The public is invited to join the Long Beach Redevlopment Agency, Wilmore City Heritage Association and Councilmember Bonnie Lowenthal in celebrating the restoration of the historic home at 419 Daisy Avenue today, at 3:30pm.
The home was moved to its current location in 2006 in order to make room for Chavez Elementary School. The four-bedroom, two-bathroom house was purchased and restored by the WCHA, which used old photographs provided by the owners to accurately rebuild the property.
“This home is a symbol of our vision for the future with a respect for our historic past,” said Councilmember Bonnie Lowenthal, in whose First Council District the home is located. “When Chavez Elementary School was built, it was to serve the new burgeoning population in this area; by relocating this historic home from that area, we are saving an important part of our past. Both can co-exist.”
After a more than $420,000 renovation that updated the house with environmentally friendly Marmoleum kitchen flooring and hardwood throughout, as well as a tankless water heater, the house will be placed on the market for $595,000. It was relocated to Daisy on two formerly vacant lots, and is credited with improving a blighted neighborhood.
“The preservation of this house has enabled us to retain a beautiful example of one of the City’s oldest architectural styles,” said Cheryl Perry, President of the Willmore City Heritage Association. “It has improved the neighborhood by filling two blighted lots on the block, and I believe it has encouraged preservation on a broader scale throughout the City.”
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor