Buyers don’t want old ‘gem’ homes

Re: “Big names on the block,” Sept. 27:

I am an architect at a firm working on large residential projects in Los Angeles. I am a fan of the rich heritage of residential architecture in Los Angeles, but properties like the ones discussed are of no interest to typical clients I meet.

At the high end of the market, older houses do not offer the amenities that today’s buyer desires. Many of these houses have tiny kitchens and few useful rooms, and are a challenge to add on to or renovate without incurring high costs and controversy within the community.

The “gem” houses are often priced based on location alone and therefore do not compare well with other options on the market. Very often after looking extensively at historic or classic L.A. properties, the client will build a new house.

Andrew Tullis

Santa Monica