A zone variance was also necessary for the “witch’s cap” feature, which was over the height limit prescribed by the city code. The intrusion of a bay window into the required side yard also had to obtain a zone variance. Given the size of the building, the move of the house would only be possible if it was divided into four basic pieces, with the witch’s cap removed from the roof. On August 10, 1983, the first section of this historic residence began its amazing journey from Los Angeles to Manhattan Beach. The transport of the four pieces took 12 days (though originally estimated for two.) They encountered many delays. First, the house wouldn’t fit under power lines and overpasses. While parked along the route, vandals smashed windows, and an unexpected rain shower damaged plaster on the interior walls. At the time, homeowner Christine expressed, “The difficulties seemed insurmountable.” But it did make it. And once permanently placed on the property, the newly assembled residence was required to meet the 26-foot height limitation in the code, with the exception of the wonderful witch’s cap. With walls higher than eight feet tall, the city required wood slats nailed between the studs to slow a possible fire from spreading. All windows and doors had to be reinforced. The exterior wood shingles were completely replaced, and the front gable detailing once again represented its original grandeur. Once the home was reassembled, it was time for the family to bring the structure back to life and restore the historic integrity of the interior. The house was turned into apartments after the original owners lost it to the bank, so the layout had been altered significantly. During the restoration, one of the many surprises was the discovery of a boarded-up back staircase that was now accessible. With the help of interior designer Mandi Villari, Bud and Christine restored decorative elements, including the foyer’s elegant, lace-like brackets, rich wood paneling, lead glass windows and pocket sliding doors. Years of paint needed to be removed from the built-in sideboards and cabinets. In the end, the Ball family succeeded in creating a true Victorian showpiece. Over the last 100 years, our community has witnessed dramatic architectural evolution. In the early days, it was not uncommon to have buildings moved from one town to another, though that trend seems to have declined in recent years. Luckily, the Bells knew there was more to be gained by selective preservation than merely getting rid of the old to make way for the new. •
The Manhattan Beach Cultural Heritage Conservancy is extremely pleased to see the Bell family being so proactive in the appreciation of the importance of historical, architectural restoration. Not all old buildings qualify for preservation. However, the Conservancy has been diligently working for approximately six years to make residents aware of how important it is to retain the architecture that will qualify as a historical link to the past. It is through preservation that future generations will be given the opportunity to understand and visualize the development of their community.
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southbay HOME I 2013