Hector My Realtor Blog Page

  Featured image credit: LADWP You could argue that architecture is, by definition, functional art, but one building in Los Angeles takes this concept further than most. We’ll call it by its official name, the John Ferraro Building. But you likely recognize it as the headquarters of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), colloquially referred to as the LADWP building. In a textbook example of “walking the walk”, the John Ferraro Building exhibits a slew of energy-saving features that marry seamlessly with its sophisticated aesthetic.  The Streamlined Aesthetic of the John Ferraro Building Photo credit: LADWP In 1965, workers completed construction on a 17-story design in the International style by A.C. Martin and Associates that would immediately serve the needs of the largest municipality utility in the country. With each floor (15 above ground and two below) measuring approximately an acre, it adequately accommodates just under one-t...

  Featured image credit: Codera23 Even casual fans of modernism need no introduction to Richard Neutra. The Austrian-American architect was integral to the popularization of mid-century designs with his forward-thinking structures peppering Southern California. It was almost as if he were using human progress itself as a building material. To see some of Neutra’s most iconic masterpieces, set your coordinates for Palm Springs where he’s a revered star, celebrated most emphatically in the city’s annual Modernism Week . But if you want to see where Neutra lived and worked, then you’re better off driving over to Silver Lake. It’s the neighborhood where his legendary Neutra VDL house still stands to this day.  Even Legends Need Loans Sometimes Photo credit: Los Angeles Times Photographic Collection at the UCLA Library Constructed in 1932, the Neutra VDL house was distinguished from other Neutra homes in that the architect himself planned to reside in it ...

  Crossroads of the World is one of those LA landmarks that everyone recognizes but very few have visited. There’s not really much to see there these days outside of the beautiful architecture. But that wasn’t always the case. In the late 1930s and into the 1940s, this Los Angeles mall redefined how a shopping center could be designed… even if the end result wasn’t a wild success. It’s also the site of a double murder. In fact, it might not even exist if it weren’t for the blood shed on the grounds.  What is the Crossroads of the World? Photo credit: donkeyhody Motorists caught in Sunset Boulevard’s traffic jams will be painfully familiar with the Crossroads of the World. Its tower proudly raises a miniature planet Earth to the sky above, extending from a Streamline Moderne reference to an ocean liner. For a moment, your bumper-to-bumper frustration might have melted away as you asked yourself, “What is the Crossroads of the World anyway?” You could hav...

  Despite the housing shortage in California (and beyond), stringent restrictions in building codes continue to stifle investment in multi-family housing. But a new proposal brought before the Los Angeles City Council could provide relief by re-assessing modern construction guidelines. Lawmakers are asking the city to reconsider the way we think about single-staircase buildings. Could changes to the Los Angeles building code be on the horizon?  Is the Los Angeles Building Code Outdated?  Photo credit: Alfred Twu Throughout the 1900s, growing safety concerns, particularly those involving fire risks, led to lawmakers establishing tighter regulations. Among these was a requirement that buildings exceeding three stories provide multiple staircases. In the event of a fire, residents could now double or triple their escape options. But these additional staircases didn’t just cost money to build. They sacrificed living space. Single-staircase buildings...

  Featured image credit: Glendora Village If you’re seeking a slice of small-town Americana but can’t quite give up the big city, a search for houses for sale in Glendora, California may be in your near future. Though it’s firmly a part of Los Angeles County, Glendora has a quaint and timeless feel to it. When you cross the border of Glendora, it’s hard not to recount that old adage “You can’t go home again.” Except, this foothill town dares to say “Sure you can.” Christmas parades, classic car shows, wine walks… Glendora needs no excuse to come together as a community. Here’s what else to keep in mind when considering houses for sale in Glendora.  A Small City with a Lot of Heart Photo credit: jaymanuel Measuring just under 20 square miles, Glendora isn’t a large city. But it makes efficient use of what it’s got. As of the 2020 Census, 52,558 people hung their hats in Glendora, snug in the enveloping embrace of the foothills of the San Gabriel Mounta...

  Featured image credit: Envato For months, people have been asking a question that no one could answer: “When will the entertainment industry in Los Angeles rebound?” In fact, the question has hung in the air for so long that several professionals have started to doubt we’ll ever see the city reach the production heights of its pre-pandemic days again. But we finally have some good news as Hudson Pacific Properties, the largest landlord of soundstages on the west coast, shared their stats with CoStar last week.  Numerous Problems Facing the Los Angeles Entertainment Industry Photo credit: The Humm Collection The average Angeleno is well-informed on the woes that crippled the city’s once seemingly unsinkable entertainment industry. With television and film production at the city’s core, every industry feels the impact when entertainment flounders. But over the last several years, the obstacles to production have seemed relentless.  First,...

  Featured image credit: Disney It seems almost every American child fantasizes about running away to Disneyland, using their wits to evade cast members and night security, and enjoying the rides as the rest of the world sleeps. While living at a Disney park still isn’t in the cards, the next best thing is coming to the Coachella Valley. Dubbed Cotino, the ambitious project launches Disney’s maiden community under its StoryLiving by Disney banner. On the verge of Cotino Rancho Mirage welcoming its first residents, we take a look at what this unique development brings to the area.  What is Cotino Rancho Mirage?  Conveniently located beside the 10 freeway and near the Annenberg Sunnylands Estate, Cotino Rancho Mirage is a 600-acre residential housing development with mixed-use commercial space planned for a city center. Disney has been hard at work developing the site since April 2022. Once completed, it will offer close to 2,000 residences, a 24-...