The last time we wrote about the Higgins/Verbeck/Hirsch Mansion, a 9 bedroom, 11 bathroom home at 637 S. Lucerne Blvd., in 2017, it had just been remodeled and was being offered for sale at $8.999 million. This week, Mansion Global reports that it’s now back on the market, just three years later, for just about the same asking price as in 2017-2018.
The home was designed in 1902 by architect John C. Austin, and originally constructed on Wilshire Blvd. near Rampart Blvd. (where the Wilshire Royale apartments now stand). According to the Los Angeles Conservancy, the house was cut into three pieces and moved to its current location in Windsor Square in 1924, and later “used as a retirement home for nuns, a mission, an office, and a rooming house for young aspiring actors.”
The home was restored as a single family residence by owners Perry and Peggi Hirsch, who purchased it in the 1980s. Since the Hirsches sold the home in 2017, however, it’s had some rather brisk turnovers. According to the Mansion Global story, a “limited liability company managed by renowned architect Xorin Balbes, founder and co-owner of the interior and architectural design firm TempleHome” purchased the property from the Hirsches for $3.19 million. Balbes quickly and significantly modernized/”reimagined” the interior, bleaching the formerly dark woodwork, and replacing period light fixtures and other elements with more modern ones…changes that were much debated on many real estate blogs and websites.
The home was then sold for $7.666 million in 2018 to design consultant Linda Tatum, who has now put it back on the market at its current $8.995M asking price.
The home is currently listed by Tracy Tutor and Gina Dickerson of Beverly Hills real estate firm Douglas Elliman. According to the listing:
“Reimagined by Xorin Balbes, the 9 bed 11 bath home perfectly marries modern convenience with effortless elegance spanning four floors and encompassing over 12,000 square feet. Meticulously restored, the main level features a grand foyer, living room opening to an elegant formal dining room, music room, and media room. The kitchen offers a large center island and a full array of professional appliances, including a Thermador gas cooktop, butler pantry & sunny breakfast room. Additional features include a billiards room, yoga room, a custom gym, theater room, den/office, with soaring ceilings throughout. A picturesque, landscaped garden with a grand pool and spa features an additional guest house accommodating a living room with a modern kitchen and two additional bedrooms. Indeed a home best experienced in person, Higgins Mansion remains intact as a cultural masterpiece, irreplaceable with its 120-year-old history that will continue to bring effortless elegance for decades to come.”
Liz, any update on 215 S. Wilton Place and what the outcome OHR order to replace all of the historic fabric to the home?
This is the last we heard on that one – https://larchmontbuzz.com/featured-stories-larchmont-village/update-on-215-south-wilton-place/ Probably time to check in on it again.
Wow… that remodel… absolutely without a doubt, RUINED THE ENTIRE HOUSE. I worked in that house in the 80s for a software company and even the before pics were close if not the same… but this remodel… If anything it’s worth less than the old $5 million asking price. It’s truly a work of horror for that home.
Seriously… who signed off on this? They obviously had zero clue as to the history of the home or how to update it functionally.
Without a doubt, Truth! The “Pre-remodel” photo above is beautiful… the dark wood contrasts perfectly with the lighter colored walls and ceiling. Bleaching the wood like they did in the “Post-remodel” pics makes the wood look fake… almost like plastic. Dammed shame…
They destroyed the character of this house by lightening that gorgeous original wood tone to this hideous, bland blonde color. Guess money doesn’t buy you taste.