South Arroyo Pasadena Spotlight on Unique and Beautiful Attractions

South Arroyo's Desiderio Neighborhood Park with fields of Spring California Poppies under The Colorado Bridge. (Image Courtesy of David Clark)
South Arroyo's Desiderio Park (Image Courtesy of David Clark)

Nestled between South Pasadena, Eagle Rock , and Highland Park resides the 91105 zip code of Pasadena’s South Arroyo neighborhood. This 3.7 square mile area contains approximately 6,543 South Arroyo homes, 13,544 people, and some of the quietest park-like streets in California. Welcome to South Arroyo Pasadena spotlight on unique and beautiful attractions. I will introduce you to Pasadena’s South Arroyo neighborhood, Pasadena’s South Arroyo community. Along with South Arroyo Pasadena architecture, and South Arroyo’s unique attractions.

The Dr Milbank Johnson House, by renowned architect Wallace Neff, is a prime example of the California Renaissance of the 1920's. (Photo Courtesy of David Clark)
The Dr. Milbank Johnson House, by renowned architect Wallace Neff. (Photo Courtesy of David Clark)
South Arroyo Estate With long driveway with an arch of green trees leading up to its entrance. ( Image courtesy of David Clark)
South Arroyo Estate With an arch of green trees leading up to its entrance. ( Image courtesy of David Clark)

Welcome to South Arroyo Pasadena architecture like you haven’t seen before. These grand estate entrances are located in Pasadena’s South Arroyo neighborhood. Pasadena’s South Arroyo community has homes steeped in history with carefully sculpted mature landscaping. South Arroyo Pasadena architecture is a haven of refinement and well-preserved historical and significant homes.

South Arroyo Estate with floral wreaths on the wrought iron gate. (Image courtesy of David Clark)
South Arroyo Estate with floral wreaths on the wrought iron gate. (Image courtesy of David Clark)
Outside a South Arroyo Pasadena Estate with cobblestone driveway and wrought iron gate entrance. (Image courtesy of David Clark)
South Arroyo Pasadena Estate with cobblestone driveway and wrought iron gate entrance. (Image courtesy of David Clark)

According to the City of Pasadena, there are 9 driving and walking tours to view in Pasadena’s South Arroyo Neighborhood. The tour features the work of architects who were leaders in the development of Modern design such as Richard Neutra, Harwell Hamilton Harris, and John Lautner, as well as the prominent local firm of Buff & Hensman (some with their early partner Calvin Straub), one of the influential Case Study Program houses, and a rare example of an experimental design by renowned architect Wallace Neff in Pasadena’s South Arroyo community. These homes are all South Arroyo’s unique attractions.

Outside view looking up at the midcentury post-and-beam by architect Calvin Straub 1957 in the south arroyo Pasadena
A midcentury post-and-beam by architect Calvin Straub 1957. (Image Courtesy of David Clark)

South Arroyo Pasadena Architecture

South Arroyo Pasadena architecture contains residences that include early examples from the 1930s as well as from the post-WWII building boom in Southern California – expressing the era’s new sensibilities about structure, materials, and open plans, with efficient designs to meet family needs and tight budgets, while celebrating their connection to the Southern California setting. Much of  Pasadena’s South Arroyo community was already built up by the middle of the 20th century, and the development of challenging sites such as hillsides provided dramatic settings for some of these outstanding examples of International and Modern style homes.

Mid-Century Modern Driving and Walking Tour (Image Courtesy Of The City Of Pasadena)
Mid-Century Modern Driving and Walking Tour (Image Courtesy Of The City Of Pasadena)

South Arroyo Pasadena Architecture

1.  Schonbach House, 701 Linda Vista Avenue (Link)
Built in 1948, this post-and-beam Modern house designed by Leland Evison makes excellent use of its siting.

2.  Kubly House, 215 La Vereda Road (Link)
A 1965 home designed in the International style by Craig Ellwood & Associates, who also designed the Art Center College of Design building at 1700 Lida Street.

3.  John Kelsey Residence, 1160 Chateau Road (Link)
Located on a winding road, this 1962 Mid-Century Modern Style house was designed by John F. Kelsey for his own family.

4.  Bea House #2, 145 Patrician Way (Link)
This 1956 Mid-Century Modern Style home featuring post-and-beam construction and extensive glazing was designed by Buff & Hensman.

5.  Rose House, 222 Cherry Drive (Link)
Designed by Richard Rose, this International /Modern style house was built in 1964.

Wirick House designed by Calvin Straub (Image Courtesy of Themls)
Wirick House designed by Calvin Straub (Image Courtesy of Themls)
Wirick House designed by Calvin Straub (Image Courtesy of Themls)
Wirick House designed by Calvin Straub (Image Courtesy of Themls)

South Arroyo Pasadena Architecture

6.  1444 Poppy Peak Drive (Link)
This 1936 minimalist Modern Ranch house by Harwell Hamilton Harris was moved to the current location in 1951 and re-sited by architect Leland Evison.

