NRHP Reference # 14000303 Function House | Opened 1917 Added to NRHP 17 June 2014 | |
 | ||
Location 234 E. Mendocino Street
Altadena, California Architectural style Mission Revival architecture Similar Universal Studios Hollywood, Los Angeles Zoo, Griffith Park Zoo, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Hollywood Walk of Fame | ||
Villa Carlotta is the name of two landmark buildings in greater Los Angeles, California.
Contents
Altadena
Villa Carlotta is a 7,000-square-foot Mission Revival-style house at 234 East Mendocino Street in Altadena, California. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. Completed in 1917, it was one of the first houses in Altadena in which electrical wiring was incorporated into the original architectural plans.
The house was built by Francis Raymond Welles, who hired noted architect Myron Hunt. Hunt incorporated features of the Welles' family estate in France in the plans for Villa Carlotta, as evidenced by the house's high ceilings and tall windows.
Franklin Village
Villa Carlotta is a 50-unit Spanish Colonial-style apartment house at 5959 Franklin Avenue in the Franklin Village neighborhood of Hollywood, California. It was built in 1926 for the widow of Thomas H. Ince and designated a Los Angeles historical cultural monument in 1986.
The four-story building was designed by Arthur E. Harvey, who also designed the nearby Château Élysée.
The building's notable tenants include actor Edward G. Robinson, actress Marion Davies, writer William Saroyan, film producer David O. Selznick, and architect William Neff. Louella Parsons wrote her gossip column from her two-bedroom apartment in the building.
The Lesser family trust owned the building from the 1950s to 2014, when it was bought by investment firm CGI Strategies. Gidi Cohen and Adrian Goldstein of CGI Strategies are committed to restoring and renovating the historic building with a focus on preserving its architectural heritage, including keeping and refreshing the features and fixtures that made it a special place for so many residents and visitors. The renovation work that is currently ongoing, with completion expected in early 2017, will allow for the building to be shared by the entire community.