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| Palmer and Krisel image courtesy Visit Palm Springs |
A notable example of postwar San Fernando Valley architecture has returned to the market. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 18334 Hiawatha Street in Porter Ranch was listed in July 2026 for $1,595,000.
Built in 1958, the one-story residence contains approximately 1,890 square feet on an approximately 11,100-square-foot lot. Although the current real estate listing identifies the location as Porter Ranch, the house is part of the historic Living-Conditioned Homes neighborhood, which the Los Angeles Conservancy places near the northeastern corner of Reseda Boulevard and Devonshire Street in Northridge. The tract was designed by noted Southern California architects Dan Palmer and William Krisel.
Property Quick Facts
Address: 18334 Hiawatha Street, Porter Ranch
Built: 1958
Architects: Dan Palmer and William Krisel
Property type: One-story Mid-Century Modern residence
Bedrooms and bathrooms: Three bedrooms and two bathrooms
Living area: Approximately 1,890 square feet
Lot: Approximately 11,100 square feet
Recent work: Renovated in 2022
Additional plans: Approved plans for an approximately 800-square-foot ADU
Listing status: Listed in July 2026 for $1,595,000
The Living-Conditioned Homes Neighborhood
The Los Angeles Conservancy identifies this neighborhood as the Living-Conditioned Homes tract, developed by Sanford D. Adler in 1958 and 1959. Palmer and Krisel created five basic house plans and varied their orientation, setbacks and exterior finishes so the neighborhood would feel cohesive without appearing repetitive.
According to the Conservancy, the tract is especially notable because it is the only Palmer and Krisel development in the San Fernando Valley to display the architects' more flamboyant “Alexander style.” Its identifying elements include butterfly roofs, decorative stone, concrete block, broad overhanging eaves and dramatic entrances. The homes were planned around space, light, sound and safety to promote what was then presented as a model of modern living.
Postwar Modernism in the Northwest Valley
Palmer and Krisel helped bring modern residential design to postwar Southern California through tract homes that made dramatic rooflines, walls of glass and indoor-outdoor living available to a much wider group of homebuyers.
This Porter Ranch home retains many of the architectural details commonly associated with their work, including a butterfly ceiling, exposed beams, warm wood finishes, a statement fireplace and broad expanses of glass opening toward the backyard.
Renovation and Outdoor Space
According to the listing, the residence was renovated in 2022 while preserving its Mid-Century Modern character. More recent improvements reportedly include a permitted Polyfresko G cool roof, an upgraded electrical panel and newer pool heating and filtration equipment.
The private backyard includes a heated swimming pool and spa, landscaped garden areas, an outdoor fireplace and multiple spaces for entertaining.
Studio and Approved ADU Plans
The former attached garage is currently used as a sound-treated studio and creative workspace with wood beams, skylights and air conditioning. The listing notes that this area is not included in the advertised living-area square footage and may be converted back to parking.
The property also comes with approved plans for an approximately 800-square-foot accessory dwelling unit, offering the possibility of guest accommodations, additional workspace or rental use, subject to applicable permits and regulations.
A Possible Early Owner and a Link to Litton
One of the more personal clues in the property's history may be connected to a former owner named Frank McCarter. Permit records associated with the house identify McCarter and show that a permit for the swimming pool was requested on June 4, 1964. Because the residence had been completed only a few years earlier, it is possible that McCarter purchased the home new or close to new, although that has not been conclusively verified.
A December 3, 1978 Los Angeles Times employment advertisement for Litton Guidance & Control Systems in Woodland Hills directed applicants to Frank McCarter.
A 1978 Los Angeles Times employment advertisement offers an intriguing connection. The ad sought a senior marine systems engineering specialist for Litton Guidance & Control Systems at 5500 Canoga Avenue in Woodland Hills and instructed applicants to send their résumés to “Mr. Frank McCarter.”
An obituary for Frank R. McCarter describes him as a former human resources manager with Litton Guidance and Control who spent more than 20 years recruiting engineers for advanced military communications projects. The obituary says he later lived in Thousand Oaks. Taken together, the permit record, the newspaper advertisement and the obituary suggest that this may have been the same Frank McCarter who once owned the Porter Ranch house. However, the identification remains a historical inference rather than a confirmed biographical link.
Property information also indicates a possible transfer on August 22, 1986. If that record and the McCarter identification both relate to the same person, he may have owned the house for more than two decades before later relocating to Thousand Oaks. It is a small, unconfirmed anecdote, but one that connects the home's early suburban history with one of the West San Fernando Valley's major aerospace-era employers.
Historical note: The June 4, 1964 pool permit and possible August 22, 1986 transfer are based on property and permit records. The connection to Frank R. McCarter of Litton is supported by the newspaper advertisement and obituary but has not been independently confirmed as the same individual.
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Images courtesy of Redfin/Homecoin.com. Listing price, availability and property details are subject to change. Readers should verify current information with the listing source.
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