Back in November, 2016, Canadian developer Robert L. Quigg, who had nearly half a dozen major remodeling projects underway in Hancock Park, Windsor Square and Fremont Place, declared bankruptcy on 17 companies he owned and apparently fled the country. Since then, many of the properties Quigg controlled were tied up in bankruptcy proceedings, but one of them – which was left as a construction site at 344 S. Rimpau with only part of the basement level completed – has now sold for $4.2 million after less than 90 days on the market.
Realtor John Duerler, of Hancock Homes, who was the listing agent, told the Buzz this morning that a recent reduction in the asking price, from $4.9 million to $4.7 million, attracted several offers from developers, including the winning bid. All of the interested parties, Duerler said, intended to continue with the approved building plans for the site, with the goal of re-selling the property when construction is finished. Duerler said the design for the home, which will now be completed, was inspired by another (completed) Quigg project, on Windsor Blvd., which was, in turn, based on (and a “miniature” of) the Italianate design of the Dorothy Chandler residence on Lorraine Blvd.
Myrna Gintel, who lives next door to the Rimpau property, said she is “relieved” that the site has finally sold, and that she will prefer the temporary inconvenience of resumed construction (“I’m bracing myself for a whole lot of knocking”) to the neglect of the abandoned site, where she said tresspassers have been common, partying at night and leaving graffiti behind. “It’s been kind of a nightmare,” she said.
