WHAT’S TO BECOME OF THE MOST-FAMOUS HOUSE IN DOWNEY?
By The Downey Patriot
After owning the most-famous house in Downey for more than five years, Oscar and Carmen Rivera are ready to champion the next chapter in the history of the Rives Mansion.
“We really want it to be a part of the community,” said Carmen while walking along the front porch of the Greek Revival-style home, which the Riveras’ bought in 2005 for $1.7 million. “It should be a hall for special occasions, a place where people in the community can come and make memories…maybe a wedding chapel.”
The mansion was built in 1912 for James C. Rives, the high-school-dropout son of a pioneer, who went on to distinguish himself as editor of the Downey Weekly Review, the Los Angeles District Attorney (after he went back to school, of course) and a superior court judge.
A century later, nobody lives in the home and the Riveras’ plans for a commercial property that can be utilized for a variety of events have been met with uncertainty. Private investors are wary of betting their money, city officials are hesitant about expending public funds and residents are divided about how the registered historic site should be used. Reinventing the mansion may be harder than the Rivera family thinks.
Kirk Cartozian, real estate broker, land use consultant and former Downey councilman, is currently listing the home, promoting it as a great opportunity to solidify the Rives Mansion as an intricate part of Downey’s history and future.
“Long story short, everyone would love to see it go back to its grandeur,” said Cartozian. “It’s the most famous house in Downey—but it’s my number one priority to make sure we get a long-term sustainable plan from someone who will use the property … as a steakhouse, wedding chapel, assembly or banquet hall. That would be complimentary and I think residents would get around that.”
CONTINUE READING CHRISTIAN BROWN’S STORY IN THE DOWNEY PATRIOT
10 Comments
Please don’t turn it into a steak house–which is one of the options The Patriot mentions in its article.
This place should be a museum. In fact, the city should buy it–although, as The Patriot also notes, Downey is probably too careful with its money for that to happen.
Maybe Downey could get Long Beach to buy the Rives mansion … and deed it over to Downey?
Yeah, that’s my recommendation to council.
The Greek Revival-style home has the look of a potential funeral home.
mmmmmmmmm… steaks!
This was my Great Grandfathers home. My Grandmother was Pauline Rives Ball, Daughter of Mary Lee and James Rives. Neat old house…
I’ve always been a fan of homes built in this time period. I would love to see the inside of it. I would agree that this home should be a museum chronicaling the history and early artifacts of Downey, CA.
I say make it into another Starbucks….
Well to all who have commented above……. thank you very much!!! but unfortunately the city of Downey who is run by an All Boys Club and it’s all political bull has given the owners nothing but problems. The commercial Realtos KK from Downey who has monopolized the commercial realestate used to be the Mayor of Downey how is that for corruption! He wanted it to convert it into a Smoke Cigar Lounge for Men only. How is that for a Historical Landmark? The currrent owners have been trying to allow it to be a cultural center for classes, museum, art exhibits, community enrichment opportunities……. and the city keeps turning them down? I wonder of KK has anything to do with that? Just yesterday the bar accross the street had a festival in it’s parking lot where hundreds gathered to get drunk and had a live band outside in the parking lot. Yet the Rives Mansion owners were rejected when they submmitted a request to host a wedding! How is that fair?
Have you read about the tenant the Rives Mansion had for four years? This Loren B was indited and possibly going to jail for 20 years. She was a tenant from Mr. and Mrs. Rivera who were victims of this lady! She took them for over 100,000.00 dollars! yet the city instead of helping the Riveras, keep making it as hard as possible for the. A month ago they had a family babyshower and had a clown and just fun things for the event, well the Downey Police actually stopped by and made them stop all of the acitivities the clown was having with the children attending the event, can you believe that????? and this was at 4 p.m. Yet, just yesterday, October 15th, 2011 the bar accross the street from the Rives Mansion had a festival IN their parking lot, hosting beer drinking from everyone you can imagine, tents all over their parking lot and a LIVE BAND PLAYING ALL AFTERNOON AND EVENING!!!! Check out YOUTUBE and see for yourself! What we’re hearing here in Downey is that the city is being ran by the All Boys club…….. have you seen how many hooka bars have opened? AND THAT IS SUPPOSE TO BE GOOD FOR OUR FAMILIES? A wedding is too offensive and loud but feer fests and hooka bars are not? humh?
I agree with Tabatha & Marcela, It makes no sense…I think the white house should be enjoyed by everyone in the community…..An event center or Museum would be great! The city of Downey should support such a plan.
These council boys are as crooked as they come. They think they are above the law, well that’s what they thought in Bell too.