CITY OF GLENDALE INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATION

STAFF REPORT

Date: October 25, 2010 To: Historic Preservation Commission From: Jay Platt, Planner, Historic Preservation & Urban Design Subject: Recommendation regarding Glendale Register of Historic Resources nomination and Mills Act Contract for 1770 Grandview Avenue (the “Jensen House”) Property Owner: Roobik and Carmen Ovanesian Property Legal Description: Lot 31 of Tract 8381 in the City of Glendale ___________________________________________________________________________ Introduction The owners of the single-family house at 1770 Grandview Avenue have requested that their property be considered for local listing on the Glendale Register of Historic Resources. Based on a field visit to the property, information on the property obtained from City records, and the nomination and historic documentation submitted by the owners (Exhibit A), the property appears to meet the criteria for eligibility to the Glendale Register of Historic Resources as discussed in this staff report. Therefore, the Planning Department recommends that the Historic Preservation Commission recommend to the City Council that the property at 1770 Grandview Avenue be designated as a local historic resource and be added to the Glendale Register of Historic Resources. The property owners have also requested to enter into a Mills Act contract with the City of Glendale for the benefit of property tax savings in exchange for continued preservation of the property. The Planning Department additionally recommends that the Historic Preservation Commission recommend to the City Council that the City Manager be authorized to enter into a “Mills Act” historical property contract with the property owners under the Section 15.20.070A of the Glendale Municipal Code. Glendale’s Historic Preservation Ordinance establishes the process for designating historic properties locally and outlines the procedure for considering future alterations of those officially designated properties, which includes the review role of the Historic Preservation Commission. Information regarding this process, along with the Mills Act, is included in Exhibit D.

HPC Staff Report Glendale Register Nomination: 1770 Grandview Avenue Page 2 of 5

Historic Significance and Eligibility of the Property Historical Background After reviewing the nomination and supporting documentation submitted by the current owners of 1770 Grandview Avenue, as well as visiting the site, Planning Department staff concludes that the property appears to meet Criteria C, D, and E for listing on the Glendale Register of Historic Resources. It was built by Robert Jensen, the Glendale businessman and member of the Jensen family that built movie theaters, recreation centers, and other commercial buildings in Glendale, Pasadena, and Los Angeles (Criterion C). The house, though altered from its original condition, continues to maintain outstanding elements of attention to architectural design, details, material, and craftsmanship associated with Spanish Colonial Revival design as practiced in the city (Criterion D). In addition, the house is located on a prominent lot immediately adjacent to the El Miradero gateway at the entrance to Brand Park, making it a distinctive visual feature of the neighborhood for many decades now. (Criterion E). The architect of the house is not known. Speculative information provided in the nomination suggests that it may have been designed by Nathaniel Dryden, architect of both El Miradero and Ard Eevin, or E.E.B. Meinardus, who worked for the Jensens. No documentation is provided to back up these assertions, though; given the quality of the house’s design, however, it would not be surprising if it was the work of a talented designer rather than a builder. 1770 Grandview is located at the intersection of Grandview Avenue and Mountain Street. Its distinctive architectural character – provided most notably the slender, minaret-like turret rising above the front entry – holds its own when considered alongside its exotically-styled neighbor, the gateway built by Leslie Brand to mark the entrance to his El Miradero estate. Robert Jensen had 1770 Grandview built for his family in 1925 and resided there until 1945. During that period, he helped manage the Jensen company’s projects in Glendale and elsewhere, becoming a significant figure in the city’s business and real estate community. These entertainment centers brought multiple uses under a single roof, creating a precedent for the City Walks of today. The Palace-Grand Shops, also known as Jensen’s Arcade, was completed in 1923 and featured a drugstore, jewelry shop, and post office, along with one of Glendale’s most cherished historic businesses, the Egyptian Village Café. The basement, called the Glendale Recreation Center, had a barber shop, billiards hall, and bowling alley. The Arcade was built on the site of an earlier Jensen development, the Palace Grand Theater, an early vaudeville and movie house that was built in 1914 but forced to close in 1920 due to competition from the more modern Glendale Theater. Other Jensen properties included the Raymond Theater in Pasadena (1921), Jensen’s Melrose Theater (now the Ukranian Cultural Center) in Hollywood (1923), and Jensen’s Recreation Center in Echo Park (1924), which was recently restored and declared a Los Angeles Historical-Cultural Monument. Robert and his brother Walter managed the various family properties, with Robert taking charge of the Glendale properties as evidenced by several citations in business articles in the Los Angeles Times. Walter Jensen died in a fishing accident off Catalina in 1936.

