Whats with all the Mcmansions in Downey?

[whiteworks]

I had a job out in Downey and could not help but notice all the Mcmansions built in the 1950's track home neighborhoods. These things are massive and sprinkled in these neighborhoods right next to 1600 sq ft track homes. Whats the deal? best I could figure was the city allowed massive lot build out percentages and has passed some ordinances that are very friendly to this type of thing. Id figure by the time you acquire an old track home, level it, and build one of these monsters you would be in about $2 million, Thats a lot of jack to be next door to a little track home from the 50's, what am I not seeing here?

 

[czarmarz]

Mexican money

 

[C-2]

Si

 

[whiteworks]

I'm not buying that, the places were not dripping with wrought iron.

Whats the deal out there, nice pads for sure.

 

[gottago]

I'm not buying that, the places were not dripping with wrought iron.

Whats the deal out there, nice pads for sure.

growing up in Downey I must say there were ALOT of wealthy people there, especially in the 605/5 corner of the city. Big sprawling single story houses on giant lots. I left the area in the 70s when a lot of these Mcmansions were popping up. It was kind of an oasis surrounded by lower class cities and i think Rockwell execs and successful business owners could live close to work in a nice home and area.. I kinda feel sorry for those people now whos city has become infiltrated with,well lets say undesirables because no matter how nice your house is you still have to go out shopping ect. and deal with the shit bags

 

[czarmarz]

I've had a few clients there, those McMansions are mostly owned by business owners from the manufacturing district in LA, it's a quick drive on Florence ave to get there makes it convenient and and still live in a baller home.

 

[Bobby V]

growing up in Downey I must say there were ALOT of wealthy people there, especially in the 605/5 corner of the city. Big sprawling single story houses on giant lots. I left the area in the 70s when a lot of these Mcmansions were popping up. It was kind of an oasis surrounded by lower class cities and i think Rockwell execs and successful business owners could live close to work in a nice home and area.. I kinda feel sorry for those people now whos city has become infiltrated with,well lets say undesirables because no matter how nice your house is you still have to go out shopping ect. and deal with the shit bags

Yep. I grew up in Bellflower. The Downey kids were the rich kids. lol. The singing Carpenters grew up in that area. Karen and Richard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Carpenters

 

[ultra26shadow]

Downey I believe only let's single family residences on those large lots as well. I think that's one of the reasons you see such big houses and lots.

 

[stephenkatsea]

Like a few others here, I also grew up in Downey. It was an outstanding place to grow up. The area North of Firestone and East of Lakewood Bl remains nice, particularly North of Florence. Yes, the Carpenters lived there. I went to Downey HS with both of them. Dr. Bob Ballard (of Natl Geo/Titanic fame who I have known since I was 7 yrs old) also grew up there. Yes, lots of aero space, good schools and a town full of good people back then. Seems like most of the McMansions are on the other side of town. My wife's mom sold her 1950ish, 900 sq ft, 1 bath home for over $600K on a good size lot near Warren Hi. It was a tear down and a McMansion was built that consumed most of the lot. The town has changed a bunch. But, the northeast 605/5 section, where my family lived, remains very nice and McMansions are pretty rare in this area of town.

 

[Wheeler]

Mcmansions built in the 1950's track home neighborhoods.

:thumbsup

 

[BoatCop]

Yep. I grew up in Bellflower. The Downey kids were the rich kids. lol. The singing Carpenters grew up in that area. Karen and Richard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Carpenters

If the Carpenters were so rich, how come Karen never have enough food to eat? :headscratch:


:rolleyes

 

[flyingcolors]

:thumbsup

Arcadia first Downey second

 

[stephenkatsea]

If the Carpenters were so rich, how come Karen never have enough food to eat? :headscratch:
:rolleyes

Boat Cop was apparently attempting to be humorous. . . BUT, Karen left us with a couple of things: (1) A much better understanding of a very tragic eating disorder which typically is found only in young females - Anorexia. Our family has been through it, not fun and we know now it can re-surface. It has been reported that the actual cause of Karen's death was heart failure, which was likely brought on by her prolonged mis-use of "Ipecac" - a medical OTC syrup which brings on vomiting (intentionally purging after eating), but severely breaks down heart muscle over time. (2) Karen's unbelievably great voice and their songs. No one would admit to buying their albums in the day, but somehow they managed to sell millions.

