Hot Lava in Burbank! A salute to SFV architectural kitsch

(Cue B-52s "Hot Lava" song) I viewed this listing at 338 N. Griffith Park, Burbank earlier this week.  It has lots and lots of exterior and interior lava rock accents and is a wonderful example of whimsical San Fernando Valley architectural style.  The rocks have been used both outside in the wainscoting and inside at the fireplace.  I suspect the owners added these to this 1940’s home in the 1960’s after seeing "Hawaii" with Julie Andrews. Do you know anybody that loves bungalows decorated with volcanic rock? I know; me neither. But if you meet anybody, here’s the deal.  Although it is listed as a 3+2, it’s really a 2+2 (3^rd bedroom is now an open den); square feet: 1289, redone and expanded kitchen with tile, not granite; new green carpet, sports bar-style patio, and terrific mid-Burbank location.  The price is $509,905 which may be a tad rich, but what do I know?  Now, if you could only turn this house into a tiki bar…

FLIP, uh, I mean FORECLOSE This House

I just showed this house at 2219 N. Brighton in Burbank. It's a "3" bedroom (although 1 bed is converted from 1/2 the garage), 1.75 bath, 1280 sf, foreclosure listed at $519,900. It has been largely, but not completely, remodeled, although the floor plan is not good. It also looks as though the flipper/owners/walkaway-ers may have run out of money before they finished this. You can just tell that the owners thought they'd buy an inexpensive house, flip it, and make a killing. But they forgot one very important element of successful flipping: location, location, location. This poor house is located at the confluence of San Fernando, the 5 Fwy, the train tracks, and the airport, plus there's a liquour store one house away. It's hard to imagine a worse location. Seriously, this is a text-book case of what NOT to do to make money in real estate. I predict this house will sell in the high $300's.

More Animal Architecture, Cows This Time

Here's yet more animal architecture in the neighborhood! Here's a cow downspout. And not just any cow downspout, but a singing, guitar playing cow downspout. Look closely and you'll see that udders make a perfect rest for a guitar. If all this isn't enough, there are five of these downspouts running along this building at Cahuenga and Chandler.

Just in Time for Halloween: a Monster (-Sized) House!

It's a Walmart!...It's an apartment building!...no, it's the side and front views of a single family home being built smack in the middle of a residential street in Burbank. How did something this big make it past Burbank City's Planning Department or the permitting people? And what's become of our vaunted anti-mansionization laws? How'd the builder manage to encroach on the neighbor's property? Are Burbank lots subdividable after all? If you know the answers to any of these questions, please blog back.

Smokey the Burbank Bear

Among Burbank's other distinctive architecture: here's a picture of a bear statute in front of a house on Tufts. The house is very nice and very lodge-y; kudos go to the owners for anti-suburbia style. Plus, I'll bet the bear keeps the local deer from eating the plants!