HPC Staff Report Glendale Register Nomination: 1770 Grandview Avenue Page 3 of 5

Several subsequent owners of 1770 Grandview are of some note, but the nomination does not contain any information suggesting they contributed to the history or development of the city. Terry Kath, singer, songwriter, and lead guitarist for the group Chicago, owned the property until his death in 1978; his wife Pamela sold the house in 1983 to designer Armand Arqu. Known for designing many of Elton John’s hats, Arqu lived in the house until his death in 2001. Several alterations, discussed below, were made to the property during these periods of ownership. 1770 Grandview lies within the boundary of the proposed North Cumberland Heights historic district, which the Commission is taking under initial consideration at the same hearing as the present Glendale Register nomination. The 2004 Cumberland Heights survey identified the property as individually eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (3S) and individually eligible for the Glendale Register and as a contributor to a potential historic district (5B). Architectural Description 1770 Grandview Avenue continues to be an outstanding example Spanish Colonial Revival- style architecture despite a number of significant alterations. Without these changes, it would probably be an exemplary specimen, but its original appearance and relationship to its site has been compromised. The central three-story wing contains the arched entry door and a thin projecting turret that rises above the roofline, giving the house a Moorish flair. Tall narrow windows in the semi-hexagonal bay at the face of this volume, along with the arch-headed window in the turret, indicate the interior stairhall. The paneled wood door and arched entry surround appear to be original; the metal-and-glass canopy above the door is probably not original, but its design quality and overall appearance are appropriate to the house. Two-story wings, one with a front-gabled roof, the other with a side gable, flank the central volume. The living room wing at the north features a large arched picture window at the first floor and a large trio of casement windows set below a recessed segmental arch at the second floor. The two-story wing to the south features an arcaded porch at the ground floor and a porte cochere. In 1995, a two-story addition was built at the south face of the porte cochere and a connecting hallway between the main house and the addition was built on its roof. All exterior walls are clad with stucco and the complicated roofline features both sloping roofs with red clay tiles and flat roofs serving as terraces. Multi-light wood windows are found throughout the house. Another feature of note is the wide stucco frieze under the eave of the central wing. This is an unusual feature for a house of this style and early aerial photos of the area are not clear enough to determine if it was always in place. Staff presumes it to be an original feature based on the overall eclecticism of the original design. The decorative stuccowork above the second floor window at the south wing is also presumed to be original. Several decorative buttresses are also found at various locations, giving the house an interesting sculptural quality. The decorative beam ends projecting between the first and second floors at the front and rear façade of the north wing also appear to be original. The parapet walls at the terraces at the rear façade rise at their corners, creating distinctive forms resembling Pueblo Revival architecture. The chimney at the north façade has a decorative treatment at the top that recalls the narrow blind arches that ring the top of the front turret. The three-car garage at the rear of the property retains its historic character.

