2750 Raymond Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90007

The Maly-Smith Residence, 1908. Gracious, spacious living awaits in this Swiss-Chalet style Craftsman built by Naldo Francis Stokes. This three-level home features exposed wood beams, original built-ins, a sculptural red brick fireplace in the living room, and an elegant entryway and staircase with Old World mortise-and-tenon joinery showcasing the Japanese influence on the early California Craftsman aesthetic. Charming period touches include an expansive covered porch, a formal dining room, a library/den with a ceramic fireplace surround and multiple enclosed sleeping porches, and a California basement and sunlit attic (not included in overall square footage) suitable for use as a studio or office. Alongside upgraded electrical and plumbing and a fresh California Native and drought-tolerant landscape, this historic property presents a unique opportunity for a savvy owner or developer to apply for property-tax saving Mills Act designation for the front house and to utilize the advantageous LARD2 zoning to explore additional structures in the back (buyer to verify). Located in the USC DPS patrol zone, with nearby access to Downtown, entertainment and sports venues, including the USC Coliseum, BMO Stadium, and the Expo Line, this home is also 10 minutes away from stylish West Adams dining options like Highly Likely and Alta Adams as well as Holbox and Tire Shop Taqueria to the east. Naldo Francis Stokes' work, as described by the LA Times in 1906, incorporated finishes "of a very high order with handsome mantelpieces, beamed ceilings, built-in buffets, and all the accessories of a comfortable, modern house." In the early 20th century, Stokes made his name by creating stately homes in Adams-Normandie, and thanks to a thoughtful Historic Preservation Plan, this Central Los Angeles neighborhood remains a nearly unmatched repository of exceptional Craftsman architecture.