Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Home Shopping in History: the Stocks Home

North Los Robles Avenue has its imperfections. It's a broad, busy street. With direct access to the police station downtown, it serves as an artery for ambulances, fire engines and police cars, all of which use sirens. And let's admit it: when you live on north Los Robles, you live on the border of a troubled section of northwest Pasadena.

But take another look at Los Robles. The shady stretch between Washington Blvd. and Woodbury Avenue teems with historic homes. The Stocks home, so historic it's featured by Pasadena Heritage, is for sale. There are actually three homes on the property, all visible from the street. I couldn't see the pool without trespassing, though, and you know I'm a law-abiding citizen.

Oh yes I am! Don't start. Go harass the Altadenahiker.

What was I saying? Oh yes. They have a nice slide show about this house over at Pasadena Heritage, so go take a look. My favorite part is the porch. I pass this house regularly, and I drool over that porch. Not literally. It's set back a bit too far from the road.

14 comments:

John Sandel said...

Just posting here t start your day off happily. You are incredible. My favorite person. Ever.

Nice photo, too.

Shell Sherree said...

{Awww ~ that is so sweet!}

Petrea, I can't imagine you doing anything naughty, including drooling on someone else's porch. It is a nice porch, though.

Laurie Allee said...

We considered homes here, and in Bungalow Heaven, when we first started looking to buy in this area. I love some of the grand Craftsman homes on Los Robles.

Virginia said...

Looks like it could easily be located in a sleepy southern town. I'd drool over that porch myself!
V

Katie said...

Stunning home and fabulous porch. I could see spending many hours on that porch with an iced tea in hand watching the world come and go. I'd need a porch swing though.

Petrea Burchard said...

J: As long as I start my day next to you, every day starts happily.

Shell, I've probably drooled on other peoples' porches, but hopefully no one noticed.

Laurie, you and I have a love of the local, don't we? I wouldn't say we're the same but our different loves cover the same generalities. I'm not saying it well but I mean it anyway.

Virginia, that's the thing. I think Pasadena is a sleepy southern town in ways. You and I could go on and on about this. Katie will join us, we'll sit on a big porch somewhere with our mint juleps or whatever, and babble about it.

Gee I would just adore that.

HearkenCreative said...

Yes, we also considered the area, and then found the Historic Highlands area instead -- right across Lake Avenue from these houses. Fewer bars on windows, fewer sirens. But I still love driving up Los Robles and Marengo, and looking at the beautiful old houses. And some of these neighborhoods have improved significantly from a decade ago when we were house shopping...

Three structures on the lot? That has to be a huge lot! I noticed in the Star News this morning that the city is revisiting the possibility of opening up lots smaller than 15,000 square feet to building second structures ("granny flats," mother-in-law cottages) on the property to bring down high housing prices in Pasadena for low-income residents. But three houses on one lot? Neato. I'd have my whole extended family come and live with us...

Anonymous said...

come over to the dark side, Petrea. We're waiting for you. mwaaa-ha-ha-ha.

Hope you're totally functional again. If the machine still isn't working, compost it.

Margaret said...

Petrea, don't listen to AH. Stay in the light. Walk to the light.

Pascal Jim said...

North Los Robles at one time was populated by the movers and shakers of early Pasadena. This was elite territory, served by a trolley line from "downtown", end of the line at Woodbury Rd.
The Stocks must have enjoyed this beautiful home complex...

Petrea Burchard said...

It seems the Stocks have been the only family ever to own this property. It was built in 1907 and is for sale for the first time.

As for being computer-operational, nope. We hooked up the mini today and something's not right. It's either the dongle or the mini, both of which we've tried with two different monitors. The mini fires up, but no picture. It's looking like it's the dongle, which I'll return today. If it's not the dongle, we have to return the mini and I'll hook up the PC again while I wait for another new Mac. Ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh. I'm on the dark side already. I'm such an addict.

Vanda said...

It's not really trespassing if the house is for sale. You would be doing research. /wink.

Christie said...

Oksy, I do love the stone on the front. So lovely!

Petrea Burchard said...

Right, Vanda, right. Especially on side streets.

Christie, I haven't forgotten your Victorian monstrosity. I will get one for you one of these days.