To paraphrase Shakespeare, two houses were “not so alike in dignity” at the Jan. 26 Beverly Hills City Council Formal Meeting. One of those houses, at 1033 Woodland Drive, was enthusiastically granted Local Historic Landmark status by the Council. The Hollywood Regency-style house designed by architect John Elgin Woolf was formerly inhabited by Hollywood titan and “The Godfather” producer Robert Evans. In the other matter, the Council unanimously denied an appeal of a lot line adjustment decision for a property in Trousdale Estates. The Council found that the desired adjustment, which would have created a lot that fell in both Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, violated the city’s General Plan. The Council also passed an urgency ordinance prohibiting lot line adjustments across city boundaries.
“Having served on the Planning Commission and on the Council all these years, I would have to say that this is probably the most iconic property and awe-inspiring property that I’ve seen in our community, and I really do want to thank the owner for agreeing to and committing to restoring it to its original splendor,” said Councilmember Lili Bosse in casting her vote to grant historic status to the Woodland home.
