Mary Cummins, Real Estate Appraiser, Animal Advocates, Los Angeles, California

Mary Cummins, Real Estate Appraiser, Animal Advocates, Los Angeles, California
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Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Mayor Eric Garcetti, Amy Wakeland house for sale 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles, California 90026 Echo Park

Eric Garcetti, Mayor Eric Garcetti, home, house, Amy Wakeland, Amy Elaine Wakeland, 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles, California CA 90026, Echo Park, for sale, sold, green, eco-friendly, architect, Daniel Dworsky, Elissa Scrafano, Gil Garcetti, Jewish, Mexican, Democrat, City Council, President, US Navy, Columbia University, Oxford

Eric Garcetti and his wife Amy Wakeland's house on 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles California 90026 is currently listed for sale at $1,650,000. Eric Garcetti and his wife Amy Wakeland rented the home for $4,750/month (MLS report is not verified) when they moved into the Mayor's Getty House Mansion few years ago. 

Per the MLS "The Garcetti/Wakeland residence. C. 1953. Daniel L. Dworsky, AIA. Recently featured in the Wall Street Journal and on the cover of Dwell. Sited on almost half an acre of land, this 3 bedroom/2 Bathroom Echo Park Hills Post and Beam home was renovated and expanded by Architect Elissa Scarfano to emphasize its modernist characteristics while making it more comfortable for current living utilizing sustainable materials and greater energy efficiency."

The home was featured in "Dwell" magazine in 2009. When I bought/won lunch with Eric December 2005 he told me he just built a "green" environmentally friendly home. He also said he adopted two cats from the shelter. He obviously just renovated and expanded the home and was just trying to easily explain it to me. He did adopt two cats and also fostered many wonderful human children. He was extremely polite, professional, funny, witty and kind at the meeting. 

I bid on his eBay auction for lunch because I wanted to learn what is the best way to get pro animal, wildlife, environmental motions passed in the city of LA. He told me the city council members control the city as of course they do. Mayor only has veto power in certain situations. He told me to contact all the council members, build a relationship, contact their animal, environmental people in their staff. He told me to provide them with honest information, help them with animal, environmental issues which of course I did. Our group probably spayed neutered over 100 animals directly referred from the council members not to mention free humane nuisance wildlife control.

He told me if I want a pro animal motion passed, I should fully research it, do pros and cons, write it... I must show why the motion is good for the city, and of course animals. I must show it won't cost the city anything, will improve their image, improve public safety, reduce liability and help animals. I did this with every motion then contacted council members to get them to propose, second...the motions, vote for... The rest is history! Win win win motions for animals, the city and council members! I have since shared this knowledge with others. Since 2005 there have been many pro-animal, enviro motions passed in Los Angeles!


Eric Garcetti, Mayor Eric Garcetti, home, house, Amy Wakeland, Amy Elaine Wakeland, 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles, California CA 90026, Echo Park, for sale, sold, green, eco-friendly, architect, Daniel Dworsky, Elissa Scrafano, Gil Garcetti, Jewish, Mexican, Democrat, City Council, President, US Navy, Columbia University, Oxford

Eric Garcetti, Mayor Eric Garcetti, home, house, Amy Wakeland, Amy Elaine Wakeland, 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles, California CA 90026, Echo Park, for sale, sold, green, eco-friendly, architect, Daniel Dworsky, Elissa Scrafano, Gil Garcetti, Jewish, Mexican, Democrat, City Council, President, US Navy, Columbia University, Oxford

Eric Garcetti, Mayor Eric Garcetti, home, house, Amy Wakeland, Amy Elaine Wakeland, 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles, California CA 90026, Echo Park, for sale, sold, green, eco-friendly, architect, Daniel Dworsky, Elissa Scrafano, Gil Garcetti, Jewish, Mexican, Democrat, City Council, President, US Navy, Columbia University, Oxford

Eric Garcetti, Mayor Eric Garcetti, home, house, Amy Wakeland, Amy Elaine Wakeland, 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles, California CA 90026, Echo Park, for sale, sold, green, eco-friendly, architect, Daniel Dworsky, Elissa Scrafano, Gil Garcetti, Jewish, Mexican, Democrat, City Council, President, US Navy, Columbia University, Oxford

Eric Garcetti, Mayor Eric Garcetti, home, house, Amy Wakeland, Amy Elaine Wakeland, 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles, California CA 90026, Echo Park, for sale, sold, green, eco-friendly, architect, Daniel Dworsky, Elissa Scrafano, Gil Garcetti, Jewish, Mexican, Democrat, City Council, President, US Navy, Columbia University, Oxford

Eric Garcetti, Mayor Eric Garcetti, home, house, Amy Wakeland, Amy Elaine Wakeland, 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles, California CA 90026, Echo Park, for sale, sold, green, eco-friendly, architect, Daniel Dworsky, Elissa Scrafano, Gil Garcetti, Jewish, Mexican, Democrat, City Council, President, US Navy, Columbia University, Oxford

Eric Garcetti, Mayor Eric Garcetti, home, house, Amy Wakeland, Amy Elaine Wakeland, 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles, California CA 90026, Echo Park, for sale, sold, green, eco-friendly, architect, Daniel Dworsky, Elissa Scrafano, Gil Garcetti, Jewish, Mexican, Democrat, City Council, President, US Navy, Columbia University, Oxford

Eric Garcetti, Mayor Eric Garcetti, home, house, Amy Wakeland, Amy Elaine Wakeland, 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles, California CA 90026, Echo Park, for sale, sold, green, eco-friendly, architect, Daniel Dworsky, Elissa Scrafano, Gil Garcetti, Jewish, Mexican, Democrat, City Council, President, US Navy, Columbia University, Oxford
Below photos are from when they were leasing it. This is their photos. It matches the photos from the Dwell magazine. If you were to buy it today, Amy's garden was not maintained and is gone. 



Eric Garcetti, Mayor Eric Garcetti, home, house, Amy Wakeland, Amy Elaine Wakeland, 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles, California CA 90026, Echo Park, for sale, sold, green, eco-friendly, architect, Daniel Dworsky, Elissa Scrafano, Gil Garcetti, Jewish, Mexican, Democrat, City Council, President, US Navy, Columbia University, Oxford 


Eric Garcetti, Mayor Eric Garcetti, home, house, Amy Wakeland, Amy Elaine Wakeland, 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles, California CA 90026, Echo Park, for sale, sold, green, eco-friendly, architect, Daniel Dworsky, Elissa Scrafano, Gil Garcetti, Jewish, Mexican, Democrat, City Council, President, US Navy, Columbia University, Oxford


Eric Garcetti, Mayor Eric Garcetti, home, house, Amy Wakeland, Amy Elaine Wakeland, 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles, California CA 90026, Echo Park, for sale, sold, green, eco-friendly, architect, Daniel Dworsky, Elissa Scrafano, Gil Garcetti, Jewish, Mexican, Democrat, City Council, President, US Navy, Columbia University, Oxford



Eric Garcetti, Mayor Eric Garcetti, home, house, Amy Wakeland, Amy Elaine Wakeland, 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles, California CA 90026, Echo Park, for sale, sold, green, eco-friendly, architect, Daniel Dworsky, Elissa Scrafano, Gil Garcetti, Jewish, Mexican, Democrat, City Council, President, US Navy, Columbia University, Oxford
Information from Los Angeles Building and Safety about improvements, permits and reports.

Eric Garcetti, Mayor Eric Garcetti, home, house, Amy Wakeland, Amy Elaine Wakeland, 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles, California CA 90026, Echo Park, for sale, sold, green, eco-friendly, architect, Daniel Dworsky, Elissa Scrafano, Gil Garcetti, Jewish, Mexican, Democrat, City Council, President, US Navy, Columbia University, Oxford

Eric Garcetti, Mayor Eric Garcetti, home, house, Amy Wakeland, Amy Elaine Wakeland, 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles, California CA 90026, Echo Park, for sale, sold, green, eco-friendly, architect, Daniel Dworsky, Elissa Scrafano, Gil Garcetti, Jewish, Mexican, Democrat, City Council, President, US Navy, Columbia University, Oxford

