parking. While this may not directly impact this home, some neighbors are opposed to it so something to consider when viewing this property.

It appears that LL Cool J might still be renting this home as no interior pictures were included in the listing. So one could speculate that LL Cool J is looking for a new home in the LA area. If and when the home sells, LL Cool J might return back to his mansion in Manhasset, New York purchased in June 1999 which I believe is still currently owned by the famous rapper/actor/host as reported by the CelebrityDetective.com.

You can view more SFV Celebrity Real Estate here.

Other celebrities from Studio City featured on this website include:

Boys Like Girls Singer, Martin Johnson, Flips Studio City Home in April 2013 for $1,150,000.
Dodger's pitcher, Zach Greinke's compound purchase in April 2013 for $4,575,000.
Producer Mark Wilding who purchased a home in July 2012 for $1,825,000.
Actress Kathy Najimy who listed for $1,875,000 on March 4, 2013.
The Late Sage Stallone (son of Sylvester Stallone) home hit the market on February 23, 2013 for $2,399,999.
Signer-songwriter Kara DioGuardi sold her mansion for $6.3 million on December 28, 2012.
Actress Persia White's Short Sale for $1,199,000 on February 5, 2013.
Actor Hayden Christensen Lists Architectural home for $2,650,000 on September 20, 2012.
The Studio City home claimed to be last resting place for Beatles George Harrison sold on October 10, 2012 for $1,489,000.
Alpha Dog's Anton Yelchin purchased a home for $945,000 on May 18, 2012.
Musician Pete Wentz purchased a home for $1,050,000 on April 13, 2012.
Judge Judy producer, Timothy Regler, listed his home for $4,495,000 on April, 19, 2012.
The Kardashians fake home is available for $6,495,000 on February 29, 2012.
Kristen Bell's home was foreclosed on February 10, 2012 which later sold for $1,954,000 on April 30, 2012.
Musician Billy Howerdel listed his home on January 18, 2012 for $1.8 million.
Jeopardy host Alex Trebek unloading a home near his main home for $1,640,000 on December 2, 2011.
Boys Like Girls singer Martin Johnson purchased on January 7, 2011 for $737,000.
The Former Cuba Gooding, Jr. home that was sold by Composer-Arranger Roger Neil on February 3, 2012 for $1,550,000.
Former Jane Fonda house sold by actor Ethan Suplee for $1.6 million on January 2, 2013.
Former Yvonne de Carlo home sold for $6.25 million on August 5, 2011.
Singer-actress Miley Cyrus purchases ahome for $3.9 million on June 1, 2011.
The Estate of Anna Nicole Smith's home was listed for $1,750,000 on June 30, 2011.
The Late cartoonist Joseph Barbera's 2 acre mansion was listed at $6,795,000 on June 2, 2011.
Neil Patrick Harris of Doogie Howser fame, sold his home for $1,535,000 on April 28, 2011 and purchased in nearby Sherman Oaks.
Actor Taye Diggs purchases a home for $2,090,000 on April 27, 2010.
Survivor host, Jeff Probst, purchased the Gene Autry mansion for $5 million on April 1, 2011.
George Clooney owns a home that was purchased in 1995.

Sylmar Postcards

2013-05-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

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Olive View Medical Center in Sylmar Postcard

2013-05-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

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Picking Olives in Sylmar Postcard

2013-05-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

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Celebrity R.E.: Former NBA Star, Mitch Richmond, Lists Calabasas Mansion

2013-05-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Above images courtesy Re/Max Olson & Associates, Inc

As first reported by the always hilarious Your Mama at the Realestalker and then the always informative Lauren Beale at LA Times Hot Property, and now this blog, retired NBA shooting guard, Mitch Richmond, has just listed his Calabasas mansion for $9,495,000 on April 29, 2013. This home is located in the exclusives Estates of the Oaks which is home to many celebrities some of which is discussed at the bottom of this post.

For those who dont follow the NBA, Mitch Richmond was drafted in 1988 by the Golden State Warriors and later won the NBA Rookie of the Year award. He was the 'M' of "Run TMC" with the other first name initials belonging to Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullin that was part of head coach Don Nelson's fast-paced offense that was exciting to watch. He was eventually traded to the Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards, and the Los Angeles Lakers. While on the Lakers, he won an NBA championship playing off the bench averaging 4 points per game and a total of 4 minutes in the postseason. He was also a 6x NBA All-Star, and an All-Star Game MVP in 1995. Richmond also served his country by winning bronze on the 1988 U.S. Mens National Basketball team that played in the South Korea Summer Olympics. Richmond was also chosen again for the U.S. team in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta winning a gold medal.

