Completed in 1923, the Edinburgh Bungalow Court reflects early settlement patterns and the rise of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles
(adapted from the website of the Los Angeles Conservancy)
Following more than 8 years of uncertainty and demolition threats, a project to restore the Edinburgh Bungalow Court was completed in 2023.
Made up of four one-story residential buildings and one garage structure that form a U-shaped plan, each building contains two, one-bedroom apartments for a total of eight units. A shared central courtyard runs through the middle of the property.
As of March 2020, Edinburgh Bungalow Court is in safe hands. Jamie Wolf, a longtime Los Angeles Conservancy supporter, teamed up with a historic renovator from The Prop Shop to purchase it and to preserve and rehabilitate the bungalows for housing.
In 2023, landscaping was completed at the property, and it was once again opened, ready for a new generation of Angelenos to call Edinburgh Bungalow Court “home sweet home.”
This inspiring effort of community advocacy earned a Preservation Award from the L.A. Conservancy in 2023.
Built in 1923 at Edinburgh and Waring avenues in the Beverly Grove section of Los Angeles, Edinburgh Bungalow Court was designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. It is an excellent example of early twentieth century multi-family residential development. Though the architect and/or builder are unknown, the Spanish Colonial Revival property responded to the need for new housing in Los Angeles as settlement patterns pushed westward, and it reflects high quality workmanship.
Edinburgh is like so many other bungalow courts built at the time, providing simple but much-needed affordable housing. For nearly a hundred years Edinburgh has been in service, providing a home to countless residents, many of whom initially came to L.A. to get their big break in Hollywood. The one-story residential units are situated around a central courtyard, featuring a distinctive arched entryway reminiscent of the Mission Revival style. The stucco-clad buildings are distinguished by flat roofs with tile detailing, arched doorways and wood-framed windows.
The Edinburgh Bungalow Court is also closely associated with the rise of Hollywood. This type of development expanded significantly during the 1920s and 1930s to accommodate people who worked in the nearby entertainment industry.
There were many twists and turns to a Herculean effort to preserve Edinburgh over a recent five-year period, involving environmental appeals, lawsuits and settlements. The prior owners of the property had applied to demolish the bungalows and construct several red enamel multi-story rental structures on the property. Through legal intervention, an agreement to sell Edinburgh was finally reached, just as they secured a demolition permit, so it could not have been closer.
The “Save 750 Edinburgh” campaign was born in 2015. An early effort and boost came in late 2015 when the City of Los Angeles initiated a Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM) nomination for Edinburgh. It is rare for the city to step in and take a stand, especially in this case with HCM initiation from the then-director of city planning. HCM status was key in buying time, as well as keeping the bungalow court standing--demolition was imminent, with the last of the residents evicted through an Ellis Act process and the property already fenced off.
Even after HCM designation was secured in early 2016 the prior owners continued to pursue demolition as part of a small-lot subdivision plan and environmental review process that lasted through 2019. Empty and not always secured, Edinburgh quickly deteriorated from a lack of upkeep and constant squatters, making it a neighborhood nuisance and point of contention.
Time was quickly running out for the threatened Edinburgh Bungalow Court when the Los Angeles Times’ Nita Lelyveld published an article late last January titled, “Are you a fan of old L.A.’s charm? These historic bungalows need a savior.” In the eleventh hour, the story inspired a longtime Los Angeles Conservancy supporter to come to the rescue.
There are many to thank who ultimately helped in saving Edinburgh Bungalow Court. Then-Councilmember Paul Koretz and his team facilitated discussions throughout the process and brought various parties together. Architectural Resources Group completed the HCM nomination. The Cultural Heritage Commission and staff made all the difference in buying Edinburgh time.
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