Janss Investment Company facts for kids

The Janss Investment Company Building in Westwood.

The Janss Investment Company was a family-run business based in Los Angeles, California. It focused on real estate development, which means buying land and building new homes, shops, and communities. The company was active for 100 years, from 1895 to 1995.

A Janss Investment Company sidewalk from 1929 in Westwood.

The First Janss Generation

How the Company Started

The Janss Investment Company was started by Peter Janss. He was a doctor who moved to Los Angeles from Denmark in 1893. He planned to continue practicing medicine. However, he soon realized that the real estate business was a much better way to make a living.

By 1906, Peter Janss and his two sons, Edwin Janss Sr. and Harold Janss, officially created their investment company. They began buying large pieces of land and dividing them into smaller lots for homes and businesses. This process is called creating "subdivisions."

Early Developments

The Janss family developed many areas in and around Los Angeles. Some of their first projects included Belvedere Gardens, Boyle Heights, and Monterey Park. They also developed a town called Yorba Linda.

In 1909, the Janss company bought a huge piece of land, about 3,500 acres (14 square kilometers). This land was part of an old Spanish ranch. They named the new town they created there "Yorba Linda."

The Second Janss Generation

Building New Communities

Peter Janss's sons, Edwin Janss Sr. and Harold Janss, continued to expand the family business. They played a big role in developing areas like Van Nuys and Canoga Park. These places are now well-known parts of Los Angeles.

The Janss Steps at UCLA.

In 1923, the brothers took control of a large ranch that was about 3,300 acres (13 square kilometers). This happened after Harold Janss's father-in-law, Arthur Letts Sr., passed away.

Helping Build UCLA

A major project for the Janss Investment Company was helping to establish the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In 1925, the Janss company sold 375 acres (1.5 square kilometers) of land to the cities of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills. They sold it for a very low price of $1.2 million, which was much less than it was worth.

The cities then donated this land to the state of California, which used it to build the UCLA campus. The famous "Janss Steps" at UCLA are named after Edwin Sr. and Harold to honor their contribution.

Developing Westwood Village

While the UCLA campus was being built, the Janss Investment Company also developed the nearby area known as Westwood Village. This area became a popular place for shops, restaurants, and homes. The company also developed the neighborhoods around Westwood Village.

At first, some rules about who could buy property in Westwood Village made it difficult for everyone to be part of the community. For example, in 1938, an Asian American sorority (a college club for women) wanted to buy a building near UCLA. Even though the university seemed willing to sell, some people at Janss were not willing to sell to them.

Janss Dome and Sidewalk Stamps

The Janss Brothers' main office in Westwood Village was a famous building called the Janss Investment Company Building, also known as the Janss Dome. It opened in 1929 and is still an important landmark in Westwood Village today. You can also find the company's "stamps" on sidewalks in many neighborhoods in West Los Angeles. These stamps show where the Janss company developed land.

The Third Janss Generation

New Directions and Ski Resorts

Edwin Janss Jr., a grandson of the founder, became the chairman of the Janss Investment Company. He and his brother, Bill Janss, helped expand or develop two ski resorts. These were Sun Valley in Idaho and Snowmass (ski area) in Colorado. Both resorts were sold in the late 1970s. Bill Janss was also a member of the U.S. Ski Team in 1940.

The third generation also developed the suburban community of Thousand Oaks. They built this community on 10,000 acres (40 square kilometers) of land in the Conejo Valley that had been bought in 1919.

The Fourth Janss Generation

William Janss Jr., a great-grandson of the founder, took over the family business in 1980. He became the president of Janss Corp. During his time, the company worked on projects worth about $160 million. The Janss Investment Company stopped operating in 1995. William Janss Jr. later became a doctor and now lives in El Paso, Texas.