Château Laurier’s French aristocratic charm is recognized
REGAL corner building, Château Laurier was named a Historic Cultural Monument.
Kimberly Aboltin always knew her home at Château Laurier was special. Now, the Châteauesque building where she resides really is special.
It was named a Historic-Cultural Monument recently by the Cultural Heritage Commission.
Aboltin, as a tenant in the building, took on the task of applying for the designation to help preserve the regal property for years to come.
“I just love the building so much and wanted to make sure it was restored to safety and make sure it would never be demolished for whatever reason and keep as a piece of L.A. history,” Aboltin said.
She connected with James Dastoli, known for his acumen in helping to preserve significant historic properties, and dug deep to research the building’s history — dating back to before it was built in 1929. She also spoke at three City Hall meetings.
The property, at 4353 W. Fifth St., at the corner of Wilton Place, was designed by Leland A. Bryant. A permit was issued for construction of a 63-room apartment and automobile store room. It was later acquired by the Ritz management company who sold it and a neighboring cottage to Seymour, LLC, in 2008.
In 2014, Château Laurier received a Landmark Award from the Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society.
French château style
The Châteauesque multifamily residence is based loosely on the architecture of 16th-century French châteaus in the Loire Valley especially in its roofline and turrets.
THE CHâteauESQUE style multifamily residence is based loosely on the architecture of 16th-century French châteaus.
This and other castle-like buildings “from the 1920s through 1940s were part of the fantasy image created of Los Angeles,” according to a 58-page report by the L.A. Dept. of City Planning.
Affluent and famous people were thought to live here, which, like living in a castle, made references to aristocrats in 18th-century Versailles, the report said.
Château Laurier was made of concrete shaped to resemble stone, with a steeply pitched hipped roof clad in composite shingles with chimneys.
“It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period or method of construction; or represents a notable work of a master designer, builder, or architect whose individual genius influenced his or her age,” according to the nomination summary.
According to a 1928 Los Angeles Times article, it was built for $260,000 with 17 studio and duplex apartments designed as individual homes. Features included private baths, service by electric elevators and 20-foot ceilings, giving a cathedral effect.
Aboltin estimates her fourth-floor apartment’s arched ceilings are closer to 35-feet high.
“I want to do as much as I can to make Los Angeles beautiful. I think it’s so important,” she said.
Dastoli, who calls himself a local volunteer, stepped up when Aboltin reached out.
“Château Laurier was a building that I had seen on [historic] surveys from years back, so it was already on my radar as one that could be landmarked.
“It’s great to see residents organizing in that part of Greater Wilshire. The single-family neighborhoods have such a strong sense of community, but the largely multifamily area south of Third [Street] and east of Van Ness [Avenue] doesn’t really have any organization,” Dastoli added.
Category: Real Estate