The other half of the Mitch Richmond family is Juliannah "Juli" Richmond who has been married to Mitch for 17+ years. She appeared on Season 2 of VH1's reality show, Basketball Wives, starring alongside Kimberli Russell, wife of former NBA star Bryon Russell, who lost their Calabasas mansion to foreclosure discussed on this blog. Juli isnt your typical basketball wife as she is heavily involved in raising kids, supporting charities, and a home decorator. You can read more about her in this interview.

And now onto the more interesting stuff like their massive estate.

The home measures 6 Beds/8 Baths on 12,953 sqft on a total lot size of 2.28 acres built in 2006. The listing description states:

Spectacular world class Mediterranean ideally located in the prestigious guard gated Estates of the Oaks! Located behind the second gates is this striking single level showplace on approx. 2.25 acres! Boasting unobstructed mountain and canyon views, this property provides unparalleled privacy and quality in a truly sensational setting. Spanning nearly 13,000 square feet this grand estate provides every room dreamed of. Sports bar, game room, state of the art theater, office/library, wine cellar and tasting room, beauty salon, meditation/yoga, children's homework room and an awesome gym with steam and sauna can all be found here. Interior appointments include stone and wood floors, two story dramatic wood beamed ceilings, true gourmet kitchen and an awe inspiring master suite. This is truly an amazing house built in grand scale! The grounds are second to none! Huge pool with slide and water features, full court basketball, barbecue center, covered patios, fireplace, separate fire pit and massive manicured lawns all with unobstructed views!! among the homes other attributes are a five car garage, controlled sound system, 5 fireplaces, video security cameras and much more! This is an important estate with a tremendous location!

Property records reveal that this home was purchased on July 13, 2004 for $1.7 million which most likely means this was a land purchased with the Richmond's custom building a home probably spending another $1 - 2 million which means that they are somewhere in the neighborhood of $3 million invested into this property. If this home were to sell at today's asking price, the Richmonds would profit roughly $6,495,000 before taxes, commissions, carrying costs, and any renovation costs beyond what was estimated for the construction of this home.

The Richmonds are no strangers to the SFV and in particular Calabasas as I will discuss below.

Image courtesy Google Maps

While the home featured in this post was being constructed, the Richmonds lived in a 4 Bed/4 Bath on 4,472 sqft home built in 2004 (shown above) for $1,625,000 and later sold for $1,975,000 on February 13, 2007 earning a profit of $350K before you know what which appears to be after the featured home in this post was built.

Image courtesy Google Maps

Prior to the featured home in this post, the Richmonds lived in a 4 Bed/6 Bath on 8,435 sqft home built in 1997 (shown above) that was purchased on August 17, 2001 for $2,650,000 located in the Mountain View estates of Calabasas (same gated community where Eric Davis short sold, Eazy-E's playhouse was located, Jerry Heller still lives there, and where Bryon and Kimberli Russell's house was foreclosed).

Surprisingly or not, this home was previously owned by NFL star Keyshawn Johnson who coincidentally is also currently selling an Oaks Calabasas home literally 0.14 miles down the street at the reduced price of $8,895,000 (I somehow missed this Calabasas home when writing up that post). Is that a coincidence or some coordinated effort to bail out of the Oaks? Good luck to whoever sells first.

This home was purchased by a non-celebrity couple for $3.4 million on October 19, 2004 giving the Richmonds a $750K gain before you know what. The non-celebrity couple later ended up selling on August 3, 2007 before the market crashed for $4.7 million earning a $1.3 million gain before you know what to NBA assist machine (3rd all-time) to Mark Jackson and wife Desiree Jackson.

One random note, Jackson, was involved in an extortion scandal in 2012 for an extramarital affair and nude photos taken in 2006. Jackson went to the FBI to handle this drama after he personally tried to squash it using cash to keep a stripper and an accomplice quiet. Oh and by the way, Jackson and his wife are pastors at True Love Worship Center International in Van Nuys. Jackson is currently the head coach for the Golden State Warriors who currently employs Mitch Richmond as a scout. Its definitely a small and connected world.

Mitch Richmond was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he currently still owns a home and most recently sold another. Lets start with the recently sold home.

Image courtesy Zillow

The home shown above is located in Plantation, Florida which measures 5 Beds/5 Baths on 6,393 sqft built in 1999 and purchased by the Richmonds on August 27, 1999 for $675K and sold on March 6, 2013 for $850K representing a $175K gain.

Image courtesy Google Maps

The other home is currently owned by the Richmonds possibly used by his parents or other family members which is also located in Plantation, Florida. The home measures 4 Beds/2 Baths on 2,997 sqft on a total lot size of 12,978 sqft built in 1989 which was last purchased on October 1989 for $210,800.

The Richmonds possibly lived in other cities while Mitch played for other teams in his NBA career including Granite Bay, CA, Potomac, MD, Delray Beach, FL, Alameda, CA, and Hollywood, FL. This is all pure speculation which I will not be further investigating as I have exhausted this post already.

So the question becomes, where are the Richmond's headed off to after living in Calabasas for more than a decade? Are they downsizing to another Calabasas home?

The Calabasas area is home to many celebrities, athletes, and famous execs as listed below:

Former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson listed his mansion for sale on December 3, 2012 for $10,500,000.
The late Eazy-E's wife, Tomica Woods-Wright, home was recently foreclosed on May 11, 2012 and later sold for $2 million on November 27, 2012.
Justin Bieber recently purchased the former Nicole Murphy (Eddie's ex) on April 6, 2012 for $6.5 million.
El Piolin (Tweety Bird) Eddie Sotelo's listing of his mansion for the just reduced price of $6.8 million.
The former Britney Spears rental was sold for $5.4 million on October 19, 2012.
Baseball great Eric Davis home was sold as a short sale on May 4, 2012 for $1.8 million.
Joey Lawrence purchased on December 13, 2011 for $1,442,500.
NBA star Bryon Russell's home was foreclosed and later sold for $1,560,000.
Nearby neighbors include Katherine Jackson and the rest of the family, Travis Barker, James Wilson's massive ranch, Candi Milo (former), Joel Diamond, and Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine to name a few.

You can view more SFV celebrity real estate here.

Going, Going, Gone! The Former Vans Shoes Building on Topanga Cyn Blvd and Nordhoff St Demolished

2013-05-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Image courtesy Citysearch.com

Remember the Vans Shoe Store at 9030 Topanga Cyn Blvd (near Nordhoff) where you would get your cool Vans kicks? I blogged back on June 15, 2011 that the store had mysteriously closed down with no formal announcement. One commenter going by the name "Anonymous" speculated that the reason for the closure was because the building was falling apart and constantly broken into. Seems to make sense but cant really confirm.

After Vans closed, the building was offered for lease but nothing happened and the building remained vacant. I was hoping this day would never come as it had this "cute" appeal to it with its signature roof resembling something you would see at a circus.

There is no info at this time of the current plans for that site but I am guessing that either a mini strip mall will be built or possibly an apartment if its zoned for it or can obtain approval.

Image courtesy SFV Relics Youtube

Granada Hills Academic Decathlon Team Wins For Third Time In A Row

2013-05-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

The Granada Hills Charter High School team has done it again for the third time in a row, winning the national championship which is simply unheard of in 2013 (2011 & 2012). Congrats to the team and I am wondering what the heck are the drinking over there that is making them so damn successful. Need to start sharing that stuff with the rest of the schools.

Unfortunately what might be overshadowed with this victory is the fact the El Camino Real Charter High school, a six time national winner, finished in second place. They were able to compete this year after a rule change which prevented more than one school from the same state attending at the national level. So congrats are in order to that school as well. Finishing second at the national level is practically like finishing first.

This news is a testament to the strong schools in the SFV in particular El Camino and Granada Hills High.

New Store Closings for 2013: Camera Craft, Fallbrook Laemmle 7 Theaters, and Van Nuys Army & Navy Surplus Store

2013-05-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

The end of 2012 brought a list of notable stores closing down to usher in the 2013 year. The new year has unfortunately not been any kinder as there are still store closings from notable places in the SFV.

Camera Craft located at 4800 Lankershim Blvd North Hollywood has been in business since 1947. Nancy Crawford who inherited the business from her father who first started the establishment is retiring. The property was purchased by Gina Pickens, the wife of Grey's Anatomy star, James Pickens Jr, who plan to convert the place into a restaurant/bakery as reported by North Hollywood-Toluca Lake Patch. This article first appeard on February 21, 2013 and closed around the end of February.

Image courtesy City-data.com

The Van Nuys Army Navy Surplus store located at 6179 Van Nuys Blvd Van Nuys should be closed by the time you read this. It was first established in 1950 and was popular with celebrities. It was also featured in an episode of 80's TV show, Scarecrow and Mrs. King. The loss of this site was first reported by Here in Van Nuys.

Image courtesy Yelp.

From the 80's TV Show, Scarecrow and Mrs King. Image courtesy Scarecrow And Mrs King Forum.

The Laemmle 7 Theatre at Fallbrook Center Mall located at 6731 Fallbrook Avenue West Hills closed at the end of February. However, the lease was taken over by AMC Theatres so not too much of a loss here except for the name. I remember watching Jurassic Park here and so was excited that I even wore a Jurassic Park t-shirt.

Image coutesy Jeff_Soffer Flickr

Sherman Oaks Postcards

2013-04-26T09:40:00.000-07:00

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Sportsman's Lodge Hotel and Restaurant in Sherman Oaks Postcard

2013-04-26T09:35:00.000-07:00