Villa Riviera
Encyclopedia
Villa Riviera is a registered historic building on Ocean Boulevard in the Alamitos Beach
neighborhood of Long Beach, California
, USA. From the time of its completion in 1929 through the mid-1950s, it was the second-tallest building, and the tallest private building, in Southern California. The 16-story French Gothic building has been called the city's "most elegant landmark" and a building that "has helped define the city." The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1996 and is currently used as condominiums.
, Italianate roof garden, lounges, high-speed elevators, "vacuum-type heating," and a 100-car garage.
The Villa Riviera was originally built as a luxury residential cooperative. The 1928 promotional brochure for the building noted:
When the Villa Riviera was completed, the 447-foot high structure was the second tallest in the region—surpassed only by Los Angeles City Hall
. Until the 1950s, it remained the second-tallest building in Southern California and "the tallest private building in Southern California."
hit, and the demand for luxury cooperative apartments declined. Also, the first tenants reportedly "didn't see eye-to-eye and the building subsequently was sold and turned into an apartment-hotel."
In 1933, the high-rise Villa Riviera was shaken violently in the Long Beach Earthquake but did not sustain structural damage. A newspaper account described the reaction of the Villa Riviera occupants to the earthquake as follows:
In 1937, silent film star Norma Talmadge
and her ex-husband Joseph Schenk, president of 20th Century Fox, bought the building for $1.5 million. The Los Angeles Times reported that "the deal was one of the largest realty transactions in Southern California in several years." Talmadge lived in the penthouse for a time.
During World War II
, several U.S. Navy officers lived at the Villa Riviera. The turret-like tower atop the building was used by the Navy to spot enemy ships off the Southern California coast.
In the 1940s and early 1950s, the Villa Riviera was known as the "Home of Admirals" due to its being the home of many of the senior officers of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet. In 1955, the building was purchased by the Morris Hotel chain for $1.75 million. Within months, the new owner converted the building to its original use as a residential "own-your-own" cooperative building. Despite the conversion, the owners kept the hotel's cocktail lounge, beauty salon, coffee shop, dining room and valet service for the convenience of the cooperative residents.
The first Miss Universe Pageant was held at the Villa Riviera in 1952. Marine Corps and Navy officers acted as escorts, one for each contestant.
A newspaper feature in 1965 reported that apartments at the Villa Riviera sold "for anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000 according to size." In 1969, Long Beach residents were surprised to learn that the City had condemned the Villa Riviera as a fire hazard. After the violations were corrected, the building emerged from the condemnation in 1971.
In 1991, the building was converted to condominiums. In 1996, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
. In 2003, the Los Angeles Times called it "Long Beach's most elegant landmark," a building that "has helped define the city for nearly three-quarters of a century."
In 2007 and 2008, the Homeowners Association conducted a $4 million facelift that included restoration of certain historical elements, including replacement of six of the original gargoyles that had been removed.
Alamitos Beach, Long Beach, California
Alamitos Beach is a coastal neighborhood in the southern portion of the city of Long Beach, California.-Location:The coastal neighborhood is bounded by Junipero Avenue on the east, Shoreline Drive and Alamitos Boulevard on the west, 4th Street on the north, and Ocean Boulevard on the south...
neighborhood of Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, USA. From the time of its completion in 1929 through the mid-1950s, it was the second-tallest building, and the tallest private building, in Southern California. The 16-story French Gothic building has been called the city's "most elegant landmark" and a building that "has helped define the city." The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1996 and is currently used as condominiums.
Description and architecture
Built from 1927-1929 at a cost of $2.75 million, the Villa Riviera is a 16-story French Gothic Building. The structure is topped with a steeply pitched copper roof with a green patina. The building was designed by architect Richard King who won a grand prize at an international contest for the design that he referred to as "Tudor Gothic." The structure features fierce-looking gargoyles perched along the ridges of the higher floors. The building was also equipped with luxurious features, including a ballroomBallroom
A ballroom is a large room inside a building, the designated purpose of which is holding formal dances called balls. Traditionally, most balls were held in private residences; many mansions contain one or more ballrooms...