HPC Staff Report Glendale Register Nomination: 1770 Grandview Avenue Page 4 of 5

Alterations and Integrity As noted above, the property has witnessed significant changes that affect both its historic appearance and its overall design integrity. Despite these, the strength and quality of the original design is still clear and the judicious removal of the most egregious additions would go a along way to bringing back important aspects of its original character. It appears that permits were obtained for all major alterations. A swimming pool was added at the rear patio area in 1958 and the front fence was built in 1973 (with a variance approved by the city, in part, due to security concerns expressed by Kath based on his bands’s huge popularity). The current finials and driveway arch are not original features of the fence and were apparently added as part of Armand Arqu’s major renovation in 1995. This work included the construction of the two-story addition, which closely follows the design of the original house in terms of its massing, scale, and materials. Though it blends well with the structure’s architecture, its strong street presence raises issues about the property’s overall integrity. Arqu also added numerous decorative features, including free-standing columns, plaster decorations at the facades and front garden, tiles and decorative plaster panels applied at various locations and the additions to the fence add to this problem. Most of these area at odds with the Spanish Colonial Revival style, which typically presents more austere facades that gain their architectural strength through their articulation, the interplay of solids and voids, and the sparing use of more focused ornamentation. Finding of Eligibility After reviewing the nomination submitted by the current owner and its supporting documentation, as well as visiting the site, Planning Division staff concludes that the property appears to meet three of the eligibility criteria for listing on the Glendale Register of Historic Resources. This assessment merits a caveat with regard to Criterion D. If the Commission recommends the property to City Council as eligible for its architecture and/or recommends a Mills Act contract, staff strongly believes that the removal of some of the added ornament should be mandated to bring the property closer to its historic appearance. Criterion C requires the property to “identify with a person…who significantly contributed to the history and development of the city….” Robert Jensen appears to meet this criterion for his role in the development of Glendale as a regional entertainment center. Though his father is better known as the developer behind the family’s movie theaters and entertainment centers, Robert’s role in managing and expanding their holdings and his direct involvement in the Glendale businesses is clear. The 2004 historic context prepared for the Cumberland Heights neighborhood calls out Jensen as one of the few residents of note in an area encompassing over 500 homes (along with Dan and Arthur Campbell, Babe Herman, and Casey Stengel). For these reasons, staff believes the property is eligible under this criterion and recommends that it be known as the “Jensen House” if the Commission and City Council vote for its designation. To meet Criterion D, a property must “exemplify one of the best remaining architectural types in a neighborhood; or contain outstanding or exemplary elements of attention to architectural design, detail, material or craftsmanship of a particular period.” 1770 Grandview Avenue is, despite its alterations, an outstanding specimen of Glendale’s Spanish Colonial Revival properties. In addition, it possesses unusual features such as the Moorish front turret and rear

HPC Staff Report Glendale Register Nomination: 1770 Grandview Avenue Page 5 of 5

“puebloesque” facades that enhance its architectural character and sense of uniqueness, making it stand out in a neighborhood with many fine Spanish-style homes. As noted above, this assessment is made with the caveat that staff recommends that the Commission require the applicant to remove many of the applied details added in the 1990s, including the free-standing columns, various finials and urns on the fence and in the front garden, and several statues and decorations applied directly to the facades. Staff believes that the 1995 addition, while detrimental to the overall integrity of the site, is well-designed and that, if stripped of similar ornamentation as noted above, it can be viewed as a complementary addition despite its visual prominence from the street. This determination is made easier by staff’s view that the property is eligible under additional criteria; if it were eligible only under Criterion D, the presence of the addition and ornament might preclude a finding of eligibility. Criterion E allows for the designation of properties that are “in a unique location or contain a singular physical characteristic representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood.” The Jensen House sits at a very prominent location in the northwest Glendale area, immediately next to the entrance to the Brand Park gateway that mimics the exotic arches found at the Brand house itself. The gateway predates construction of 1770 Grandview, leading one to wonder whether it influenced the exotic styling of the house. Regardless, the house’s siting at the top of a rise on a corner of a highly traveled intersection and its position next to one of the city’s key landmarks have made it an established feature of the neighborhood for decades. Though the same might be said for the eye-catching ornamentation, staff believes its relatively recent vintage and historic inappropriateness should not allow it to be seen as important in its own right under this criterion. Staff Determination Pursuant to Section 15.20.050 of the Glendale Municipal Code, staff has determined that the property at 1770 Grandview Avenue appears to be eligible for listing in the Glendale Register of Historic Resources under Criteria C, D, and E based on the above findings. Recommended Action by the Historic Preservation Commission Staff recommends that the Historic Preservation Commission recommend to the City Council that the property at 1770 Grandview Avenue be a designated historic resource in the Glendale Register of Historic Resources based on the findings identified in the staff determination. Staff also suggests that the Historic Preservation Commission recommend that the City Council authorize the City Manager to enter into a Mills Act contract with the property owners for property tax savings. Staff recommends that the Commission condition the removal of various ornamental features noted in the findings above as part of its recommendation to City Council regarding the contract. Exhibits Exhibit A: Property Owner’s Nomination Submittal Exhibit B: Photographs of 1770 Grandview Avenue Exhibit C: Map of Property