Eric Garcetti, Mayor Eric Garcetti, home, house, Amy Wakeland, Amy Elaine Wakeland, 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles, California CA 90026, Echo Park, for sale, sold, green, eco-friendly, architect, Daniel Dworsky, Elissa Scrafano, Gil Garcetti, Jewish, Mexican, Democrat, City Council, President, US Navy, Columbia University, Oxford
Eric Garcetti, Mayor Eric Garcetti, home, house, Amy Wakeland, Amy Elaine Wakeland, 2120 Avon Ave, Los Angeles, California CA 90026, Echo Park, for sale, sold, green, eco-friendly, architect, Daniel Dworsky, Elissa Scrafano, Gil Garcetti, Jewish, Mexican, Democrat, City Council, President, US Navy, Columbia University, Oxford

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and GameMary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, real estate, appraiser, appraisal, instructor, teacher, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Brentwood, Bel Air, California, licensed, permitted, single family, condo, pud, hud, fannie mae, freddie mac, uspap, certified, residential, certified resident, apartment building, multi-family, commercial, industrial, expert witness, civil, criminal, orea, dre, insurance, bonded, experienced, bilingual, spanish, english, form, 1004, 2055, land, raw, acreage, vacant, insurance, cost, income approach, market analysis, comparative, theory, appraisal theory, cost approach, sales, matched pairs, plot, plat, map, diagram, photo, photographs, photography, rear, front, street, subject, comparable, sold, listed, active, pending, expired, cancelled, listing, mls, multiple listing service, claw, themls,

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the
Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

EB-5 Program Renewal Changes - Mary Cummins Real Estate Appraiser Appraisal Los Angeles California


EB-5 investor program, green card visa, $500,000 foreign investment renewal changes

"Developers love the EB-5 visa program as a cheap source of capital, but it’s under attack—and up for a questionable renewal on Dec. 11—prompting developers to pour money into lobbying to ensure it stays on the books.

EB-5 offers foreigners a green card in exchange for a $500k minimum investment in the US economy, and has consistently provided developers with cheap capital. However, some politicians criticize it for circumventing the immigration process. “EB-5 has been a tremendous help for us because it allowed us to put in early infrastructure before construction,” said Related Cos CEO Jeff Blau. And Related is paying to keep that help around. This year it shelled out at least $730k in lobbying fees supporting EB-5, only a tiny fraction of what it raised in EB-5 funds for its $600M Hudson Yards development.

Related isn’t alone. CIM Group spent $480k this year lobbying for EB-5, and Forest City Ratner threw $140k into the pot after more than 1,100 foreign investors injected $577M into Pacific Park Brooklyn (a JV between Forest City Ratner and Greenland USA). Silverstein Properties also joined the fight, paying out $20k in EB-5 lobbying after raising more than $250M from foreign investors on 30 Park Place and hoping to raise more than $500M from EB-5 for 2 World Trade Center."

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and GameMary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, real estate, appraiser, appraisal, instructor, teacher, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Brentwood, Bel Air, California, licensed, permitted, single family, condo, pud, hud, fannie mae, freddie mac, uspap, certified, residential, certified resident, apartment building, multi-family, commercial, industrial, expert witness, civil, criminal, orea, dre, insurance, bonded, experienced, bilingual, spanish, english, form, 1004, 2055, land, raw, acreage, vacant, insurance, cost, income approach, market analysis, comparative, theory, appraisal theory, cost approach, sales, matched pairs, plot, plat, map, diagram, photo, photographs, photography, rear, front, street, subject, comparable, sold, listed, active, pending, expired, cancelled, listing, mls, multiple listing service, claw, themls,

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the
Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Playboy Mansion at 10236 Charing Cross Rd, Los Angeles, 90024 California, Beverly Hills, Bel Air

Hugh Hefner Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, for sale, sell, real estate, usa

Hilton and Hyland offers the mansion for $200,000,000. It is supposedly on the MLS but they listed a fake MLS number.

http://www.hiltonhyland.com/real-estate/the-playboy-mansion-holmby-hills-ca-90024/28229319/28229319

from the agents.

