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Celebrity Real Estate: Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne List Mansion in Hidden Hills

Thursday, June 30, 2011 / No Comments
[Update March 25, 2013]: This home finally sold for $11,500,000 on March 12, 2013 which is $888,500 less than the original purchase price of $12,388,500 back on August 3, 2007. The Osbourne's originally listed at $12,999,000 back on June 30, 2011 which translates into a massive $1,499,000 reduction to the sold price. This home sold in over two years time which at point included a lease option. It appears that Jessica Simpson purchased this home according to US Weekly magazine. To further confirm said purchase, the name listed on the property records is Jessica Simpson's business manager, David Levin. Additionally, this home is already being remodeled by Simpson who is converting the walk-in closet into a nursery for Simpson's second child. Also, there is rumor that the home may be the location of her wedding to retired NFL star Eric Johnson.

[Update October 22, 2012]: I am extremely late on reporting this but back on August 9, 2012, the Osbournes listed their Hidden Hills home for rent at $50,000 per month in addition to listing it for sale for $12,999,000 which has languished on the market since June 2011. Talk about patience!

[Original Post]:
Hot off the MLS presses courtesy of the always hilarious Your Mama at the Realestalker is a communique that  rock and roll legend and talent judge extraordinary Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne are selling their Hidden Hills hideaway. 

This Cap Cod inspired home sits on 2.5 acres with city and mountain views. The property measures 11,000 sqft with 6 Bed/8 Baths including guest apartment with kitchenette, spiral staircase, state of the art chef's kitchen, pool with separate shallow pool, BBQ island, and outdoor shower amongst other amenities. 

The Osbournes purchased this property in August 2007 for $12,388,500 and now have listed for $12,999,000. Depending on this difficult market they may have to sell at a lower price and could possibly take a loss when factoring in commissions, fees, and taxes. The property records are listed under trust.

The Hidden Hills enclave is home to numerous celebrities including the Kardashians/Jenner clan, Howie Mandel, Beau Bridges, new resident Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony.

You can view more celebrity real estate listings here.

Michael Jackson and the Jackson Family in the San Fernando Valley

/ 1 Comment
With Michael Jackson's 2 year anniversary death just passed by, I thought I jump on the bandwagon of all the media outlets to post something about MJ too, obviously with respect to the San Fernando Valley. When it comes to Michael Jackson, it seems like people either hate him with much disgust or think he is the greatest performer. There is no middle ground and people fall into either of the two sides. If you are British, its safe to assume that you love MJ. So this post will only talk about Michael Jackson and his family's existence in the San Fernando Valley. We are not going to talk about the music, relationships, lawsuits, children, beatings, money, Beatles, etc. If you would like to learn more about MJ, I recommend visiting the extensive and thorough article at Wikipedia

So what can Michael Jackson and his family possibly have to do with the San Fernando Valley? Surprisingly, there is a lot of MJ history in the San Fernando Valley which is still visible today. I was inspired by the MilitantAngeleno who complied a map of MJ in the greater Los Angeles area which I recommend visiting. So I created a similar map but focusing on the San Fernando Valley only. So lets dig into the facts: (click on "Jackson Family in the SFV" title below if map is not centered or misplaced)