I knew Karen and Richard. Each were extremely talented, extremely work driven (maybe over the top) and good people. Richard continues to live in the So Cal area and spends much of his time dedicated to charitable organizations.

 

[79schiada]

Czarmarz has it partially correct. It is also a huge influx of Cuban influence as well. The city has been known to be a little more than corrupt, making light of setbacks and their adherence. I lived there until 4 years ago and just couldn't stand the place any longer. Grew up there and just couldn't see sending my kids to school at a place where doing marginal was best.

 

[Luvnlife]

Just out of curiousity, why are they called Mcmansions?

 

[djunkie]

Just out of curiousity, why are they called Mcmansions?

I had to look it up. Never heard the term myself. Learn something new everyday.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMansion


Sent from my iPad using Tap That Ass

 

[Luvnlife]

I had to look it up. Never heard the term myself. Learn something new everyday.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMansion


Sent from my iPad using Tap That Ass

Now I Know:thumbsup
:thumbsup

 

[Mr. C]

Grew up in Downey, parents still live there. No, they never did the Mcmansion deal.did add on though, I'm thinking theirs is about 2300-2500' single story. Their neighbors added up recently and going to say well over 3200' at least .

Shit, Havasu1986 I wish i knew we were rich growing up, I would of been much snobbier Did you happen to know the Enders?

For the most part it still amazes me when i visit how the ethnic change hasn't effected the way the area is kept up(at least around my parents place, Furman Park area).

Whiteworks, what part of town were you in?

 

[whiteworks]

Grew up in Downey, parents still live there. No, they never did the Mcmansion deal.did add on though, I'm thinking theirs is about 2300-2500' single story. Their neighbors added up recently and going to say well over 3200' at least .

Shit, Havasu1986 I wish i knew we were rich growing up, I would of been much snobbier Did you happen to know the Enders?

For the most part it still amazes me when i visit how the ethnic change hasn't effected the way the area is kept up(at least around my parents place, Furman Park area).

Whiteworks, what part of town were you in?

Florence and the 5/605 area, nicely kept neighborhoods for sure the small houses all neat as a pin and the big ones were pretty sick. I am curious as to the allowable buildout % of the lots, if I had to guess I would say 70%+. looked like minimum setbacks all the way around with enough room for a driveway on some of them. That being said a lot of those monsters were really nice and had great design aesthetics, not cheap large builds by any means. It just seemed odd to see such nice pads stuffed on some of those lots right next to small 50's track homes. I know a thing or two about poorly designed mcmansions and the ones out there were nice.

 

[Bobby V]

Grew up in Downey, parents still live there. No, they never did the Mcmansion deal.did add on though, I'm thinking theirs is about 2300-2500' single story. Their neighbors added up recently and going to say well over 3200' at least .

Shit, Havasu1986 I wish i knew we were rich growing up, I would of been much snobbier Did you happen to know the Enders?

For the most part it still amazes me when i visit how the ethnic change hasn't effected the way the area is kept up(at least around my parents place, Furman Park area).

Whiteworks, what part of town were you in?

I went to school with a Steve Enders. He lived on the next street over from me.

 

[Mr. C]

I went to school with a Steve Enders. He lived on the next street over from me.

Small world, Steve's my cousin. Great family memories hanging out bbq'n over at their house.

 

[Mr. C]

:thumbsup

I think that house is on the corner of paramount and 2nd (3rd) street. we always thought it was haunted. LOL I don't remember it looking that good when we were growing up.

 

[Wheeler]

I think that house is on the corner of paramount and 2nd (3rd) street. we always thought it was haunted. LOL I don't remember it looking that good when we were growing up.

You are correct and yes it's Haunted!

 

[Scott E]

Arcadia first Downey second

No kidding. I grew up in Temple City, just West of Arcadia and Arcadia blew up in the 80's with the McMansions. All of it driven by Asian money. Rumor was the Asians would walk up to a nice ranch style house in Arcadia, present the owner with a briefcase full of cash and buy the place. It crept into Temple City as well but the city council strictly enforced the lot to house square foot rules to prevent it from getting like Arcadia.

 

[Bobby V]

Small world, Steve's my cousin. Great family memories hanging out bbq'n over at their house.