"The crown jewel of L.A.’s “Platinum Triangle” situated on 5 picturesque acres in Holmby Hills, The Playboy Mansion is a nearly 20,000 square foot residence that is both an ultra-private retreat and the ultimate setting for large-scale entertaining. The Mansion features 29 rooms and every amenity imaginable, including a catering kitchen, wine cellar, home theater, separate game house, gym, tennis court and freeform swimming pool with a large, cave-like grotto. The property also features a four-bedroom guest house. In addition, the Playboy Mansion is one of a select few private residences in L.A. with a zoo license."

Hugh Hefner Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, for sale, sell, real estate, usa
Hugh Hefner Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, for sale, sell, real estate, usa

Hugh Hefner Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, for sale, sell, real estate, usa

Hugh Hefner Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, for sale, sell, real estate, usa

Hugh Hefner Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, for sale, sell, real estate, usa

Hugh Hefner Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, for sale, sell, real estate, usa

Hugh Hefner Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, for sale, sell, real estate, usa


History of the Playboy Mansion

"Additionally, several members of the Letts and Janss families chose to construct their
own homes near each other in Little Holmby on land overlooking the Los Angeles
Country Club, which lent added caché to the neighborhood. Of the five homes originally
constructed for the Janss and Letts families, three residences remain today; perhaps the
most well-known estate is the residence constructed for Arthur Letts, Jr. at 10236
Charing Cross. Designed by Arthur Kelly and completed in 1927, the home was later
purchased by Hugh Hefner in 1971 and is now best known as the Playboy Mansion."

Hugh Hefner Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, for sale, sell, real estate, usa

More history,

"The 21,987-square-foot (2,042.7 m2) house is described as in the "Gothic-Tudor" style by Forbes magazine, and sits on 5.3 acres (2.1 ha). It was designed by Arthur R. Kelly in 1927 for Arthur Letts, Jr., son of the Broadway department store founder Arthur Letts and acquired by Playboy from Louis D. Statham (1908–1983), an engineer, inventor and chess aficionado, in 1971 for $1.1 million.[1] In early 2011, it was valued at $54 million.[2] It sits close to the northwestern corner of the Los Angeles Country Club, near University of California, Los Angeles and the Bel-Air Country Club. $15 million has been invested in renovation and expansion.

The mansion has 22 rooms including a wine cellar (with a Prohibition-era secret door), a screening room with built-in pipe organ, a game room, three zoo/aviary buildings (and related pet cemetery), a tennis/basketball court, a waterfall and a swimming pool area (including a patio and barbecue area, a grotto, a basement gym with sauna below the bathhouse). Landscaping includes a large koi pond with artificial stream, a small citrus orchard and two well-established forests of tree ferns and redwoods. The west wing (originally servants wing) houses the Editorial offices of Playboy. The main Aviary building is the original greenhouse, with four guestrooms adjoining. The Master's suite occupies several rooms on the second and third floors, and is the most heavily renovated area of the Mansion proper, with an extensive carved-oak decor dating to the 1970s. Otherwise, the Mansion proper is maintained in its original Gothic-revival furnishings for the most part. The pipe organ was extensively restored in the last decade. There is also an outdoor kitchen to serve party events. These features and others have been shown on television.

The game room (game house) is a separate building on the north side. From the fountain in front of the main entrance, there are two sidewalks, running past a wishing-well. That on the right leads to the game house and runs past a duplicate Hollywood Star of Hefner. Its front entrance opens to a game room with a pool table in the center. This room has vintage and modern arcade games, pinball machines, player piano, jukebox, television, stereo, and couch. The game house has two wings. Left is a room with a soft cushioned floor, mirrors all around, television. There is a restroom with a shower. The right wing of the game house has a smaller restroom, and entrance to a bedroom. This bedroom is connected to another, which has an exit to the rear backyard of the game house. The game house has a backyard with lounge chairs, and gates on either side.