View Jackson Family in the SFV in a full screen map
  1. (A) Joseph and Katherine Jackson purchase a 2 acre estate at 4641 Hayvenhurst Ave (near Ventura Blvd) Encino, CA on May 5, 1971 for $250,000. This estate had 6 Beds/5 Baths, Olympic-size swimming pool, a basketball half-court, a badminton court, and an archery range. In order to purchase this property, Joe Jackson had to put down $100,000 (40% of the loan) due to his bad credit which he obtained from Berry Gordy based on the Jackson 5's future earnings. The Jackson's home phone number was routinely changed to protect against fans constantly calling which didn't last long. The house was nicknamed the 'Big House' because it felt like a prison at times for the younger Jacksons. (pg. 81 - 84, Taraborrelli) (Property Records which also list Latoya as an owner which is odd) This property was eventually purchased by MJ for $500,000 for a 50% stake and then later a 25% stake with the other 25% owned by Katherine due to Joe's financial difficulties in the 80's (pg. 229, Taraborrelli) and was remodelled (which led to #4 below). You can view pictures of the Encino house after the renovation here. And there is also an article from the Daily Beast here describing the home in 2009. 
  2. (B) In 1973 and 1974, Michael Jackson attended the exclusive Montclair College Preparatory School at 8071 Sepulveda Blvd Van Nuys CA for his 9th and 10th grade years. "He was always making jokes; he wanted to be like everyone else. He seemed happy back then. As soon as he left the school walls he went back to being the superstar." Tuition at the time cost $5,000, today it costs $16,000 for one year. Several other notable alumni include Cher, Nicole Richie, and Paul Thomas Anderson amongst others. (The Toronto Sun, He was a Super Kid, Sun Media's Parent goes back to Michael Jackson's School by Marie Joelle Parent) Check out yearbook pics here.
  3. (C) In 1976, Michael Jackson attended the California Preparatory High School in Encino (School no longer exists, location unknown). In the Yearbook, he was voted "most creative, shyest, and best dressed. Ironically, he was not voted most likely to succeed.  
  4. (D) In February 1981, Michael Jackson  purchases a 3 Bed/3 Bath condo at 5420 Lindley Ave Unit# 9 (near the 101 freeway)  Encino, CA for $210,000. You can view pictures of MJ posing at his condo here and read a lengthy and excellent article from the condo by Rolling Stones here. "He paid $175,000 in cash. The balance - $35,000 - came from Katherine. In exchange, Michael gave her equity in the condo as sole and separate property, meaning she did not have to share it with Joseph as community property. It was his way of giving her a bit of freedom, as well. Certainly, Michael didn't need her to contribute $35,000. No doubt, she wanted to pay for the possibility of having her own freedom, just like her son. 'Now, if you can't stand him for another second,' Michael said, speaking of Joseph, 'you can move here. It will be great. We could live here together, imagine that! And without him.' In the end, Micheal could not go through it; he couldn't move out especially since Katherine didn't want to go, either. 'I just don't feel it's time for me to move away from home yet,' he said. 'If I moved out now, I'd die of loneliness. Most people who move out go to discos every night. They party every night. They invite friends over, and I don't do any of those things.' (In a couple of years, Michael would move into the condo temporarily , along with other family members, when the Encino home was remodelled. He still owns the condo today; it has been used as a haven for his brothers when they have had marital difficulties.) (pg. 207 - 208, Taraborrelli) (Property Records, cached) Side note, Ice Cube (real name, Oshea Jackson also owns a condo in the same building at Unit#4 (Property Records, cached which also list Latoya as an owner which is odd)
  5. (E) During the 80's and into the early 2000's, Katherine Jackson would drag along MJ and the rest of the family to the Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall at 20600 Ventura Blvd Woodland Hills CA which I discussed in the Back To The Future Series
  6. (F) Jermaine Jackson lived at 4640 Gloria Avenue Encino, CA during the 1990's (according to The Movieland Directory). I looked up this property on the map and its a parking lot structure. I dont know if this home was torn down to make way for the parking structure or this info is inaccurate.
  7. (G) Tito Jackson lived at 15255 Del Gado Drive Sherman Oaks CA during the 1990's (according to The Movieland Directory). Dont have much factual information but the property was foreclosed in 1995, not sure if Tito was foreclosed upon at the time. Property Records, Redfin Listing.
  8. (H) Tito Jackson purchased at 21645 Medina Estates Dr Woodland Hills CA in 1998 (according to The Movieland Directory) with a purchase price of $437,000 which he still currently owns. Property Records, Redfin Listing
  9. (I) Janet Jackson lived at 18729 Hillsboro Rd Northridge, CA during the 1990's with Rene Elizondo  (according to The Movieland Directory) whom Janet was briefly married to. Rene is best known for being the one to cover Janet's breasts for the cover of the September 1993 issue of Rolling Stones Magazine. Based on the records, it appears that Rene purchased the property in 1990 for $790,000. Oddly, it also appears that he sold the property back to himself in 2009 for $750,000. Something doesnt add up here. Property RecordsRedfin Listing.
  10. (J) Janet Jackson lived at 9010 Tobias Avenue in Sherman Oaks, CA during the 1990s (according to The Movieland Directory). This property is actually located in Panorama City and its a large apartment building bordering Van Nuys Blvd. I doubt Janet lived here so this is probably an error but I am presenting what I found. Redfin Listing
  11. (K) Tito Jackson purchased at 4301 Willow Glen St Calabasas CA in 1998 for $280,000 and sold to his brother, Jermaine,  in 2004 for $550,000 (according to VirtualGlobeTrottingProperty RecordsRedfin Listing
  12. (L) Jermaine Jackson is currently renting a house at 25481 Prado De Azul Calabasas CA which was facing foreclosure in late 2010 but is now in a pending status as a short sale. Property Records
  13. (M) Katherine Jackson and all of the grandchildren moved out of the Hayvenhurst compound sometime in late 2010 or early 2011 in order to remodel the Hayvenhurst house. They moved to a rental in The Estates at the Oaks of Calabasas at 25345 Prado De La Felicidad Calabasas CA. This property was for sale off and on again since 2007 with the last listed price at $10,995,000 prior to being leased by Mrs. Jackson which the MJ estate is paying $26,000/month. The property has 7 Bed/10 Baths on 12,670 sqft. which includes a Loft/Game Room, Elevator, Guesthouse, Custom Theatre, Putting Green, Sparkling Pool and everything else your heart would desire. You can check out a video tour here, I highly recommend it. Property Records, Redfin Listing. When the Hayvenhurst House is completed, the family will be moving back except for Alejandra Jackson's kids (from Jermaine and Randy Jackson, yes they both had kids with the same woman). Katherine reportedly offered MJ's condo on Lindley to Alejandra but she apparently refused it and wanted more. How cool would it be to live in MJ's old condo? I am assuming that the Hayvenhurst property will be completed in the next couple of months which means the Calabasas property will become available and who knows what drama will occur at the old Hayvenhurst property with Alejandra. Its possible that the Hayvenhurst property becomes available for sale. I will keep you posted of any new developments.
  14. (N). In 2010, MJ's kids Prince and Paris attend the Buckley School at 3900 Stansbury Ave Sherman Oaks CA. The school's famous alums include Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton, and Kim Kardashian amongst others. 
Wow, I wasn't anticipating this list to be 14 locations long. I originally started off with the Hayvenhurst and Lindley properties and just started to grow as I researched more and more and started to include the rest of the family. I tried to keep this list very specific and defined as I am sure the Jackson's have been spotted or had some interactions in numerous locations around the San Fernando Valley. This is by no means a definitive list so I tried to document what I could find. Its possible that I missed something. For instance:
  1. In Katherine's book, "My Family", she describes an incident where MJ gets pulled over driving his Rolls Royce by a Van Nuys Police Officer mistakenly thinking that MJ had stolen it (keep in mind this was the 80's, we have progressed since then, I think). The Police Officer ran a check on the car and found an outstanding ticket which landed MJ in jail (I believe the Van Nuys Jail, but not sure) with his Security Guard bailing him out. 
  2. In an article from the HuffPost, Natalia Rose writes about living down the street and hanging out with MJ.
  3. Casting Director, Megan Foley, describes in her bio waiting on MJ several times at the Red Onion in Canoga Park during her collegiate year. 
  4. MJ "continued door-to-door" proselytizing for the Jehovah's Witness Faith, 'twice a week, maybe for an hour or two,' according to Katherine......wearing a moustache, hat, and glasses - and a tie and sweater, and holding a copy of Watchtower, Michael stood at the door of an apartment in suburban Thousand Oaks, California, one morning in early 1984. 'I'm here to talk to you about God's word,'he told the young girl who answered the bell." (pg. 269, Taraborrelli).
  5. Tito Jackson was a baseball coach at the Encino Little League on Hayvenurst for his sons. I remember seeing it in a Little League Yearbook listed for sale on eBay. Also, check here AOLTV (in comments) and People Magazine, Tour De Force, May 17, 1984 by Peter Carlson, Roger Wolmuth.
  6. MJ rode the racecars at the Malibu Grand Prix in Northridge (I truly miss that place). His "drivers license" can be found the MJsite.com website.
  7. MJ with his llama on Hayvenhurst near Libbett. Just hanging out in broad daylight ,from Facebook. 
And the list goes on and on. As you have noticed, the Jackson family has had and still continue to make the San Fernando Valley their home. Some of the other brothers and sisters have moved on to other states probably to get away from all of the drama. Being a San Fernando Valley fan, I sometimes wonder if the Valley has somehow influenced MJ and his family with the success and stardom. MJ's two biggest albums, Off the Wall and Thriller were produced while living in Encino? Is it a coincidence, that his fame and success decreased after he left the Valley? Do you have any stories of the SFV and MJ to share?