Very small world. What year did you go to Downey. I used to hang around some of the guys from 78'

 

[Mr. C]

Very small world. What year did you go to Downey. I used to hang around some of the guys from 78'

Downey HS sucks, I went to Warren . They let me out in 81/82 :rolleyes

 

[Mr. C]

No kidding. I grew up in Temple City,

Lets push the small world deal.....Did you know the Wallaces? (jeff, Dave , Steve)?

 

[KENDOG689]

Mr C,do you know the Gilmores then?They all played football.

 

[shippingguy]

Seen those houses. My dad grew up in Downey and lived off of Clark and Imperial. He went to Downey HS and graduated in 68 (Tony Brambilla). My mom grew up in Bellflower and went to Bellflower HS.

 

[Bobby V]

Downey HS sucks, I went to Warren . They let me out in 81/82 :rolleyes

My wife went to Warren class of 79'. Tamyra Tracy.

 

[stephenkatsea]

The big place at Paramount and 2nd used to belong to Judge McCabe. I believe that was original construction and not one of the more recent McMansions. It was very well kept in the 60s. Like much of the town, it has probably deteriorated.

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

Mr. Petes is the only good thing about Downey. Nice pads in the North. The rest is ghetto.

 

[gottago]

Downey HS sucks, I went to Warren . They let me out in 81/82 :rolleyes

You would be saying Downey H.S. sucks for sure in 71, when me and my buddies heaved about 10 dozen eggs over the back of the bleachers during Warrens pep rally

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

You would be saying Downey H.S. sucks for sure in 71, when me and my buddies heaved about 10 dozen eggs over the back of the bleachers during Warrens pep rally

Old skool gangstas.

 

[79schiada]

Downey High '85! I do miss Chris 'n Pitts and El Taco...

 

[Mr. C]

You would be saying Downey H.S. sucks for sure in 71, when me and my buddies heaved about 10 dozen eggs over the back of the bleachers during Warrens pep rally

Old skool gangstas.

The good old days for sure. Didn't someone put live sharks in the Downey pool at one time, and also poor a bunch of paint in it? We had our bear destroyed more then once that's for sure.
The thing I really never understood was the big brawls after the football games at Cerritos College. I knew/know many that went to Downey HS and for the most part was good fun ribbing each other, but some always took it to far.

 

[Mr. C]

Downey High '85! I do miss Chris 'n Pitts and El Taco...

Original El Taco is still there, along with a 2nd one on Florence (the old Jack in the Box next to Bobs Big Boy) I miss Guadalajara:grumble:

 

[Mr. C]

Mr C,do you know the Gilmores then?They all played football.

Can't put any faces to the name... but i killed a lot of brain cells during those years.

 

[gottago]

Original El Taco is still there, along with a 2nd one on Florence (the old Jack in the Box next to Bobs Big Boy) I miss Guadalajara:grumble:

Guadalahara, good times,they used to sell us pictures of beer when I was in H.S., crawled outa there a few times.We also broke the nose off of the warren bear and painted it back then.Lucky we didn't get our asses handed to us, or arrested.

 

[HocusPocus]

Downey HS sucks, I went to Warren . They let me out in 81/82 :rolleyes

I went to Warren High and moved the second semester of my Junior year. Even though I graduated in 1980 from the School here in the High Desert I still have my Warren Class Ring.

Guadalahara :thumbsup

 

[79schiada]

Original El Taco is still there, along with a 2nd one on Florence (the old Jack in the Box next to Bobs Big Boy) I miss Guadalajara:grumble:

I still hit up the original every so once in awhile. Pops and my credit union are still there, so a combo quesadilla and steak taquitos are an occasional treat.

 

[TCHB]

Guadalahara, good times,they used to sell us pictures of beer when I was in H.S., crawled outa there a few times.We also broke the nose off of the warren bear and painted it back then.Lucky we didn't get our asses handed to us, or arrested.

Guadalarhara was good times. Had a friend that lived in a very nice house that backed up to the river bed right off Florence.


Have not been back for a while!

 

[RVRKID]

Guadalahara, good times,they used to sell us pictures of beer when I was in H.S., crawled outa there a few times.We also broke the nose off of the warren bear and painted it back then.Lucky we didn't get our asses handed to us, or arrested.

I will sell you this one for $5.00, don't get too drunk..

 

[awks1]

just saw this :thumbsdown Downey is steadily catching up to its neighbor to the easts reputation (Norwalk)
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/l...-a-Shooting-at-Downey-Business-175649481.html :grumble: