Oh boy! Demolition is temporarily halted for Walt Disney’s first Los Angeles home as locals fight to protect the slice of Hollywood history
A Los Angeles bungalow that was once the home of Walt Disney is temporarily being saved from demolition.
The Craftsman two-bedroom building in the Los Feliz neighborhood – Disney’s first home in the state – was due to be torn down after its current owners applied for a demolition permit.
But Ken Bernstein, the Office of Historical Resources’ manager and principal city planner told ABC that his department had taken action after the request was filed.
A Los Angeles bungalow that was once the home of Walt Disney is temporarily being saved from demolition.
The Craftsman two-bedroom building in the Los Feliz neighborhood – Disney’s first home in the state – was due to be torn down after its current owners applied for a demolition permit.
But Ken Bernstein, the Office of Historical Resources’ manager and principal city planner told ABC that his department had taken action after the request was filed.
The hold is only temporary however and Bernstein is now putting together a more complete application to have the property considered as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.
And on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Office of Historical Resources put a 75-day hold on the request.
He explained that he had initiated the hold because the property had already been identified as being ‘significant’ because of the iconic status of its previous owners.
The hold is only temporary however and Bernstein is now putting together a more complete application to have the property considered as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.
Locals have also been fighting for the property to be saved from the scrap heap.
Wilfredo Mercado of Los Feliz told ABC 7: ‘I do not think that it should be demolished. I think it’s a historical, kind of, cultural thing.’
And Dennis Zanabra said: ‘I want to fight it ’til the end … it’s just going to be another ‘McMansion.’ I don’t want that. I don’t think anyone wants that.’
His uncle charged just $5 a week for rent, which was often paid by his brother Roy, with whom he later moved with into the Olive Hill Apartments across the street, turning the bungalow into a studio. Pictured Walt and Roy Disney
They would go on to co-found one of the most established movie studios in the world as well as opening the hugely successful Disney theme parks
Disney had rented the home from his uncle in 1923 after arriving in LA from Kansas City according to the Disney Examiner, and stayed there between August and September of that year while he looked for work in Hollywood.
His uncle charged just $5 a week for rent, which was often paid by his brother Roy, with whom he later moved with into the Olive Hill Apartments across the street, turning the bungalow into a studio.
Disney began making cartoon reels for movie theaters in the property.
The brothers also rented a room in an office building nearby to their new apartment to create cartoons, which were to be the building blocks of Disney Bros. Studio, and where they created their early hit, Alice Comedies.
They would go on to co-found one of the most established movie studios in the world as well as opening the hugely successful Disney theme parks.
Bernstein expects the Cultural Heritage Commission hearing to take place in September.