Santa Monica Penthouse Oceanview, Estate of the Day

by Ann Brenoff (RSS feed)
Feb 2nd 2011 at 1:01PM

There are certain landmark properties in the Los Angeles area that always cause tourists to lean far out the car window to snap a photo or two to show the folks back home. The building overhanging the Pacific Coast Highway just past Santa Monica's California Incline is one of them. Maybe it's the circular nose that hangs over the highway, or maybe it's the skinny little front legs it seems to perch on. But whatever the appeal, it's a magnet for lookie-loos. Even I find myself straining my neck upward to peek inside some of the units as I whiz by on the road.

And now the 4,000-square-foot penthouse unit has just come on the market at $4,925,000. While not as breath-taking a price-tag as faithful readers of Luxist's Estate of the Day have become accustomed to, it's a breath-taking unit in a eye-catching landmark. And for you faint-of-hearters, we have every reason to believe that the hillsides around it, despite their precarious look each time it rains, aren't going anywhere. Hey, this is L.A. Toughen up!

Billed somewhat immodestly as the most-sought after penthouse in Santa Monica, we are hard-pressed to disagree. It's the only two-story unit of its size in the building and has ocean views from every room, plus 180-degree jetliner views of the city lights. There are three large bedrooms and three bathrooms plus an over-sized master suite with two large walk-in closets, floor-to-ceiling windows, marble and hardwood floors and high ceilings. Amenities in the building include a gym, pool, spa and valet parking. There is around-the-clock security. With the main entrance on Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica restaurants and shops are a short walk away.

Next time I drive by, I hope you'll wave.

Josh and Matthew Altman of Hilton & Hyland Real Estate, Beverly Hills, have the listing.

Gallery: 101 Ocean

Tags: california real estate, estate of the day, los angeles real estate, santa monica, santa monica real estate

Filed under: Estates

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Eric Feb 2nd 2011 1:28PM

Is Deidre no longer doing these? I have been following these daily postings for about 4 years. There have been a couple of days where she hasn't done one, but I don't recall ANY time when someone else did it.

Very nice apartment. Unnecessarily large laundry room and dressing area.

C.K. Dexter-Haven Feb 2nd 2011 2:25PM

Every now and then someone else posts the EOTD. DW still does it 99% of the time.

Eric Feb 2nd 2011 3:00PM

Wow. Really? I have checked out the EOTD almost every day for the last 4 years. *I* have never seen another person do it.

Is there any chance you are thinking of other posts on here about properties for sale (that aren't the EOTD)??

JLS Feb 2nd 2011 8:44PM

I'm pretty sure I have seen one or two EOTD's that weren't authored by Diedre - and after all, she probably does get some time off making that a necessity. There haven't been many-just a couple or so.

Perhaps it's a vacation or day off for her.

Everyone is so good at it here on Luxist, it's not noteworthy to me lol.

BTDT Feb 4th 2011 9:21AM

Nice views, otherwise pretty sterile.
The rooms are all so narrow, it looks like a series of bowling alleys.

JLS Feb 2nd 2011 2:52PM

Very upscale but just a tad too industrial for my liking. The views are nothing short of breathtaking but it's in need of some warmth and/or personal taste in it's decor. And then there is this: Those of us that have inhabited CA for a very long time KNOW that even though this building hasn't dropped off it's moorings yet, that doesn't mean one bad winter rain can't cause that to happen. It's a precarious building, period with the rains and earthquakes here.

In my 30 years in CA, I know better lol.

Diedre is still posting EOTD with another post from Ann or Jared laced in at times. All three are exceptional writers. I get the biggest charge out of the way Ann writes. She's extremely FUNNY but ever so professional just like Diedre. I love that aspect.

Eric Feb 2nd 2011 7:06PM

I am PRETTY sure that you are thinking of "for sale" property reviews (articles about homes that are for sale, but are not the EOTD) that Ann and Jared do, on occasion. I, personally, in the four years I have been viewing this feature on a pretty much daily basis, have never seen an *EOTD* post by other than Deidre.

Jeffrey McIntyre Feb 2nd 2011 4:39PM

Must be tough having a kitchen that large, and only one pot hanging on the wall to cook with. They must have one of those "One Pot Dinners" cookbooks...other that the view, doesn't do much for me!

Mikki Feb 2nd 2011 5:46PM

Beautiful view, but too industrial for my tastes. Who wants a kitchen that looks like its out of a restaurant? Who wants a bedroom so big that you can not only place all of your furniture it there, but an additional set of furniture that belongs in a living room? Same for the bathroom - most walk-in showers are bigger than a normal size bathroom. Why all the additional space in a bedroom or bathroom where you spend so little time? Unless you are having a big party in them? I prefer warm, cosy, with 'some' additional space, but not like this. Think of the cost of maintenance, repairs, upkeep, housekeeping services. I sure can think of a better way to spend my time and money than on something like this. The one thing good about S. Monica, is the weather. The only place to live in CA is on the beach to avoid the traffic, noise, and only retirees should be allowed to buy a place on the beach. LOL

JLS Feb 2nd 2011 8:33PM

The beach traffic is just awful. Everyone visiting and living here gravitates to the coast. A great case in point is Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Santa Monica or Malibu as well. I can also comment on the traffic around all the beaches in San Diego (lived there 12 years) as well. Mission Bay, Pacific Beach and all the way down to the border always has major traffic.

Because the beach here is so desirable, it is full of both foot traffic and auto related traffic.

C.K. Dexter-Haven Feb 2nd 2011 9:56PM

As recently as Jan 28th, someone other than DW posted the ESTATE OF THE DAY...

So apparently in your whole four years you have missed other posters...Is it really that big of a deal??? Jeez!

Queen Feb 4th 2011 6:56AM

Its on the wrong side of the highway for $5 million.

Dave Feb 4th 2011 7:09AM

Eric, funny you should single out the laundry room and dressing area as unnecessarily large; those were the only two areas of this property that caught my eye as being even remotely "human". The rest of this place is so vast and cold and devoid of scale as to be unihabitable. I've seen hotel ballrooms with more personality than this so-called "home". What a sad place to live.

Lynn Feb 4th 2011 8:58AM

I like the clean lines and the view is nice. Anyone who does a lot of laundry would be grateful for the laundry room. I agree, I think some of the bedroom space is wasted. Overall, though, it seems like a beautiful space that could be greatly improved with some personal touches and more color.

Sammee Feb 4th 2011 9:41AM

Wow - this is beautiful; I would have to cozy it up a bit. The only thing I don't like about it is the fact that the bathtub is two steps up. Marble steps at that. I get that it's probably because the tub is nice and deep so it has to start at a high level, but it just looks like an accident waiting to happen to me. But overall, the place is gorgeous.