Disclaimer:  The addresses listed above are for educational and reference purposes only. Please respect the privacy of others so don't try to do anything stupid.

Sources:
Wikipedia - MJ Article
MilitantAngeleno - blog showcasing map of MJ's greater Los Angeles locations
Daily Beast - 2009 article describing the Hayvenhurst house
MJ-777 site - info regarding Montclair College Preparatory High School
Montclair College Prep Alumni Page
The Toronto Sun - 2009 article describing Montclair College Prep
MJ-777 site - info regarding California Prep
Chris Walters Rock Images - photos from Lindley Condo
Rolling Stones - 1983 article with reference to Lindley Condo
Wikipedia - Rene Elizondo
VirtualGlobeTrotting - Jermaine Jackson purchasing Calabasas home from Tito Jackson
Foreclosure Blog - blog post about Jermaine's rented home under foreclosure
Realestalker - blog post about Katherine Jackson and the grandkids moving out of Hayvenhurst
TMZ - article about Katherine not allowing Alejandra's kids into the renovated Hayvenhurst house
TMZ - article about MJ's kids, Paris and Prince attending Buckley School
The MJ Place site - reference to Katherine Jackson's book, "My Family"
HuffPost - article by Natalia Rose who was a neighbor to MJ at Hayvenhurst
Megan Foley Casting - description of waiting on MJ at Red Onion
Michael Jackson: The Magic, The Madness, The Whole Story, 1958 - 2009. J. Randy Taraborrelli
Tour De ForceMay 17, 1984 by Peter Carlson, Roger Wolmuth, People Magazine
Redfin
Zillow
Blockshopper
Movieland Directory