September 6, 2010 

 

Mr. Hassan Haghani, Director  

City of Glendale Planning Department 

633 East Broadway, Room 103 

Glendale, Ca 91206 

 

Re:  1770 Grandview Ave. Historic Designation 

Dear Mr. Haghani: 

Please, accept this letter and application with attachments as our, current owners of the property’s formal request for the City of Glendale of Glendale Historic Preservation Commission to recommend to Glendale City Council that the above property be formally and officially be designated a Historic Resource pursuant to the City’s municipal code 15.20. We understand that once our property is designated and is on the local register, we are eligible to apply for property tax relief for continued preservation of our property under the Mills Act Property Tax Abatement Program under an separate additional application. We understand that our incentives may be available to us as a result of the designation and listing. We also understand that all future additions and or modifications may require the city’s preservation commission approval and based on city’s design guidelines and the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitating Historic Building. 

 

We have attached the application, photographs, permits and other pertinent documents about the property and its original owner. Please, contact us if there ids a need for any additional information. 

We can be reached at 818‐550‐0760 or via email at roobikp@sbcglobal.net. 

 

Cordially, 

 

Roobik and Carmen Ovanesian  

 

 

CC:  Tim Foy, Assistant Director and Jay Platt, Historic Preservation Planner 

 

Cumberland Heights Neighborhood CH-289

State of California The Resources AgencyDEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION

PRIMARY RECORD

*Resource Name or #

NRHP Status Code

Primary #HRI #Trinomial

DateReviewerReview CodeOther Listings

(Assigned by recorder)Page

3S/5B

1 of 2

Los AngelesBurbank 1972

1770 Grandview Ave. Glendale 91201

This is a primarily two-story single-family residence on a corner lot with a three-story section designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, constructed in 1925. It is irregular in plan with a multiple gabled roof, clad in clay tile and flat roof with parapet at the rear. The walls are clad in stucco. The façade is asymmetrical. The windows are casement divided-light constructed of vinyl or metal-aluminum with one quatrefoil window on one side; the door is wood, multi-paneled and semicircular with a stepped radiating cast stone surround; a glass and metal curved hood is above the front door. Character-defining features are an exterior courtyard, arcade porch support, decorative vents, wide porch with multiple arched openings, three-story tower with hip roof and turret (round), parapet on the second floor balcony, carved low relief ornamentation on second story, a balustrade on one side/third story, wing wall, ornamentation consisting of a decorated frieze on the bottom portion of the turret, open

(See Continuation Sheet)

HP2. Single family property

Southwest elevation/April 2004

1925

ROOBIK & CARMEN I OVANESIANPO BOX 271GLENDALE

Glendale Planning Division633 E. Broadway, Rm. 103Glendale, CA 91206

July 6, 2003

None

*P3b. Resource Attributes: Building Structure Object Site District Element of District Other*P4. Resources Present:

P5b. Description of Photo:

*P7. Owner and Address:

*P9. Date Recorded:

*P10. Survey Type: (Describe)

*P11. Report Citation: (Cite survey report and other sources, or enter "none.")

*P6. Date Constructed/Age and Source:

P5a. Photograph or Drawing (Photograph required for buildings, structures, and objects.)

Historic PrehistoricBoth

*P8. Recorded by:

e. Other Locational Data:

*P3a. Description: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition,alterations, size, setting, and boundaries)

(List attributes and codes)

*Attachments: NONE Location Map Sketch Map Continuation Sheet Building, Structure, and Object Record

Archaeological Record District Record Linear Feature Record Milling Station Record Rock Art RecordArtifact Record Photograph Record Other (List):

(Name, affiliation,and address)

*b. USGS 7.5' Quad Date T 1/4 of 1/4 of Sec B.M.

*P2. Location:

;

Not for Publication*a. County

P1. Other Identifier:

andUnrestricted

R

d. UTM: mE/ mNc. Address Zip

(Give more than one for large and/or linear resources) ZoneCity

(P2c, P2e, and P2b or P2d. Attach a Location Map as necesary.)

(e.g., parcel #, directions to resource, etc., as appropriate)

Reconnaissance Survey

;;

,

(view, date,

(Isolates, etc.)

accession #)

5630-003-011

City of Glendale Building Permit Records

Los Angeles County Assessor's Parcel Number:

CA 91209

DPR 523A (1/95) *Required Information

State of California The Resources AgencyDEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION

CONTINUATION SHEET

Primary #HRI #Trinomial

*P3a. Description (cont.)

balcony with carved balustrade and paired columns, wrought iron balustrade (grille work) over some windows, and wrought iron gate with posts surrounding the property. Alterations include replacements of original wood windows with either aluminum or vinyl windows. Landscaping consists of a wall with stucco piers with metal gate and balustrade, a long sloping lawn, palm trees all around the house, and a concrete walkway to the front entrance. The overall integrity of the building is good.

Page*Recorded by: *Date

Continuation Update

Glendale Planning Division July 6, 2003

2 of 2 *Resource Name or # Cumberland Heights Neighborhood CH-289(Assigned by recorder)

DPR 523L (1/95) *Required Information

City of Glendale Historic Designation 

1770 Grandview Ave., Glendale, CA 91201 

Property Name: “Casa de Ovanesian” 

 

Origin: The property originally belonged to the Brand Family (Mr. Leslie Brand and Louise Dryden Brand, “The Patriarch of City of Glendale”). It is just outside the main gates of their famous residence front yard called (MIRADERO) see attached photograph of the property dating back to 1906. Mr. Brand after subdividing the large parcels of land into individual buildable parcels sold the property to the Robert A. Jensen and his wife. 

 

Architecture: This romantic Spanish Colonial Revival Style with Mediterranean touch and a Moorish (Islamic) influence of the turrets house was designed in 1925. The vertical nature of the structure is dramatized by a cylindrical tower reflecting the Islamic elements of Brand Castle. Arches, ornamental iron, an elaborate hooded entry, and cast plaster ornamentation embellish this fantastic home. It is not certain but some say it was designed by the local prominent architect Nathaniel Dryden the brother in law of Mr. Leslie Brand who designed and built the Brand Family residence called the MIRADERO. 

 

Original Owner and Builder: Mr. Jensen hired an architect to design the house, secured the city building permit (# 14539) under his own name, indicating a valuation of $15,000 on August 12, 1925 and started construction. He had to secure a second permit (#15814) for all additional work for the sum of $10,000.  The construction was completed at a final cost of $25,000 which was a hefty sum on January 29, 1926. The original house was 4,658 sq. ft. on a 17,860 sq. ft. lot. 

