City Council Agrees to Buy Historic ‘Stone House’

One of the few remaining homes in Sun Valley made of river rock, a building material commonly used in the northeast San Fernando Valley decades ago, will be purchased by the city of Los Angeles for use as a cultural arts center.

The City Council recently agreed to buy the “Stone House” on Sunland Boulevard and move forward on a plan to convert it into a place where people can display their work and cultivate an appreciation for the arts.

“Sun Valley has very limited cultural sites,” said Councilman Richard Alarcon, in whose district the house is located. “This will add a little bit to the documentation of the cultural history of the San Fernando Valley.”

The Craftsman-style house was designated a historical monument in December after the owners, Gene and Paula Andro, sought to demolish the structure and redevelop the land.

The city will pay the owners about $130,000 for the home, and will take about two years to renovate and landscape the property.

The house, which was built in 1925 for a turkey rancher, is on a dirt lot behind a chain-link fence. City officials said the renovation will include creating a garden setting on the grounds, where the city’s Cultural Affairs Department can host outdoor events, art classes and exhibits.

Because funding is not yet available and in an effort to accommodate the owners, the Community Redevelopment Agency will put up the money for the purchase. The agency will be reimbursed when funding is available.