Daily News Looking for Reader's Photo Submissions for new San Fernando Valley Centennial Book

Saturday, June 25, 2011 / No Comments
The Daily News will be publishing a new pictorial San Fernando Valley book to celebrate their centennial. The Daily News is asking readers to submit their photos for consideration in the book. 
The Los Angeles Daily News is pleased to be working with local libraries, historical organizations and other institutions to bring our readers an heirloom-quality, coffee-table pictorial book on the history of the San Fernando Valley. This keepsake book features hundreds of stunning historic images from the early 1900s to present day.
You can follow directions and drop off locations a the publisher's website .

Seems really exciting!

Celebrity Real Estate: Natasha Henstridge and Darius Campbell Buy in Sherman Oaks

Thursday, June 23, 2011 / No Comments
Hot off the presses from the always hilarious Your Mama at the Realestalker is word that Natasha Henstridge  and Darius Campbell has recently purchased a home in the Sherman Oaks area for $1.3 million. The home measures 3,476 sqft on a 9,000 sqft lot with 4 Beds/5 Baths and includes a gourmet kitchen with Viking range and stove, master suite with two walk in closets, master bath with spa tub and separate shower, and a pool. 

Natasha started her roots in modeling at the age of 15 in Paris. When she was 21, she made her film debut in the film series Species. She has gone on to appear in various TV shows and films. Her husband, Darius Campbell is a Scottish platinum-selling singer-songwriter, a West End stage actor, operatic baritone, Sunday Times best-selling author, and an Ambassador for the Prince's Trust, a Charity in the UK.

Natasha is no stranger to the San Fernando Valley, she first purchased in:
  1. 1999 in Mailbu (up in the hills next to King Gillette Ranch Park) for $1,050,000 and later sold in 2000 for $1,270,000. It appears this house was shared with Liam Waite who was the father to her two sons but this is not confirmed.
  2. 2000 in Sherman Oaks for $700,000 and later sold in 2001 for $689,000 (thats odd, she took a loss when the Housing boom just started). Also, this house isnt too far from her newly purchased home. 
  3. 2000 in Sherman Oaks for $1,760,000 and later sold in 2003 for $2,399,000. This house is also nearby her newly purchased home.
  4. 2003 in Sherman Oaks for $1,360,000 and later sold in 2009 for $1,750,000. This house is also nearby her newly purchased home. 
I am not an expert on real estate but it seems like it would have been better to stay in the first house she purchased in Malibu seems like a better area to live that is secluded and was a bigger lot. More importantly, to buy that property again may cost her double what she originally paid. But hindsight is 20/20 and who knows what was going at that time. She sure seems to like Sherman Oaks, I cant blame her, its hard to leave the San Fernando Valley.

You can check other Celebrity Real Estate properties clicking on the tab above or here.

    Chatsworth Home Prices Lower Than 1989

    Thursday, June 16, 2011 / No Comments
    [Update: July 14, 2011]: This home sold on July 11, 2011 for $638,000. 

    With the peak of the home buying season slowly going behind us, how will home prices fair going into the dreaded fall and winter seasons and more importantly into 2012? Will home prices continue on the painful down slope, make the much needed rebound, or bounce along a flatline like a dead heartbeat on an EKG monitor? 

    I dont know the answers but what I do know is that home buying and selling is not for the faint of heart. We are going to talk about the wholesome and friendly area of Chatsworth of the San Fernando Valley. I have discussed Chatsworth real estate before in a post entitled, "Is Housing Making A Comeback in Chatsworth?" This post showcased a home for sale that was chasing the market down for one year with over $200K in reductions. Watching this home for upcoming priced deductions was like watching a daytime TV drama. So much passion and excitement. Well, that is old news and the home finally sold. 

    Today, we will be talking about a home in Chatsworth that is cheaper to purchase today than in 1989 NOMINAL DOLLARS. Yes, 1989 when the Berlin Wall came down. If its cheaper in nominal dollars, imagine the difference in inflation adjusted dollars. The home sits on almost 0.5 acres with 5 Beds, 3 Baths on 2,924 acres of living space. Included in the home is vaulted ceilings, built in book cases with wet bar, pool and jacuzzi, BBQ, and full size tennis court along with a 3 car garage. Its a beautiful property with all the amenities that a family can wish for. There should never be any boredom in this house. It is located near the horse ranches of Chatsworth and not too far from a railroad line which was the site of the horrific accident between a Metrolink and a Union Pacific train as it emerged out of a tunnel. I almost forgot to mention one important thing, this home is available for $638,000 and is an approved short sale. So snatching up this property should be quick and simple. 

