The Wishnow Residence: Benton and Park’s 1961 Mid-Century Modern in Van Nuys

Wishnow Residence Benton and Park Van Nuys

Image of Donald Park courtesy Legacy.com

The Wishnow Residence at 6110 Mary Ellen Avenue in Van Nuys is back on the market, offering another look at one of the San Fernando Valley’s standout mid-century modern homes. According to the current Redfin listing, the home is listed for $1,795,000 and includes 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and approximately 3,085 square feet on an 8,036-square-foot lot.

Designed by Benton and Park, AIA circa 1961, the home reflects the firm’s take on California modernism. The listing notes that Donald Park studied under A. Quincy Jones at USC and later worked for Jones before forming the firm with Wallace Benton. Benton and Park would go on to design homes across greater Los Angeles, including examples in Crestwood Hills, one of Southern California’s important modernist communities.

The Wishnow Residence has many of the details that make a good Valley mid-century home feel special: a gated atrium entry, original terrazzo flooring with brass inlays, high ceilings approaching 10 feet, clerestory windows, floor-to-ceiling glass, two fireplaces, a generous living room, and a kidney-shaped pool that anchors the indoor-outdoor layout.

The home also sits at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac near a landscaped park, adding to the secluded feel. The current listing describes it as both a peaceful retreat and a house made for entertaining, especially with the large living areas opening toward the backyard and pool.

The sale history is also notable. Redfin records show the home sold on May 1, 2013 for $655,000. It was then listed on June 27, 2013 for $879,900 and sold on September 5, 2013 for $879,900. Redfin also displays a separate public-record entry on that same date showing $3,600,000, which appears unusual enough that it is best treated carefully as a public-record notation rather than a straightforward resale price. The home returned to the market on April 29, 2026 for $1,795,000, went contingent on May 16, 2026, and was relisted on June 11, 2026.

This is the type of house that shows how much architectural history is hidden in the Valley’s residential neighborhoods. It is not just a Van Nuys listing; it is a Benton and Park-designed modernist home tied to the larger postwar design movement that shaped parts of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.

Property Details

Address: 6110 Mary Ellen Avenue, Van Nuys
Architects: Benton and Park, AIA
Year built: 1961
Current asking price: $1,795,000
Bedrooms / bathrooms: 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
Size: Approximately 3,085 square feet
Lot: Approximately 8,036 square feet
Notable features: Terrazzo flooring with brass inlays, clerestory windows, floor-to-ceiling glass, two fireplaces, gated atrium entry, and kidney-shaped pool