Love Those Ranchers..and the Eichlers

Yesterday's Wall Street Journal had a front page article about the onset of historic status for post-WWII ranch houses as they reach the age of maturity.  A man named Richard Cloues in Atlanta is starting the effort

But with a growing number of the homes turning 50 years old--the age at which the National Park Service says most buildings may be considered for the National Register of Historic Places--Mr. Cloues is leading one of the first state efforts to protect them....Applications from ranch owners seeing historic status for their homes have risen sharply in recent years, according to the National Register.

B'game has a number of ranchers like this one

 
and the article made one point that I hadn't considered so clearly.  It notes that as Baby Boomers age, ranchers are gaining popularity because they are single level.  I think we have a bit of housing stock that excites even more passion amongst owners--Eichlers.  I had a great chat with a new B'game Eichler owner yesterday.  She is charged up about her upcoming restoration.  Here are a couple of other local examples that don't need restoring

 
 
Sweet!

Comments

[Joe]

Nice profile of a local realtor in today's DJ at http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=236828&title=Documenting Eichler

What started as an idea to market her business as a seller of Eichlers has turned into a bit of an obsession for a local Realtor.

Monique Lombardelli, of Burlingame, has combined her past experience in broadcasting to produce a first-of-its-kind documentary on the mid-century modern design homes and their passionate owners.

With the recent passing of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and his admission that Eichler had a big influence on him there has been some increased interest in the homes, especially in Palo Alto and the San Mateo Highlands.

Lombardelli works at McGuire Real Estate and is a specialist in moving Eichlers. She was inspired to not only document Joseph Eichler and the homes he built but to also put emphasis on the homes' owners, who share a sense of pride in living and caring for the architectural showpieces and the neighborhoods they are in.

Click through to read the rest. It's very interesting. Well done, Monique.

[Joe]

Looks like new Eichlers may be on the horizon according to this piece in the DJ

A local Realtor with a passion for mid-century modern design has inked a deal with Ned Eichler to once again build his father’s iconic homes.

Joseph Eichler built entire neighborhoods for more than two decades, the largest in the San Mateo Highlands, with his glass-walled, open-beam construction and open floor plan homes.

Eichler Homes, Inc. built its last home in 1973, however, the year before Joseph Eichler died.

Now, Ned Eichler wants to see the homes reborn and is consulting Monique Lombardelli, who recently formed the Eichler Homes Development Corporation after filming the documentary “People in Glass Houses: The Legacy of Joseph Eichler” with the help of Ned.

http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=1761583&title=The rebirth of Eichler homes

[jennifer]

The article is timely--Monique Lombardelli will be the guest speaker for the joint LIbrary-Burl. Historical Society talk: The Legacy of Joseph Eichler" on Thurs. Feb. 28th at 7pm. in the Lane Room, lower floor of the Library.