    Lets take a look at some items from the listing:


    Property History


    DateEventPriceAppreciationSource
    Apr 14, 2011Listed (Active)$638,000--CRMLS #S11047318
    Sep 20, 2010- Delisted (Hold)----Inactive CRMLS #1
    Sep 18, 2010- Listed (Active)*--Inactive CRMLS #1
    Jul 14, 2006Sold (Public Records)$1,055,0002.4%/yrPublic Records
    Sep 19, 1989Sold (Public Records)$703,000--Public Records


    Lets dig into the numbers shall we? So is it any surprise that this short sale property last sold in 2006 (at the very peak of the market) with a price tag of  slightly over $1 million. When compared to today's approved short sale price, this home is $417,000 cheaper for an approximate 40% drop in value. The real scare is that this home is $65,000 cheaper than the last sale in 1989. Or the more accurate way to assess this property is through inflation adjusted dollars from the inflation calculator above. This difference translates into $643,070 for a an even steven 50% drop. This is just simply amazing and stunning at the same time.

    So I know someone might say, well, 1989 was the last mini-bubble in CA so its not a fair comparison as there were great buying opportunities in the years ahead. Or that this is just one unfortunate situation out of hundreds in Chatsworth that are performing better. Both of those points are true and I cant argue with that. But what I am trying to point out is that what if this was you? What if you purchased in 1989 or 2006 and are stuck with a huge loss on your down payment, equity, emotional ties, loss in inflation adjusted dollars, or whatever else you have tied up in the property.

    So for all of those that bought in the peak, lets say you can ride it out, how long will it take to recover and how much will the dollar be worth when you do decide to sell? Is it going to be the same situation as the home discussed here? Wouldnt it be better to put that money to work in other investments?

    What this home has taught me is that the housing market can be dangerous and you need to be armed and  prepared for the unexpected like a job loss, health complications, community changes, etc. Make sure you have the required down payment plus a savings account. More importantly, ensure the mortgage is cheaper than renting, otherwise you are better off renting. You can use rent vs. buy calculators Patrick.net and NY Times.

    [Editors note:] Literally at the time of writing this post, the home was put into a pending status. If you were interested in this property, I have a feeling there will be more like it. 

    Celebrity Real Estate: Joel Diamond Lists in Calabasas

    Wednesday, June 15, 2011 / No Comments
    Hello San Fernando Valley, today we will talk about the Joel Diamond estate for sale in the rugged hills of Calabasas right off Mulholland Hwy at a just reduced asking price of $1,999,950 (from $2,000,000, so not much of a reduction). The property sits on approximately one acre with a 3,386 sqft home consisting of 5 Beds/8.5 Baths (that's a lot of toilets and tubs to clean). There is also a separate 1200 sqft guest home that was built in 2008 and separated from the main house by a "charming" wood bridge. The main house has a large chef's kitchen with all the fancy appliances, breathtaking views of the Santa Monica Mountains, Custom Sound and Lighting systems, waterfalls, tennis court, and a large bonus room that was formerly the garage. 

    Joel Diamond is a Grammy Award winning record producer whose work has contributed to 36 gold and platinum records as well as 54 Billboard charting records, movie soundtracks, and television themes. He has worked with the likes of James Taylor, The Bee Gees, David Bowie, and Engelbert Humperdinck amongst others. 

    Diamond originally purchased the property in 2001 for $850,000 and has listed and delisted several times since Feb 2009. The last reported sighting of this property was in August 2009 at the L.A. Times Hot Property and here with a price tag of $1,895,000. So if I understand this correctly, Mr. Diamond is hoping to sell his property for roughly $100K more than two years ago when the real estate market is struggling right now. Mr. Diamond still stands to make double his initial investment not including the work to add the guest house, realtor commissions, taxes, etc. Not bad for 10 years work especially in this challenging market. Putting that all aside, based on the pictures, the home looks like a "great hideaway retreat resort but close to the city and beach" home. The one thing that is lacking is a pool. For all that money and space, surely you can provide a pool. Guess you will need to jump into the neighbor's which include Will Smith, Katt Williams, Brad Penny, and Meat Loaf. 

    What Happened to the Vans Shoe Store on Topanga Cyn Blvd in Canoga Park?

    / 6 Comments
    [Update May 2, 2013]: This building was demolished with no other news available at this time. Demolition pics can be viewed here. Also, it appears that this building was first built in 1970 (according to City-Data.com) and I am assuming was a Vans Shoe store since the beginning.

