July
2008
|
by
Art
Olson
After
four years of
intensive
work, careful
restoration,
and architecturally
sensitive
additions,
the renovation
of the house
on Avenida
Primavera
originally
built by Charles
A. Canfield
in 1910 has
finally been
completed.
Known alternately
as the Canfield-Wright
House, Wrightland,
and The Pink
Lady, this
Spanish Revival
house is listed
on the National
Register of
Historic Places,
and reflects
the rich history
of Del Mar
over the past
100 years.
Canfield,
himself, was
a seminal figure
in the evolution
of the area,
and of the early
oil industry
in California
. It is said
that the events
(but not the
personalities)
portrayed in
last year's
Oscar winning “There
will be Blood” were
largely based
upon his career,
a trajectory
from miner to
wealthy oilman.
In 1892 he drilled
the first successful
strike in Los
Angeles . Later,
Canfield helped
to persuade
the Atcheson,
Topeka and Santa
Fe Railroad
to switch from
coal- to oil-burning
locomotives.
He ultimately
invested his
wealth in real
estate, helping
to establish
both Beverly
Hills and Del
Mar. He hired
the well-known
Los Angeles
architect, John
C. Austin to
design and build
his residence
in Del Mar,
but sold it
after only a
couple of years.
The
house, bought
by the Wright
family, changed
little over
the years, with
a small addition
to the main
residence and
outbuildings
and a large
retaining wall
added later.
By the turn
of this century,
the house had
seen better
days, and had
been rented
to multiple
tenants and
painted a bright
pink – thus
becoming “The
Pink Lady” of
latter days.
In 2003 it was
purchased with
the intent of
tearing it down
and replacing
it with a more
modern structure.
A hue and cry
arose from Del
Mar citizens
seeking to preserve
a piece of the
community's
unique history.
After many heated
discussions
at City Council
and Design Review
Board meetings,
a happy fate
for the house
was in serious
doubt. At a
critical moment,
home developer
Bill Davidson,
who lived across
the street,
saved it from
the wrecking
ball by buying
the property
from the new
owner. He subsequently
presented his
own development
plans, which
were judged
to be in compliance
with historic-preservation
guidelines.
According
to Pat Towner,
the project
supervisor,
Davidson became
deeply involved
in guiding the
historically
sensitive design
of the house.
The 1910 structure
has now been
lovingly restored,
preserving both
its character
and detail,
while the new
building additions
have been placed
and integrated
to preserve
the majestic
presence of
the original
house in the
neighborhood.
Neighbors
have expressed
both pleasure
with the outcome
of the project,
and great
relief after
four years
of construction
in their midst.
Ironically,
just as the
final landscaping
touches were
being put
in place,
the house
on the adjacent
property fell
to the wrecking
machine, signaling
the start
of another
construction
project in
the neighborhood.
Which does
raise the
question – will
we ever be
satisfied
with what
we already
have?
© 2007-08
Del Mar
Community
Alliance,
Inc. All
rights reserved. |