7.  1525 Poppy Peak Drive Link)
Designed in 1957 by Kenneth Nishimoto for family members, this house is in the Mid-Century Modern style, with Japanese influences.

8.  Constance M. Perkins House, 1540 Poppy Peak Drive (Link)
Designed by Richard Neutra, this 1955 International/Modern style house and studio utilizes his signature “spider leg” extensions of its structural members. It was the first house designed as a Historic Treasure (now called Historic Monument) by the City of Pasadena.

9.  Wirick House, 1617 Pleasant Way (Link)
Considered one of the definitive works of Buff, Straub & Hensman, this 1958 post-and-beam house is in the Mid-Century Modern style.

10.  Graham Laing House, 1642 Pleasant Way (Link)
The 1935 Laing House by Harwell Hamilton Harris is a classic example of early Modernism, and has been called “simplified Wright”.

John Kelsey Residence, 1160 Chateau Road (Image Courtesy Of TheMls)
John Kelsey Residence (Image Courtesy Of TheMls)
John Kelsey Residence, 1160 Chateau Road (Image Courtesy Of TheMls)
John Kelsey Residence (Image Courtesy Of TheMls)

South Arroyo Pasadena Architecture

11.  Norton House, 820 Burleigh Drive (Link)
This post-and-beam house in the Mid-Century Modern style was designed by Buff & Hensman in 1954.

12.  Dahlstrom House, 780 Laguna Road (Link)
A 1949 design by John Lautner in the International/Modern style.  This is the only house in Pasadena by John Lautner, whose iconic floating octagonal “Chemosphere” house in Silverlake is one of the most recognized houses from the mid-century modern period.

13.  Puelicher House, 901 Laguna Road (Link)
This International/Modern style house designed by Boyd Georgi in 1960 floats above the stream that parallels Laguna Road.

14.  810 Hillside Terrace (Link)
This 1954 California Modern house with Japanese influences was designed by Harry Sims Bent and features unique Japanese-influenced concrete screens and a carved wood front door.

Kubly House (Image Courtesy of TheCrmls)
Kubly House (Image Courtesy of TheCrmls)

South Arroyo Pasadena Architecture

15.  Case Study House #10, 711 S. San Rafael Avenue (Link)
One of the earliest “Case Study House Program” projects sponsored by Arts  & Architecture magazine utilizing prominent new architects to explore post-WW II housing solutions using new materials to meet the needs of the average family, this is a 1947 International/Modern design by Kemper Nomland and Kemper Nomland, Jr.

16.  Dubnoff House, 1150 La Loma Road (Link)
This unique post-and-beam design by the firm of Buff, Straub & Hensman was built in 1960.

17.  Smith House, 1175 La Loma Road (Link)
This Mid-Century Modern style house was designed in 1961 by Dennis Smith, who later joined the Buff & Hensman firm.

18.  1035 Lagunita Road (Link)
This 1958 International/Modern style house includes Aztec detailing at the garage wing.

19.  Frank House, 919 La Loma Road (Link)
This 1957 post-and-beam design by Buff, Straub & Hensman is in Mid-Century Modern style.

San Rafael Bridge Pasadena (Image Courtesy of David Clark)
San Rafael Bridge Pasadena (Image Courtesy of David Clark)

South Arroyo's Unique Attractions

South Arroyo Pasadena architecture is complimented by the southernmost of the Pasadena Arroyo Seco bridges in Pasadena’s South Arroyo Neighborhood is the San Rafael Bridge. This ornate and historical bridge in Pasadena’s South Arroyo community was constructed in 1914. The San Rafael Bridge is an open-spandrel concrete arch bridge that is open to pedestrians and automobile traffic. The bridge played an important role in the development of San Rafael Heights, and Pasadena’s South Arroyo neighborhoods, and is now one of South Arroyo’s unique attractions.

La Loma Bridge in the South Arroyo of Pasadena California. (Image Courtesy of David Clark)

South Arroyo's Unique Attractions

La Loma Bridge has been called the “little sister” of it, and for the first several years of their existence, the two bridges were the only crossings of the Arroyo Seco in Pasadena.

The La Loma Bridge played a significant role in the development of Pasadena west of the Arroyo, particularly in the San Rafael Heights area, which Pasadena annexed at the same time it constructed the bridge. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 14, 2004.

Some of our twenty Native California Oak trees abound in this region with some of the best local hiking right inside Pasadena’s South Arroyo neighborhood. These remarkable oak trees are some of South Arroyo’s unique attractions.