    [Original Post]:
    I was driving around the hood (Topanga Cyn Blvd and Nordhoff) and noticed out of nowhere that the Vans Shoe store was shut down with all the signs removed and for lease signs up. This store was located at 9039 Topanga Cyn Blvd Canoga Park. I was shocked when I saw this because that store has been there at least since the 80's if not longer. I was always fascinated with this site because it truly stood out having its own dedicated building and was sort of in an odd location which was primarily industrial mixed with some residential. And going back to the 80's there was more undeveloped land at that time so it really stood out back then. I tried to find some history on this site but couldnt find anything. It would be interesting to know what number store it was, when was it first established, and any anecdotal stories to go with it. 

    My guess is that like everything else thats been going on in the Valley, it was shut down due to online competition (including Vans itself) and the fact that there is a Vans store at the Topanga Mall. If anyone has any knowledge or stories, please share. I leave you with this Google street view shot (thank God for Google because I dont have any personal photos or couldnt find anything on the web) when Vans was open for business. 
    Image courtesy Google Maps

    Development Plans for the Demolished Valley Music Theatre in Woodland Hills????

    Thursday, June 9, 2011 / No Comments
    One of the early Back To The Future (BTTF) series was about the Valley Music Theatre later turned to a Jehovah's Witnesses' Kingdom Hall on Ventura Blvd in Woodland Hills. That site was demolished in 2007 which has since been sitting empty for the squirrels and coyotes to play around. 

    However, there appears to be some kind of development activity taking place. I received a letter from a friend that was issued by the City of L.A. dated on May 27, 2011. This document I believe was last revised in 2006 which was intended for a mixed use condominium development. According to the document, this site has changed to  a mixed use development "apartment for rent" consisting of retail shops (on 17,688 sqft) and a maximum of 340 dwelling units in a two building complex of 4 stories not to exceed 100 feet in height. The project owners appears to be John Stanek of The Jefferson Project.

    Some key items from the letter:
    • The Project shall not exceed a lot coverage of 54 percent of the total lot area.
    • The Project shall provide a minimum of 806 parking spaces.
    • At least 20 percent of the project's dwelling units shall be targeted to an audience 55 years or older.
    • The property management shall provide a van/bus or other appropriated vehicle to serve as a shuttle for residents and guests within a three mile radius for Monday - Friday between 7 AM and 8 PM
    This letter allows for individuals to appeal this decision within 20 days of issuance. This is just my humble opinion but I dont think we need more apartment units. Cant they convert this site into a park, a Valley Museum, or something?
    LA Update Letter

    BTTF #8: Partying With Gun's N Roses In Canoga Park's Rumbo Recorders

    Wednesday, June 8, 2011 / No Comments
    Reposted with permission from Rumbo Recorders
    Welcome aboard the Delorean! Marty McFly here to take you on a journey to a very hidden and secretive location that we happened to stumble upon while hovering the streets of the Valley. The Delorean has the required plutonium plus some random garbage in the Mr. Fusion reactor ready for this trip. The time circuits are set to 1979 (actual date unknown) and the flux capciator is.........fluxxing. The engine is running (not stalled this time) so we need to hurry. Hang on, as the ride can be a little bumpy as we travel back in time to 20215 Saticoy Street Canoga Park CA 91306. This address was the location for the Rumbo Recorders Studio.
    There is so much history to discuss here, its not even fair. Lets start off with the origins of the Rumbo Recorders Studio. It was designed and built by Daryl Dragon in 1979 where he believed (from Rumbo Recorders):
    Comfort along with a 'no pressure', creative environment in a studio was always the motto that Daryl believes enhanced he & his wife's (Toni Tennille) success in the music industry, and with the successful track records of countless other successful producers / engineers / artists that have since completed projects at Rumbo for more than two decades, the musical outflow from Rumbo speaks for itself.
    Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille were the successful duo of Captain & Tennille that had such hits as "Love Will Keep Us Together" and Do That To Me One More Time" and reached the pinnacle of their success in the mid-70's winning a Grammy Award for "Love Will Keep Us Together". They were so popular in the 70's that they were "invited by First Lady Betty Ford to the White House in 1976 to perform for Queen Elizabeth II and President Gerald Ford (Wikipedia)". Here is a video of one of their performances if you are struggling to remember. 


    I dont want to go too far off tangent but here are some other facts about Captain & Tennille with respect to the San Fernando Valley. 
    • Captain & Tennille lived in a house they dubbed the "Butterscotch Castle" (which was appropriately the title of one of their songs) located on Cree Trail in the Twin Lakes area of Chatsworth. There are rumors floating around the internet that they lived in the Eagles Nest but that is incorrect. (email transcript)
    • Captain & Tennille were first discovered at the Smoke House Restaurant in Encino in 1973 by Wink Martindale.
    • Captain attended CSUN for 6 years but never graduated because he couldnt pass physics (here,  here, and email transcript).  
    • Captain and Tennille performed at what was known as the North Campus of CSUN (the old Devonshire Downs, now Medtronic) for the 4th of July celebration in 1994 after the Northridge earthquake (CSUN).
    • Also, in a People Magazine article titled "Year of the Dragons" from October 18, 1976, there is mention of CSUN in the article, "He chucked his traditional training ("I never got over Fats Domino and the blues") at Cal State (Northridge)"....not sure what that means.
    So back to the Rumbo Recorders, The Captain built this 10,000 sqft, three studio room state of the art recording studio in Canoga Park in 1979. Lets put this into perspective, Canoga Park in the late 70's was a small sleepy town that was known for the Topanga Mall and Rocketdyne amongst others (if even that) with  suburban living all around it. By the early 80's, most of Canoga Park was developed except for various plots of land that would be developed into the 80's, 90's, and still to today. Actually, an apartment complex was just completed right next to the studio.  This part of the Valley was the last to be raided by the developers which is now expanding to Porter Ranch. 

    So the fact that the Captain built this studio "in the middle of nowhere" instead of developing in Hollywood, Burbank, etc was quite the gamble.  If you were a musician living in Beverly Hills, Hollywood, wherever, you would have to hop on the 101 and drive for about 30 minutes to Canoga Park, which is not bad but for the  busy lives of entertainers could seem as being undesirable.

    But that was not case as the Rumbo Recorders Studio became very successful and was utilized by a who's who of artists including Captain & Tennille (of course), Paula Abdul, Celine Dion, Kiss, Tom Petty And The HeartBreakers, Rage Against the Machine, and Stone Temple Pilots amongst others. You can view the entire list here

    One notable recording group was Guns 'N' Roses who recorded parts of the infamous Appetite for Destruction album there in 1987. You might remember some of their songs from that album, here is one of them:


    So you are probably wondering why GNR picked Rumbo Studios of all places to record an ablum. According to Nikki Darling at the LA Weekly, Mike Clink, producer for GNR, chose this studio because of its distance from Hollywood to avoid the possibility to "wander away into the street and into trouble." And therein lies the reason for why other artists probably chose this location because of its seclusion from the Hollywood atmosphere. Isnt that why we all moved to the suburb's? I suggest reading the article by Darling which she mentioned was supposedly the location for "Rocket Queen" (if you know that song, then you know what I am talking about). Also, there is another good historical account of GNR here

    Check out pics of the Rumbo Recorders in its prime (also check out a cool brochure here):

    Reposted with permission from Rumbo Recorders
    Reposted with permission from Rumbo Recorders
    Reposted with permission from Rumbo Recorders
    So time to head back into the Delorean and go Back To The Future

    Something weird happened on our travel back in time. It appears that the space time continuum has been altered. In the Spring of 2003, the Captain and Tennille decided to sell Rumbo Recorders. NO!!! 

    Dramatic Changes in the recording / music industries as of the year 2000 or so, had unfortunately taken it's toll on just about all recording facilities - as well as the entire music-recording business in general; negative changes consisting mainly of what has been labeled 'internet audio-file sharing / swapping' or illegal music piracy, which had literally created a permanent 'on hold' condition in the record business - which will probably continue to stifle the industry - until the industry can figure out a 'fix' (an alternative income-earning-model) for this ongoing problem. Illegal 'pirating ' or file sharing of copyrighted music, along with record company's resulting limited artist-rosters and dwindling recording budgets, had basically resulted in a massive shut-down of many other independent recording facilities across the nation as well. SO: It was decided at that time, that it was probably a wise idea to 'sell Rumbo' - just in case an easy 'fix' for the recording industry was not just around the corner.
    And:
    It is certainly possible that the climate of the recording industry could change for the better - dramatically - very soon, and that Rumbo will again produce tons more of the great (radio friendly) music it has been known for - throughout it's long history. Whatever the climate of the recording industry, Toni and Daryl wish all the best for the new owners of this very special studio. 
    And there it is, "change in the name of progress." I had the opportunity to see the Rumbo Recorders recently which has been altered by the current owners to accomodate special events like Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, etc. The good news is that the building remains the same and a majority of it looks original. Even some of the original equipment remains although in a disorganized fashion. I was told that they still use the studio for recording but the site has become mixed use for parties and art galleries. Maybe this is what the place needs in order to be viable.

    What was even more surprising is that official RIAA record certifications presented to Rumbo Recorders are still hanging on the wall. The buyer was able to buy the property as well as history, what a deal regardless of the price. I have to say that walking through the studio was truly breathtaking as I tried to relive the studio at its height with GNR creating the Appetite For Destruction album. Who knows what was going on at that time, would have love to been a fly on the wall. And all of this happened on Saticoy St in Canoga Park, of all places!




    If you look at the picture of the building, you can see the differences when compared to the original picture from the Rumbo Recorders website at the very top. Aside for aesthetic differences, the building remains the same inside and outside. You will also notice the new apartment complex to the left of the building. So thankfully, the studio wasnt torn down like some of the other sites discussed in this series.

