1610 S. 5th Street

One of Alhambra's earliest homes, this 1906 farmhouse has been approved for demolition to build what the City of Alhambra's Design Review Board called "one big box."

1610 S. 5th Street

This perfectly preserved 1921 colonial bungalow in the historic Ramona Park area was recently sold to an out-of-towner who wants to raze it to build two large cookie-cutter homes on this modest lot. The proposed development even garnered a comment from the Alhambra Design Review Board calling it "a big box."

As with many of these types of neighborhood-destroying developments, the home sits on one of the last remaining greenspots on the block (as seen in this aerial photograph) which has already suffered tremendously from uncontrolled multi-unit development.

822 Monterey Street

One of the earliest homes still standing in Alhambra, this 1904 transitional Victorian/Craftsman will become a casualty of ''demolition through neglect."

The development plans call for for multi-unit apartments to be built on this narrow but deep lot that butts up to the Alhambra wash. Most likely these new structures will have very little, if any, permeable surface and because of the downward slope toward the wash, can potentially drain harmful urban runoff into the waterway. The [over]development of this block will has turned this parcel into the last open space as seen in this aerial photo.

Click here for photos of the home's details and interior.

1617 S. Sixth Street

A modest 1923 bungalow with a wood, tongue-and-groove front porch and generous greenspace will be torn down to make way for a much larger home. Already, the large palm tree that provided shade to the front yard is now gone and the dreaded perimeter fence has been put up.

UPDATE: The home is history and the new construction can be seen by rolling over the image at left.

208 W. Palmetto Drive

This vintage, 1915 two-story "Airplane Bungalow" is in near perfect condition and is scheduled to be razed to build an 8-unit apartment complex by an investment group. Because the area is zoned R-3, and is surrounded by apartments, it looks as though it's fate is sealed.

As if destroying a near perfect condition historic home wasn't enough, it looks like this property — one of the last vestiges of green space on this block (seen in this aerial photograph) will soon be history. Alhambra's dwindling green canopy and open space is a growing concern among many residents who find that over-development has created negative aesthetic and unhealthy environment.

Click here for current status

404 S. Fourth Street

The owner wants to tear down this 1907 bungalow, which is located on a block with many other bungalows of the same vintage, and replace it with a large 2-story residence (5 or 6 bedrooms) and attached 3-car garage. The proposed design is another "monster-box"-- big and ugly--and seriously out of character with the neighborhood.

When the proposed demolition came before the City of Alhambra Design Review Board, APG members gave a presentation on other communities who have chosen to restore and/or rehabilitate similar styled homes and thereby increase the overall value of the neighborhood.

Rollover the image to see what this home could be with a little care such as removing the window security bars, a paint job, and perhaps mowing the lawn.

ROLL MOUSE OVER IMAGE

1906 Foursquare Craftsman; 1515 S. Marengo

This home, originally constructed as a single-family residence, had been converted into a 3-unit apartment in recent years. It is recognizably an Arts & Crafts structure, with four columns framing a generous front porch, and many original windows.

An application for the construction of two single-family residences on the lot was approved by the Alhambra Design Review Board which calls for the razing of this nearly 100-year old home.

Click here for current status

1914 Bungalow; 315 S. Fourth Street

The owners are applying for a total demolition of this 1914 Craftsman bungalow to build a new, completely out of place, 2-story 2,600 square foot home.

To view other homes in the area and how this project will impact the neighborhood, read more...

Former Home of Mayor Talmadge Burke to Make Way for Car Dealership

Two homes, one a tudor-style cottage and the other a turn of the century transitional Victorian appear to have a destiny with the Alhambra bulldozer.

The property belonged to former (now deceased) Mayor Talmage Burke which, according to his will, was to be razed only after his death which occurred in March of 2004. These homes are to make room for the new BMW Auto Dealership which is moving from their present location of Main Street and Huntington Drive, to Main Street and Atlantic Avenue.

The Stong House (1906)

The Henry Stong house was located on north Granada Street just before the Alhambra/San Marino border and sat vacant for sometime eventually becoming a casualty of ''demolition through neglect."

This home was prominently featured in many early Alhambra booster brochures, post cards and other publications, and several photos of this home that were taken shortly after it was built are still featured at the Los Angeles Public Library's online historical archives.

UPDATE: The home was razed in late 2005. Photographs of the interior were taken shortly before its destruction.

4th Street Grouping of 1909-1920's Homes

The City of Alhambra's relentless march of turning quiet, single-family streets into traffic-clogged commercial strips continues with the proposed plans of razing 3 early 20th-Century homes (shown at left) to make way for the construction of a senior citizen complex.

Despite having several several Arts and Crafts bungalows and quaint wooden cottages surrounding these homes, a steady encroachment upon the residents is making its way northward with the lower third quarter already blighted with condos, apartments and other out-of-place monoliths.

Click here for current status