By Neal J. Leitereg and Jack Flemming / Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — In Beverly Crest, a prime piece of land branded as the Mountain just got an avalanche of a price cut. After listing for sale last summer at $1 billion, the property is now offered for about one-third less: $650 million.
Real estate experts tout the property as the finest undeveloped parcel in Los Angeles — and perhaps deservedly so. At 157 acres, it’s about twice the size of Disneyland. It reigns over the city at Beverly Hills’ highest point, soaking in panoramic views from downtown LA to the Pacific Ocean to Catalina Island.
The price chop follows reports of a back-and-forth negotiation last month in which Malibu developer Scott Gillen offered $400 million and the seller, Secure Capital Partners, countered with $600 million.
The deal fizzled out from there, but Gillen’s offer was never seriously considered, according to people who wished to remain anonymous because they aren’t authorized to comment on the deal.
The Mountain, which counts entertainer Merv Griffin and an Iranian royal among its former owners, is divided into 17 parcels, six of which are zoned for residential development.
The plots could potentially hold a hyperexclusive enclave of high-end homes, but listing agent Aaron Kirman previously told the Los Angeles Times that he envisions a single buyer looking to erect a private kingdom.
Jeri Ryan, known for her role as Seven of Nine on the television show “Star Trek: Voyager,” has bought a newly built home in Toluca Lake for $3.25 million.
Tucked behind black fencing, the contemporary farmhouse-style home has 6,300 square feet of crisp white interior paired with wide-plank wood floors.
The dining room features a pair of gold-hued wine walls that bookend a floor-to-ceiling fireplace. The chef’s kitchen, which has a pantry and wide island, opens to the family room. Tiered recliners fill the subdued home theater.
Six bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms include a multi-room master suite. There’s also an office.
Since the “Voyager” finale in 2001, Ryan has stayed busy with television roles on “Shark,” “Leverage” and “Body of Proof.” More recently, she appeared as Veronica Allen on the Amazon detective show “Bosch.”
In remote Nevada, a 3,000-acre cattle ranch once owned by Bing Crosby is up for sale at $7.28 million.
Known as Lawson Ranch, it’s one of seven properties Crosby owned in the town of Elko. The “White Christmas” singer took a liking to the place in the 1940s and used it as a getaway from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.
Local lore says he’d retreat to the ranch to hunt and fish and sometimes stop by the drugstore for a milkshake. He became such a presence that the city named him honorary mayor in 1948.
The ranch holds a 5,000-square-foot home, three guesthouses, a private airstrip, airplane hangar, two barns and a repair shop.
Grass and ponds fill out the flat terrain, and sometimes snow-capped mountains decorate the horizon.
Set up as a fully functioning cattle ranch, the property also includes roughly 600 head of Angus beef cattle.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