    Lastly, I want to briefly mention the new owner, Morteza Barjesteh, who is an Iranian singer and musician as well as a resident of Woodland Hills. A video was posted on Youtube featuring Mr. Barjesteh at the studio that can be seen in various shots including an interview conducted in one of the control rooms (I believe Studio B), dancing scenes in Studio A (??), and shots of the various records on the wall. Also, the video is in Farsi, so I have no idea what is being said but I did hear "Guns N Roses, Tom Petty...." at one point during the video. Almost forgot one thing, the new studio is now called Metronome Studio.


    One other minor tidbit that might or might not be related, I was reviewing a map of this area and discovered that a new housing tract, 3 homes to be exact built in 2005 and 2006, near the studio had a new street created with the name, Dragon Lane. Dont know if this is a coincidence but seems fitting to honor the great Daryl Dragon of Captain & Tennille who not only brought us great music but a studio to create memorable music which we all grew up listening to from the 80's to the early 2000's.



    P.S. The SFValleyblog prays for and hopes Daryl Dragon can overcome the tremors he has been suffering lately that is impacting his ability to play music and entertain. Captain and Tennille currently reside in Prescott, AZ where Tennille continues to perform today.
    ____________________________________________________________________
    Check out the other Back To The Future Series by clicking on the Back To The Future Series tab above or links provided below:

    5. BTTF Series #5: The Promenade Mall at Woodland Hills

    Sources:

    LA Weekly Article by Nikki Darling

    Official Captain and Tennille Website -- Clients List

    Official Captain and Tennille Website -- Rumbo Recorders Homepage

    Official Toni Tennille Website -- Rumbo Recorders Sold

    People Magazine - Year of The Dragons Article 1976

    Rumbo Recorders Brochure - 1980

    Wikipedia -- Captain and Tennille

    Retroland website interview

    L.A. Times -- 1994 Article


    Mid Century Modern Homes For Sale

    Saturday, June 4, 2011 / 1 Comment
    Here are some Mid Century Modern (MCM) homes for sale in the Valley. Some are showing open houses tomorrow. If you are not familiar with MCM, you may recognize these homes while driving around the Valley. This type of architecture is prolific in Southern California and the San Fernando Valley. (The  Googie architecture derives from MCM that is more common in commerical settings that I have shown in some of the Back To The Future Series) Maybe the pictures will help. You will definitely notice a difference from the ranch homes and today's "mcmansions." Note: this is a sampling of MCM homes I could find, so there may be others in the Valley.



    Price: $424,857; Granada Hills, Open House scheduled for June 5, 2- 5 PM. Architect is unknown.







    Price: $355,000; Northridge, Architect is unknown.







    Price: $499,000 (short sale); Northridge, Architect is unknown.






    Price: $409,000; Woodland Hills, Open House scheduled for June 5, 1- 4 PM. Architect is Palmer & Krisel.






    Price: $375,000; Woodland Hills, Open House scheduled for June 5, 1- 4 PM. Architect is Palmer & Krisel.

    Celebrity Real Estate: Joseph Barbera's 2 Acre Estate in Studio City Listed

    Friday, June 3, 2011 / No Comments

    Hot off the MLS presses is the late Joseph Barbera 2 acre estate listed for sale at $6,795,000 reported by Lauren Beale at L.A. Times Hot Property. The 2 acre estate is situated in the Fryman Canyon area off  Laurel Canyon Blvd on a long rectangular lot. The Byrd designed home was built in 1988 and contains 5 Beds/6 Baths on 6,899 living sqft on a total lot size of 65,776 sqft. The estate includes cook's kitchen, "gentleman's car garage" (7200 sqft) which includes a replica of Barbera's office from the Hanna-Barbera studios, championship lighted tennis court and a commercial generator amongst other amenities (that garage just makes me envious).

    Joseph Barbera was born in 1911 and past away at the age of 95 in 2006. He was survived by his second wife, Shelia, and three children from the first wife. Barbera (who teamed with William Hanna) was the renowned and acclamied cartoon artist having worked on widely successful shows such as Tom and Jerry, Scooby-Doo, Yogi Bear, The Smurfs, and The Jetsons to name a few. Basically all the cartoons we watched as kids were created by Barbera whose works have reached an audience of over 300 million people in the 1960s and translated into more than 20 languages (Wikipedia).

    I am not sure what price Barbera paid for the property but since it was built in 1988, its possible he may have purchased  the land or bought an existing home and demolished to build the home. Barbera also owns the adjacent 18,592 sqft property which brings the total acreage of the estate to 84,368 sqft or slightly under 2 acres. This property was purchased in 1994 for $2.4 million. According to Beale, Barbera's wife, Shelia,  will relocate to a Las Palmas estate in Palm Springs.