Contemporary Home with Hollywood History Hits the Market in Prime Los Angeles Locale
By Dolores Quintana
Situated in a coveted Los Angeles neighborhood, a recently constructed speculative mansion has debuted for sale, commanding a notable $45 million. This price tag reflects a considerable increase, approximately $37 million more than its last transaction four years ago in March 2019, when a development consortium in the Holmby Hills area acquired it.
Constructed in 2023, this expansive residence resides on land with a storied celebrity history dating back to the 1930s. During this era, Hollywood luminary Claudette Colbert enlisted Lloyd Wright, son of Frank Lloyd Wright, to craft an elegant Colonial-style mansion on a four-acre hilltop estate surrounded by charming gardens. Colbert and her husband, Dr. Joel Pressman, called this residence home until the ’60s. Subsequent owners include retired Northrop Grumman chairman Kent Kresa and businessman Juan Villalonga. In 2014, a real estate developer purchased the property for $7.3 million, demolishing Colbert’s home and dividing the land into smaller lots.
The parcel that has now emerged on the market was acquired in 2019 by Kohen Development Group for around $7.6 million. They conceptualized and built a sleek, architectural-style home with six bedrooms and 12 baths, spread across more than 17,600 square feet of living space over three levels.
Nestled behind gates and high hedges on nearly three-quarters of an acre, close to the Harvard-Westlake Middle School campus, this contemporary estate is literally designed around a mature olive tree. The residence features a glass-encased wine display, a gourmet kitchen with Miele and PITT appliances, mini-wine cellars, dual eat-in islands, and a secondary prep kitchen. Additional amenities include a movie theater, multiple bars, two laundry rooms, an elevator, and office space.
The upstairs master retreat offers a private balcony, fireplace, hidden ceiling TV, double walk-in closets, and luxurious baths. The basement level houses a gym, sauna, steam, and massage rooms. Outside, the grounds feature hot and cold plunge pools, a circular infinity-edge pool and spa, a sundeck, a built-in barbecue, and various al fresco relaxation and entertainment spots. The property also includes a roof deck and a two-car garage.
Mauricio Umanksy and Zach Goldsmith of The Agency represent this offering, along with Aaron Kirman, Bryce Lowe, and Kirby Gillon of AKG | Christie’s International Real Estate.