, Italianate roof garden, lounges, high-speed elevators, "vacuum-type heating," and a 100-car garage.
The Villa Riviera was originally built as a luxury residential cooperative. The 1928 promotional brochure for the building noted:
When the Villa Riviera was completed, the 447-foot high structure was the second tallest in the region—surpassed only by Los Angeles City Hall
Los Angeles City Hall
Los Angeles City Hall, completed 1928, is the center of the government of the city of Los Angeles, California, and houses the mayor's office and the meeting chambers and offices of the Los Angeles City Council...
. Until the 1950s, it remained the second-tallest building in Southern California and "the tallest private building in Southern California."
History
Shortly after the Villa Riviera opened, the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
hit, and the demand for luxury cooperative apartments declined. Also, the first tenants reportedly "didn't see eye-to-eye and the building subsequently was sold and turned into an apartment-hotel."
In 1933, the high-rise Villa Riviera was shaken violently in the Long Beach Earthquake but did not sustain structural damage. A newspaper account described the reaction of the Villa Riviera occupants to the earthquake as follows:
"The Villa Riviera, a 16-story apartment hotel, where most of the high ranking officers of the Navy reside, swayed violently but suffered no more than a few cracks and fallen plaster. Admiral Richard H. Leigh, commander-in-chief of the United States fleet, after rushing down the stairway with most of the other 400 occupants and out into the street, returned to his suite around midnight in disdain of the succeeding shocks, which continued through the night. George Kingreet, assistant manager of the Villa Riviera, painted a picture of the hurried exit of the naval notables when the first shock came. 'The elevator stopped and everybody rushed down the stairs and out into the street. The bellboy stuck right on the job and went through the rooms, clearing them of people.'"
In 1937, silent film star Norma Talmadge
Norma Talmadge
Norma Talmadge was an American actress and film producer of the silent era. A major box office draw for more than a decade, her career reached a peak in the early 1920s, when she ranked among the most popular idols of the American screen.Her most famous film was Smilin’ Through , but she also...
and her ex-husband Joseph Schenk, president of 20th Century Fox, bought the building for $1.5 million. The Los Angeles Times reported that "the deal was one of the largest realty transactions in Southern California in several years." Talmadge lived in the penthouse for a time.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, several U.S. Navy officers lived at the Villa Riviera. The turret-like tower atop the building was used by the Navy to spot enemy ships off the Southern California coast.
In the 1940s and early 1950s, the Villa Riviera was known as the "Home of Admirals" due to its being the home of many of the senior officers of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet. In 1955, the building was purchased by the Morris Hotel chain for $1.75 million. Within months, the new owner converted the building to its original use as a residential "own-your-own" cooperative building. Despite the conversion, the owners kept the hotel's cocktail lounge, beauty salon, coffee shop, dining room and valet service for the convenience of the cooperative residents.
The first Miss Universe Pageant was held at the Villa Riviera in 1952. Marine Corps and Navy officers acted as escorts, one for each contestant.
A newspaper feature in 1965 reported that apartments at the Villa Riviera sold "for anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000 according to size." In 1969, Long Beach residents were surprised to learn that the City had condemned the Villa Riviera as a fire hazard. After the violations were corrected, the building emerged from the condemnation in 1971.
In 1991, the building was converted to condominiums. In 1996, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. In 2003, the Los Angeles Times called it "Long Beach's most elegant landmark," a building that "has helped define the city for nearly three-quarters of a century."
In 2007 and 2008, the Homeowners Association conducted a $4 million facelift that included restoration of certain historical elements, including replacement of six of the original gargoyles that had been removed.
See also
- List of City of Long Beach Historic Landmarks
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Los Angeles County, California