Pasadena's South Arroyo Neighborhood Looking Out Over The Arroyo Towards South Pasadena Through A California Scrub Oak. (Image Courtesy of David Clark)
South Arroyo Neighborhood Looking Towards South Pasadena Through A California Scrub Oak. (Image Courtesy of David Clark)

South Arroyo's Unique Attractions

Little Flower, located at 1422 W Colorado Blvd in Pasadena’s South Arroyo neighborhood is a tiny café and candy kitchen on the edge of the 91105. Their motto is “It’s where we gather to prepare and eat fresh delicious food, drink strong coffee, listen to great music and surround yourself with art, neighbors, friends and community. Little Flower is a great place to meet a friend or make a new one. I certainly can attest to meeting new friends here and enjoying their strong coffee and incredible food!

The view outside South Arroyo's Little Flower Restaurant and Retail Market (Image Courtesy of David Clark)
South Arroyo's Little Flower Restaurant and Retail Market (Image Courtesy of David Clark)

In Pasadena’s South Arroyo neighborhood are stairs near the San Rafael Bridge that are also noteworthy. They once led to Busch Gardens, the personal gardens of Adolphus Busch, co-founder of Anheuser-Busch. Busch Gardens was open to the public in 1906 and closed in 1938. It was a major South Arroyo unique attraction for many years.

South Arroyo Pasadena Staircase Trails (Image Courtesy of David Clark)
South Arroyo Pasadena Staircase Trails (Image Courtesy of David Clark)
South Arroyo Pasadena Staircase Trails (Image Courtesy of David Clark)
South Arroyo Pasadena Staircase Trails (Image Courtesy of David Clark)

Pasadena's South Arroyo Neighborhood

The Lower Arroyo is the southernmost section of the Arroyo Seco within Pasadena city limits. This area extends from the renowned Colorado Street Bridge 1.5 miles south, which borders South Pasadena. Pasadena has officially designated this area a nature preserve, the only one in Pasadena. The Lower Arroyo is a wonderful place to take a walk and enjoy nature. The Arroyo flows between steep canyon walls in this stretch and is predominately open, wild, natural, and lush with habitat. Like most of the urban Arroyo Seco, the river in this area is contained within a massive concrete channel that was constructed by the Los Angeles County Flood Control District soon after World War II. Up the steep Arroyo slopes and out of the natural setting of the river are streets lined with spacious, single-family homes, many of them in the historic Craftsman style. Although this area is home to a wide variety of popular recreation, it is primarily “passive” or nature-based recreation. 

Glen Summer Landmark District in Pasadena's South Arroyo (Image Courtesy of David Clark)
Glen Summer Landmark District in Pasadena's South Arroyo (Image Courtesy of David Clark)

Pasadena's South Arroyo Neighborhood

The question that I often get asked on property tours with our clients is, “What is a landmark district?”

For Pasadena:

  • Significant concentration of sites, buildings, structures, or objects united historically or aesthetically by plan or physical development.
  • Unified representation of a defined aspect of Pasadena’s history
  • Individual properties may not be historically significant on their own, but grouping as a whole is historically significant.

There are 59 properties in the Glen Summer Landmark District in Pasadena’s South Arroyo community which include:

  • Single-Family Residential Buildings
  • Period of Significance: 1927-1941
  • Represents period revival architecture
  • Large concentration in the Spanish Colonial Revival style
  • Smaller concentration of English Cottage Revival and Colonial Revival styles

The incentives that come with this designation are:

  • California Historical Building Code
  • 2-car covered parking waiver
  • Mills Act eligible (“Historical Property Contract”)
  • Effect on property values

Studies have shown property values in historic districts rise at a faster rate than similar properties outside of districts.

San Rafael Bridge Through The Oak Trees In The South Arroyo (Image Courtesy of David Clark)
San Rafael Bridge Through The Oak Trees In The South Arroyo (Image Courtesy of David Clark)

Pasadena’s South Arroyo Real Estate Market

As a full-time real estate advisor 7 days a week, I interpret the market and negotiate hard for you. I am privileged to build relationships within this community and look forward to helping you buy or list your next home.

 

NOVEMBER 1ST 2023

 

Currently there are 13 single family homes available for sale from $1,2mil-$6.5mil

Currently there are 10 condominiums available for sale from $749k-$1.395mil

David Clark Real Estate Advisor with The Shelhamer Group. Hurry California's Spectacular Dream For All Program Is Here, Dream For All Program, Down Payment Assistance, First Time Home Buyers, CalHFA Dream For All Loan

South Arroyo Real Estate Agent

A Californian born here in Los Angeles, David has spent his whole life in California. As a top graduate of the AACSB internationally accredited California State University of Los Angeles School of Business and Economics, he has accelerated his career as a residential real estate advisor combining his passion for California history, writing, architectural preservation, and extensive sales background. 

David is a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) holding certifications in Probate and Trust Sales and Accessory Dwelling Units. His marketing and negotiation skills, joined with community outreach have helped him build a solid reputation with his clients.

 

When David isn’t listing or selling some of California’s finest homes, he turns his focus to early 20th Century California antiques and collectibles. His e-commerce business Golden State Decor on Etsy celebrates the rich history of the Golden State with one-of-a-kind procured items while contributing directly to the California Conservation Corps Foundation.