LA's Only Usonian Home Faces 'Demolition by Neglect' as Preservation Efforts Stall

Key points

• The Sturges House, located in Brentwood, is the only Usonian-style home in Los Angeles, built in 1939 for $11,000.
• The Los Angeles Conservancy and Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy have placed the property on their watch list due to visible decay and structural vulnerabilities.
• Preservationists report that the carport is warped, pillars are rotting, and open gaps in the siding expose the cantilevered structure to further damage.
• Neighbors have reported seeing wild animals inside the vacant home, raising concerns about its habitability and safety.
• The All Right Now Foundation, the current owner, claims the house is well-maintained and occupied by caretakers, contradicting the preservation groups' findings.

Background

Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian homes were designed in the late 1930s as affordable, efficient housing for middle-class families, following his earlier grand masterpieces like Fallingwater. The Sturges House was commissioned by George and Selma Sturges after they read about Wright's work in Architectural Forum. It has changed hands several times since 1951, most recently being purchased by the All Right Now Foundation in 2016 to ensure its preservation. This case follows other recent controversies involving historic properties in California, such as the Tim Curry estate in Los Feliz, highlighting ongoing tensions between preservation and property management.

How outlets are covering it

The Los Angeles Conservancy and the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy emphasize the urgent need for repairs, citing visible decay and structural risks. They state that their requests for a preservation plan from the All Right Now Foundation have been ignored or rejected. In contrast, the All Right Now Foundation asserts that the house is well-maintained and occupied by full-time tenants who serve as caretakers, directly contradicting the preservation groups' claims of neglect. KTLA reports that neighbors have observed wild animals inside the home, adding to the concern over its condition.

Why it matters

The Sturges House is a unique architectural landmark in Los Angeles, representing Wright's Usonian vision of affordable, efficient design. Its potential loss due to neglect would be a significant blow to the city's architectural heritage and a reminder of the challenges in preserving historic properties. The dispute between preservationists and the current owner highlights the ongoing tension between maintaining historic integrity and managing property responsibilities.

What to watch

The Los Angeles Conservancy and the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy are likely to continue pressing the All Right Now Foundation for a preservation plan. If no action is taken, the property may face further deterioration, potentially leading to structural failure or the need for emergency intervention. The outcome of this dispute will set a precedent for the preservation of other historic properties in Los Angeles.