When Ya Wish upon a House - Page 2

"If it didn't have the conservation easement, we know that the house would probably be torn down," he admitted. He referred to rights held by Pasadena Heritage to prevent piecemeal sale, destruction, or drastic modification of the furniture, floorings, and entire house, except for a carport added in 1962 when the garage was converted to a bedroom. "It's a very interesting easement, and it's a wonderful thing to have."

Predictably, the result is an impeccably preserved MCM home in the lovely, forested Verdugo Hills.

"With the exception of the kitchen and bathrooms, it is in original condition, with all that warm redwood throughout," Berkley said, adding that a Mills Act tax status valuing the house at $226,000 also "provides the buyer [incentive] to work on the house and not spend all their money paying taxes." He said at least one of the three fireplaces needs some work before it would be safe to use, but "all of the systems seem to work," down to the wood-framed sliding-glass doors.

"They all work. [In] my home, not so much," Berkley said sheepishly, noting that he himself lives in a 1951 home designed by Criley.

The realtor said the house's condition impressed several preservation experts who toured it last week. One was Cindy Heitzman, executive director of the California Preservation Foundation, whom he said was "absolutely blown away."

When asked why the house is worth more than $3 million and a dozen times more than its tax valuation, the agent cited its fame and two other factors.

"Number one, it's in La Canada. The other thing is the size of the house and the lot," he said of the 1.77-acre parcel. Nevertheless, he confessed, because of the conservation easement restrictions, "This is not going to be one of those easy sales."

Berkley related that two agents arriving for a brokers tour left immediately upon hearing of the easement. The former architectural history student is tasked with selling the Animator's House, but couldn't hide his feelings about the rejection: "Quite frankly, nothing makes me happier than that I [mentioned the easement] and that they did that."

For more on the Animator's House listing, click here.