The Jensen family was very important to the early heritage of the City of Glendale. Robert’s father, Henry C. Jensen was responsible for A. Glendale’s second formal theater, the Palace Grand (1914) which was located at 100 North Brand Blvd., and for B. Glendale’s first arcade, the Jensen Arcade (1922) which included the first bowling alley, Palace Grand Shops, and the fabulous Egyptian Village café and much more. Henry Jensen was born in Germany in 1859. He immigrated to Los Angeles in 1880. He opened a Brick Manufacturing Co. and later on got into the real estate investments by buying and subdividing several tracts in West Adams District. He built a number of homes there. In 1909 he formed a partnership and alliance with the architectural firm of E.E.B. Meinardus. They developed several note worthy structures and theaters including the “Melrose Theater” and “The Alvarado Ballroom.” He moved to Glendale and built his family home in 1915. Henry C. Jensen was a man of Adventure and vision in the early years of Glendale. Records indicated that they first lived at 1315 North Maryland Street. Later records indicated other addresses such as 1544 Virginia and 1920 Ard Eevin. 

Local kids used to work for the Jensen’s at their theater. One such young boy was “Marion Michael Morrison” who used to hang around the theater and watch all the Western movies. He became the famous Actor called 

“John Wayne” as he grew up. His Dad was a pharmacist that also worked at the Jensen’s Owl Drug Store next door at the Jensen Arcade. Henry had two sons Robert and Walter and one daughter called Virginia. The Jensen’s built and operated the Pasadena Raymond Theater as well. It was a major success in those days. Robert managed the theater while Walter managed the Arcade as they grew up. As time passed they sold the theater and but kept the arcade.  

The Jensen Arcade was called the “Little City” which was located at 131 – 133 North Brand Blvd. They had many businesses under one roof. The list included on the first floor a US Post Office, Louise Jewelry Co., Harlan‐Codman Inc, Emma Jettick Shoes, Palace Grand Beauty Shop, The Princess Hosiery Store, Adorable Dress Shop, The Owl Drug Store. Downstairs were the Glendale Recreation Center, A bowling Alley and a Gym plus a Barber Shop. The second floor had the following businesses, the Egyptian Village Café which had 4 separate sections and menus. They were called the Egyptian, Chinese, Peacock and Tiffany with staff of 28 that could sit 200 customers at any time. In addition they had a Billiard Club and a Private Club and there as well. The city opposed approval of their business permit, so they kept it and operated it as a Private Club. The Jensen Arcade had one of a kind unique 8 feet wide roll up store front door like the current mini malls. It was a special addition to the City’s downtown. They sold the Jensen Arcade in 1936 yet kept the operation of the Glendale Rec Center and Private Club including the pool and Billiard business operation. Later on they moved the business to 203 East Broadway and operated it until 1987. It was said that in 1953 the acting Mayor Bob Wian called Robert Jensen and asked if it is okay to legalize pool in the city. Robert said yes.  

Unfortunately, in 1980 the Jensen Arcade was demolished with the support of the city’s redevelopment agency for a local developer to make room for new developments. 

List of Property Owners and Residents:  

1900        Leslie Brand and Louise Dryden Brand, subdivided the land and sold the individual lot 

1900+ to 1925   Dan Campbell and Margaret McPeak Campbell 

1924  to  1945   Robert A. and Georgia Bell Jensen, Bought the lot, had plans prepared, built the house 

1945  to  1957   Ray L. and Ariel P. Stenerson 

1957  to  1970   Brian and Ruth Kelly Family 

1970       Home Savings of America (Bank Foreclosure Property for 5 months) 

1970  to  1971   Joseph and Jana Buckley 

1971  to  1983   Terry and Pamela Kath (Lead Singer of Famous Chicago Rock and Roll Band) 

1983  to  2002   Armand Arcq (Famous Hollywood Hat Designer clients such as Elton John) 

2002      Paul Ashley (Owner for 13 days) 

2002      Robert Issai (Owner for 7 days) 

2002 to Present  Roobik and Carmen Ovanesian 

Other Building permits found in city files: 

1931: new Sewer line was installed.  

1945: an electrical range was installed.  

1958: new pool was put in the back yard.  

1963: tile roof was repaired.  

1973: new wrought iron fence on the property line was installed on West Mountain and Grandview Ave.   

