Storybook Home Rescued From Obscurity

According to front-page news in Tuesday’s Los Angeles Times Business section, L.A.’s residential rental market continues to be strong at a time when homeownership rates are sagging to their lowest levels in 15 years, partly because of an increase in foreclosures.

At such a time, it might be heartening news for Eagle Rock homeowners that rental properties such as the one presented in this photo gallery are being rescued from obscurity, if not oblivion, by a few determined locals.

The house you see is located on 4503 W Ave. 40, just a block east of Verdugo, on the outskirts of Eagle Rock, not far from the cluster of historic homes around Round Top Drive. Initially brought to Patch’s attention by photographer Herb West, who lives nearby, the home was restored by Ted Gekis, a Glassell Park resident who represents actors in the entertainment industry and designs and landscapes residential properties a hobby.

It took Gekis and contractor Frank Varnuska 16 months to restore this 3-bedroom, 1.5 bath "castle." Built in 1932, the house was a complete mess, including holes in the ground and water-damaged walls. (The numbers are still coming in and work is still underway, but the renovation has already cost some $200,000.)

Gekis, who considers himself a “house rescuer,” noticed that the property was for sale, and immediately called a longtime friend of his in New York City, who bought it for about $431,000 in January 2011. The friend, a Time-Warner executive on the verge of retirement, is thinking of settling in L.A.

“There was virtually nothing on the property that didn’t need to be repaired,” recalls Gekis. He had an open house this past weekend and already has potential renters lined for the $3,250-per-month fully landscaped property, which includes a meticulously designed "ocean wave roof," many original fixtures as well as a string of tasteful vintage fixtures collected and purchased on Ebay.