Owner of Embattled Lloyd Wright Just Wants His Dream House

Moore House by Jennifer Clark via LA Conservancy, Neighborhood Church via Maureen Megowan

Recently we heard that Lloyd Wright's Moore House in Palos Verdes Estates is on DeathWatch--its owner wants to tear it down and build from scratch, which made a lot of people wonder why you'd buy an architecturally significant house if you didn't want the architecturally significant house. Lucky for those people, the Daily Breeze has revisited the story as a NIMBY tale (Rashomon-style) and introduces us to owner Mark Paullin, telling us "preservationists are standing in the way of his dream." Paullin says he wants architect Edward Beall to replace the 3,376 square foot Moore House with a 6,000 square foot house that's more like his cross-the-street neighbor, the Neighborhood Church, which "occupies a former 1927 mansion made to look like a Mediterranean villa," according to the Daily Breeze.

Paullin says "I'm hoping to improve neighbors' (property) values. I think putting something more architecturally consistent in the neighborhood is more fitting." Counterpoint: Paullin didn't know who Frank Lloyd Wright was when he first checked it out. However, he says he did ask the city and the Palos Verdes Homes Association if there was any reason he wouldn't be able to demolish the house, and "was told that was not an issue." Paullin says he'd be willing to "turn over" the house to a preservation group and has offered it to the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, but it's not clear what he'd want the terms to be. Meanwhile, at least 150 people have written letters against demolition, and the LA Conservancy wants alternatives including interior renovation explored.
· Lloyd Wright admirers stand in way of Palos Verdes Estates man's dream home [Daily Breeze]
· Lloyd Wright's Moore House Officially on DeathWatch Notice...Again [Curbed LA]