1996: new two story addition of approximately 1,248 sq. ft. was added and connected to the south side of the house via a walk way on top of the Porte cochere. Downstairs was a Music room with a powder room. Upstairs was a master bedroom and bathroom combination. See attached Site plan. 

2002: complete restoration, renovation, kitchen remodel including new central HVAC systems, new electrical panel, new water line, landscaping and much more.  

 

Los Angeles Assessor’s Records: 

The Los Angeles County Assessor first visited the property in 1926 upon its completion. They recorded a newly completed single two –three story residence and garage. The house had a concrete foundation, stucco walls, gabled tiled roof; heat was provided by a fireplace and a boiler recirculation system with 24 openings. There were 21 plumbing fixtures. Electrical fixtures were described as “special.” The interior finish was primarily plaster. One room had open bean ceilings. Over all construction quality of the house was rated “extra Special” in fact, “special” was the highest category available on the Assessor’s form, and the person filling it out wrote in “ex.” 

The Assessor estimated the square footage at 4,658. On the first floor were living room, dining room, family room, entry, two bathrooms, a breakfast room, a kitchen, one bedroom, laundry/pantry area. The second floor contained three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and two balconies. The third floor contained a ballroom and a built in wet bar and balcony. The house had a total of eleven hardwood floors. The bathrooms all had ceramic tile floors. They indicated a large basement area with two rooms, used for the central water heating system, as well as the heating boiler. The detached 3 car garage measured approximately 20 by 30 feet. There is a circular driveway with Porte Cochere connected to the house. 

 

Significance:   

The house is eligible for listing on the California Register of Historical Resources due to its association with a talented architect and with a locally significant original owner, its unique design, its excellent state of preservation, and its contribution to the architectural and historical context of Grandview Ave. neighborhood. 

 

Sources: 

City of Glendale, Building Department 

Los Angeles County Assessor 

Los Angeles Public Library 

Sanborn Maps 

Southwest Builder and Contractor, 1925 

City Directories: 1926 

1770 Grandview

B6. Construction History A building permit was issued in 1925 for construction of this eleven room, two-story single-family residence, at a cost of $15,000. Robert Jensen was the owner and the contractor of this house. A first floor music room addition and a second floor bedroom addition were finished construction in 1996, increasing the total building mass by 1248 square feet.

B8. Features Situated on the front of an irregular triangular shaped lot, the property abuts the city-owned Brand Park. The layout of 1770 Grandview Road contributes to and magnifies the overall setting of Cumberland Heights.

B10. Significance

2. It is associated with the lives of persons important to local, California, or national history;

A prominent businessman Robert Jensen, of the Jensen theatrical and entertainment family, built this prominent Spanish Colonial Revival residence. Located on Brand Boulevard Jensen’s Palace Grand Theatre opened to great fanfare on Thanksgiving Day in 1914. Its success, filming motion pictures and showing vaudeville acts, led its predecessors in Glendale out of business. In 1920 the newly opened Glendale Theater provided substantial competition for the Jensen Theatre, and by 1921 succumbed to its new business rival. Answering the changing economic climate, Jensen transformed the Theatre into an array of retail shops located off an interior arcade on the first floor, with the establishment of the Egyptian Village Café on the second. Annually from 1927, a grandiose Christmas tree decorated the interior arcade, providing a community benefit and marketing the shops in Jensen’s Grand Arcade.

1770 Grandview Avenue - Photographs

Views of front façade (1995 addition at right of upper photo)

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1983

Above: view toward El Miradero gate Below: detail views of central wing and entryway

Above: original south wing Below: original porte cochere and 1995 addition

Above: 1995 addition from Mountain Street Below: rear façade and pool

Above: garage Below: view of rear façade emphasizing similarity to Pueblo Revival style

Details of turret roof, chimney, third floor stucco frieze, and second floor stucco ornament

Details of ornamental features added c. 1995

1770 Grandview: location map

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