Hollywood Blog

LA Conservancy - Whitley Heights

Photo by Flora Chou/L.A. Conservancy

Holly Hill Terrace Residence 

Located in one of Hollywood's most historic residential neighborhoods, plans for the development included height restrictions to guarantee that every home retained a view of the city below.  This residence is located in one of Hollywood's most historic residential neighborhoods, Whitley Heights. Whitley Heights was the last project of developer H. J. Whitley. He developed the area from 1918 to 1928 as an upper-middle-class, single-family residential neighborhood designed to resemble a Mediterranean hillside village. The concept of a hillside development was new to Los Angeles at the time, and the plans included graded roads, retaining walls, and flights of pedestrian steps. Height restrictions guaranteed that every home retained a view of the city below, and architectural design guidelines ensured that the neighborhood homes maintained the appearance of Mediterranean-style villas. This house on Holly Hill Terrace is designed in the Mediterranean style, featuring an L-shape plan that follows the unique configuration of the lot and an exterior clad in smooth-finished stucco. Over the years, this home has remained largely intact, with the exception of a two-story veranda added in 1941. The Conservancy holds an easement protecting the home's historic façade. It is one of two easements held by the Conservancy in Whitley Heights, along with a residence on Milner Road.