In 2010, Hugh Hefner's former girlfriend Izabella St. James wrote in her memoir Bunny Tales that the house was in need of renovation: "Everything in the Mansion felt old and stale, and Archie the house dog would regularly relieve himself on the hallway curtains, adding a powerful whiff of urine to the general scent of decay."[3]

The house next door is a mirror image of the Mansion layout, only smaller. Hefner purchased the neighboring building in 1996. It is home to his separated wife Kimberley Conrad and their children together. Hefner and Conrad married in 1989 and separated in 1998. Hefner and his wife announced in March 2009 that they were listing Mrs. Hefner's home for sale at US$28 million.[4]

In 2002, Hefner purchased a house across and down the street from the mansion for use by Playmates and other guests who would prefer to stay further from the busy activity of the Mansion proper. This house is commonly referred to as the 'Bunny House'.

It has been reported that the mansion is up for sale for $200 million, with the only added clause being Hefner can stay there until his death.[1]"

Hugh Hefner Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, for sale, sell, real estate, usa

Hugh Hefner Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, for sale, sell, real estate, usa

Hugh Hefner Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, for sale, sell, real estate, usa

Hugh Hefner Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, for sale, sell, real estate, usa

Hugh Hefner Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, for sale, sell, real estate, usa

Hugh Hefner Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, for sale, sell, real estate, usa
"According to Playboy Enterprises' SEC filings, Hefner pays Playboy rent for "that portion of the Playboy Mansion used exclusively for him and his personal guests' residence as well as the per-unit value of non-business meals, beverages and other benefits received by him and his personal guests". This amount was $US1.3 million in 2002, $US1.4 million in 2003, and $US1.3 million in 2004.

Playboy pays for the Mansion's operating expenses (including depreciation and taxes), which were $US3.6 million in 2002, $US2.3 million in 2003, and $US3.0 million in 2004, net of rent received from Hefner.[9]"

Details of the Playboy Mansion at 10236 Charing Cross Road.
Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, beverly hills, bel air, holmby hills, hugh hefner, hef, sale, sell, plat
Life estate in real estate. "In common law and statutory law, a life estate is the ownership of land for the duration of a person's life. In legal terms it is an estate in real property that ends at death when ownership of the property may revert to the original owner, or it may pass to another person. The owner of a life estate is called a "life tenant"."

In this situation the property would be sold to the new owner with Hef holding a life estate. This means he can live in the property until he dies. Then the new owner can take occupancy with full ownership rights.

Plat map for Playboy Mansion at 10236 Charing Cross Road. It was originally two lots which were combined into one.

Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, beverly hills, bel air, holmby hills, hugh hefner, hef, sale, sell, plat
Link to Google map of mansion

Here are all building and safety reports for the property. The original permits are missing. I see nothing before 1971 when Hef bought it and started remodeling it. Search by address 10236 Charing Cross.

http://ladbsdoc.lacity.org/idispublic/

Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, beverly hills, bel air, holmby hills, hugh hefner, hef, sale, sell, plat

Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, beverly hills, bel air, holmby hills, hugh hefner, hef, sale, sell, plat

Playboy Mansion 10236 charing cross, los angeles, california 90024, beverly hills, bel air, holmby hills, hugh hefner, hef, sale, sell, plat


Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and GameMary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, real estate, appraiser, appraisal, instructor, teacher, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Brentwood, Bel Air, California, licensed, permitted, single family, condo, pud, hud, fannie mae, freddie mac, uspap, certified, residential, certified resident, apartment building, multi-family, commercial, industrial, expert witness, civil, criminal, orea, dre, insurance, bonded, experienced, bilingual, spanish, english, form, 1004, 2055, land, raw, acreage, vacant, insurance, cost, income approach, market analysis, comparative, theory, appraisal theory, cost approach, sales, matched pairs, plot, plat, map, diagram, photo, photographs, photography, rear, front, street, subject, comparable, sold, listed, active, pending, expired, cancelled, listing, mls, multiple listing service, claw, themls,

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the
Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

22nd Anniversary of the 6.7 Northridge earthquake, January 17, 1994

22nd anniversary of the 6.7 Northridge earthquake January 17, 1994

January 13, 2014 at 11:29am
5 to 14 freeway collapse5 to 14 freeway collapse
The Northridge quake struck at 4:31 a.m. January 17, 1994. It instantly knocked out power and phone service across most of Los Angeles plunging the area into total darkness. The sun would not rise for another two and a half hours as people tried to access the damage. Only when the sun came up did people finally realize the massive destruction.

