Getty House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Getty House |
|
|---|---|
|
|
| General information | |
| Type | Mayor's residence |
| Architectural style | Tudor revival |
| Address | 605 South Irving Boulevard (in Windsor Square) |
| Town or city | Los Angeles, California |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 34°03′48″N 118°19′08″W / 34.063272°N 118.318779°W |
| Current tenants | Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles and the First Family of Los Angeles |
| Completed | 1921 |
| Cost | $83,000 (1921) |
| Owner | City of Los Angeles (since 1975) |
| Design and construction | |
| Other designers | A.E. Hanson (gardens) |
The Getty House is the official home for the Mayor of Los Angeles, California. It is located at 605 South Irving Boulevard in Windsor Square. This historic area is about five miles west of the Los Angeles City Hall.
History of the Getty House
The house is named after George Getty II. He was the son of J. Paul Getty, a very rich oil businessman. The house was built in 1921. It cost $83,000, which was a lot of money back then. Its design is called the Tudor Revival style.
The Getty Oil company bought the house in 1959. They gave the property to the City of Los Angeles on November 12, 1975. The beautiful gardens were first designed by A. E. Hanson. They have since been brought back to their original look. The property is quite large, covering about half an acre.
A Swedish immigrant named Paul Paulson and his wife Leta built the house. They moved to Los Angeles from Iowa. Paulson started two popular cafeterias. One was in downtown Los Angeles, and the other was on Catalina Island.
Home for Los Angeles Mayors
The Getty House became the official home for the mayor of Los Angeles. Mayor Tom Bradley was the first mayor to live there. He moved in at the start of his second term in 1977. He lived there until he left office in 1993.
However, the next two mayors chose not to live in the house. So, it was empty from 1993 to 2005. Mayor Richard Riordan (1993–2001) stayed in his own home in Brentwood. Mayor James Hahn (2001–2005) lived in San Pedro. This allowed his children to be close to their mother's home.
After he was elected in 2005, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced his plans. He and his family would live in the house at least part-time. They would also stay at their existing home in the Mt. Washington area. In September 2005, Villaraigosa decided to move into the house full-time. He became the second mayor to live there. In June 2007, Villaraigosa and his wife decided to live separately. He moved out temporarily, while his wife and children continued to live at the Getty House.
In November 2013, the newly elected mayor, Eric Garcetti, made an announcement. He, his wife Amy Wakeland, and their daughter Maya would move into the Getty House.
