c.1927 Tudor Revival in Hancock Park Sells Over Asking, Torn Down 1 Month Later

Los Angeles, California, United States

A beautifully restored Tudor Revival in a charming Los Angeles neighbourhood surrounded by equally impressive historic homes has met its match with the wrecking ball. According to Curbed Los Angeles, it was a heartfelt letter from the buyers that helped seal the deal. The sellers were looking for somebody to cherish what was there, the buyers were head over heels for the 92-year-old home, stating, “This home is exceptional both in character and in location and is the home of our dreams,” the letter went onto say, “With your home, it is already so beautifully cared for with such incredibly rich character, it gets me even more excited to call it home.” The sellers believed they had found the right buyer, sold the property and not even a month later it was reduced to rubble. According to Curbed Los Angeles, “Gradon, a real estate investor and president of Afton Properties, said he meant everything he and his wife wrote in that letter. But during escrow, learned from his contractor that his plans to expand the 2,356-square-foot home to make it work for his growing family would not make financial sense.” The couple decided razing the structure and starting fresh was the answer. Based on demolition photos that we found on Los Angeles Conservancy’s Facebook page, it appears the owners did not bring in a team to salvage prized architectural elements. Among the wreckage, elaborate millwork both inside and out, leaded glass diamond paned windows and a substantial Batchelder tiled fireplace. The most recent listing described the Tudor Revival as an architectural showplace designed by Henry Knauer & Clarence Smale in 1927 and being one of the original design showcase homes of this Hancock Park neighbourhood. The property had been on the market since mid-July for $2,199,000. It was marked as pending sale in early-August and by mid-September it had sold over asking for $2,235,000.