I grew up in Los Angeles and lived through the 6.6 magnitude 1971 San Fernando/Sylmar and the 6.9 1989 Loma Prieta earthquakes. I was six when the '71 quake hit and remember toys falling off shelves. I actually thought that quake was fun. My Nana who raised me did not. She grabbed her makeup and wig case, ran to her Lincoln Continental and refused to come back into the house until the next day.

When the '89 quake hit I was living in a house in the flats of West Hollywood near the Pacific Design Center. The epicenter of that quake was San Francisco. Even though it was far away it was still a violent quake in LA. The pool had huge tsunamis which tossed 1/3 of the water out of the pool and into my neighbor's driveway. The illegal unpermitted addition cracked off the main house and I could see the sky. Some ugly glass knick knacks I'd received as gifts from family members fell and broke on the floor. Oh well.

Then the '94 quake hit Los Angeles. I lived in a condo at 906 N Doheny Dr in West Hollywood just south of Sunset Blvd at the time. I was dead asleep in bed with my two cats when there was an instant jolt then everything started shaking from side to side. While it was only a 6.7 magnitude it was the "fastest" quake on record and very shallow making it feel stronger and causing more damage.

Eskimos have many different words for types of snow. Californians have many different words for types of earthquakes. This quake wasn't a slow deep easy rolling quake like most. It was a violent shallow boom then hard side to side shaking. Instantly pictures flew off walls, glasses walked off the shelves in the bar, cabinet doors flung open, book cases toppled over. I knew the building I was in survived the two previous big quakes so I wasn't worried. I got up mid quake to close the bedroom door so the cats wouldn't run into the living room and step on all the broken glass.

West Hollywood is made up of many people from other parts of the country who are drawn to the area for its gay lifestyle. Yes, many gay men who'd never experienced a quake before were screaming like little girls and hugging each other in the hallways and courtyard. As a native who grew up with earthquakes it is amusing to see non-natives scream during moderate quakes. My terrified neighbors ended up camping in the center courtyard for three days refusing to go back into their condos.

I had appraisals planned for the next day but the phones were out so I couldn't confirm. I didn't know how bad the quake was as I had no radio, TV, internet or cell phone. I got dressed and drove to my first appointment. Driving through Beverly Hills walls were knocked down, chimneys toppled, front facades of commercial buildings fell onto Sunset Blvd and power was still out as were all the street and traffic lights.

I arrived at my first appointment in the hills of Bel Air. That house would later be red tagged. The pool cracked dumping its contents on the neighbor below. The main bearing and exterior walls had major cracks and had shifted. I told the owner that his home was totaled. I wouldn't do the appraisal and would not charge him. He decided to have an impromptu "my home was just destroyed by an earthquake" party with neighbors who broke out the bar at 8:30 a.m. I went to my next appointment.

My next appointment was another totaled home. After five minutes I told them I wouldn't appraise the property or charge them. I told them they should probably start gathering their pets, important personal property to put in their car away from their home in case it collapses. It later collapsed. I hope they listened to my advice.

There were many, many aftershocks. Every time the building started shaking the neighbors would scream hysterically and hug each other in the courtyard. I would just roll my eyes and laugh under my breath in amusement as we weren't in any danger.

My neighbors camped in sleeping bags in the courtyard. Power was also out for three days. We were instructed not to drink the water without boiling it but we had no way to boil it. If you were outside when an aftershock hit, a huge cloud of dust would rise from the ground. Fortunately I gave earthquake kits to all my clients the previous year and still had a few left in my closet which I gave to neighbors and used myself.

