El Greco Apartments
historic place
The El Greco Apartments, a historic place in Los Angeles County, was built in 1929. This twelve-unit building, designed in the Spanish Revival style, was originally located in Westwood Village. Architect Clara Bertram Humphrey modeled it after the home of the artist El Greco in Toledo, Spain. The El Greco Apartments influenced the architectural style of early Westwood Village. It also served as home to film celebrities such as Erich von Stroheim, Michael Curtiz, and Joel McCrea. In the 1980s, the building faced demolition. However, in February 1980, it was declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. To save it, the entire structure was carefully divided and moved in September 1985 to its current site in the Fairfax district. The relocated El Greco Apartments opened in December 1986 as housing for senior citizens. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in November 1988. The El Greco Apartments is significant for its architectural style, its association with early Hollywood, and its unique physical relocation for preservation.