I drove my car out of our subterranean parking structure and parked it on the street, just in case. Then I listened to my car radio to try to find out what happened. I read, did yoga, played with the cats, ate the food in my frig. Later I ate the thawed food from my freezer. Fortunately I always have enough cat food and litter to last through any emergency because I'm anal about emergency preparedness.

Not much to do with no power or phone. I decided to go to the gym even though I couldn't call them on the phone to see if they were open. I drove to the Sports Club Los Angeles and the parking gate arm was up. I drove in and there weren't many cars there just some trucks. I went to the door and it was open. Seems the center stairway collapsed and the gym was closed. It was actually closed for three months for repairs. They gave us free passes to go to other gyms in the area.

Finally day three there is limited cell phone service. My friends call to see if I'm still alive and I laugh. It was only a 6.7 and the epicenter was in the valley. It wasn't the "big one." Power is back and I can finally turn on the TV and see the massive destruction. Holy crap! While the freeway collapse was visually epic there was other damage which was not as obvious.

Medical building accordionedMedical building accordioned

A medical building on Olympic accordioned. I think the third or fourth floor just collapsed yet the building still stood. No one was ever allowed back to retrieve anything not even medical records. They demolished it with all contents intact. That is how dangerous it was. Trained people were later allowed to sift through the demolished remains to look for documents.

Hospital collapseHospital collapse

A hotel on Ventura Blvd also sandwiched and lost an entire floor besides part of the front facade falling into the street. Many apartment buildings in the valley just collapsed especially the older ones with open parking under the units. They were poorly designed and built directly on top of an unknown fault line.

Apartments collapsed on carsApartments collapsed on cars

There was major damage to the Los Angeles freeway system which would take months to repair. The 5 to the 14 interchange collapsed in what is the most dramatic evidence of quake damage (see top photo). A motorcycle cop responding to the quake drove off the freeway not realizing it had collapsed because it was dark. He of course died on impact. His dead body is covered by a blue sheet in the top photo. His motorcycle is to the right.

The overpass of the 10 freeway at La Cienega/Venice collapsed. The 118 at Balboa partially collapsed. The 91 to the 405 interchange had damage. In total six bridges collapsed, four others needed to be replaced and there was damage to many other freeways. Most of the damaged bridges were built pre-1971 before they had to be earthquake proof.

After the quake I quake-proofed my picture frames, strapped furniture, altered open shelves and better secured cabinets. The quake seemed to have slightly tipped our condo building down the hill. Doors and windows swung open on the north side but couldn't open on the south side. I had to re-level two doors that wouldn't open, adjust three windows that wouldn't close and putty a lot of cosmetic cracks in the walls. Fortunately I didn't suffer any serious damage though others did not fare as well.

Earthquake maps and building codes would be changed once again as they do after every quake. More retrofitting of older buildings. More regulations for new construction. Liquefaction zones would be better mapped. Earthquake insurance would change forever becoming almost impossible for anyone to find or afford. I would be doing earthquake inspections on every property which was in escrow when the quake hit.

I did a lot of education about earthquake preparedness after this quake. I was shocked that so many people were just not prepared to go a few days without food or water. Below is more information about this quake and some preparedness tips. We will continue to have earthquakes in California. Based on research we are due for the "big one" during the next 100 years. Everyone here in California needs to be quake aware and ready for the next earthquake. It's just a matter of time.

More on the 1994 earthquake
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_Northridge_earthquake



Some earthquake preparedness tips
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/preparedness.php

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and GameMary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, real estate, appraiser, appraisal, instructor, teacher, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Brentwood, Bel Air, California, licensed, permitted, single family, condo, pud, hud, fannie mae, freddie mac, uspap, certified, residential, certified resident, apartment building, multi-family, commercial, industrial, expert witness, civil, criminal, orea, dre, insurance, bonded, experienced, bilingual, spanish, english, form, 1004, 2055, land, raw, acreage, vacant, insurance, cost, income approach, market analysis, comparative, theory, appraisal theory, cost approach, sales, matched pairs, plot, plat, map, diagram, photo, photographs, photography, rear, front, street, subject, comparable, sold, listed, active, pending, expired, cancelled, listing, mls, multiple listing service, claw, themls,

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the
Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


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