A Charming Hollywood Heights Tudor With a Coveted Garage Apartment

Hollywood Heights is one of those neighborhoods that is still somewhat of a hidden gem. That’s largely thanks to its location.

The neighborhood is tucked behind the Lakewood Country Club golf course and Grand Avenue, so pretty much off the beaten path. When you do find it, chances are you become smitten. Then, you try to find a way to live in this charming historic conservation district. That’s what happened to me. One look and I was determined to live here. More than 30 years later, I’m still here and still smitten.

During our recent centennial home tour, Hollywood Heights generated a lot of interest from people who had only recently discovered it. As I was manning a booth at the tour I heard a number of people wondering how hard it would be to find a home for sale here. I’m happy to report houses do come up for sale here now and again.

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate‘s Harry Morgan just listed a unique stone embellished Tudor. It’s not just charming, but also one of the most intact Tudors I’ve seen in many years, making it a truly special find. 

Over the years, Judy Babinski has lived in three different Hollywood Heights homes. That’s not unusual for this neighborhood. People upsize and downsize, and when they move out for a few years, they very often move back. Babinski lived on Hammond Ave., then Cordova St.

When Babinski was living on Cordova, she drove by what is now her 1932 stone-embellished Tudor on San Mateo Blvd. and saw an open house sign. Mind you, she was not looking to move, but something about the charm of this home attracted her. There was also a garage with an apartment above, which was a draw as Babinski is a photographer, and she knew that garage would make a terrific studio. She didn’t hesitate and won out over a competing offer.

“The house was in great shape when I purchased it,” Babinski said. ”It’s really solid.”

She spent most of her time improving the exterior, adding flagstone walks, and engaging a landscape architect to redesign the front beds. The garage space worked beautifully for her burgeoning photography business. She decided to put her home office in the back bedroom rather than the garage apartment so she could fully enjoy the landscape. 

In fact, nature is beautifully inescapable in this home. Just off the kitchen is a lovely little deck for morning coffee. The living room with its original built-in bookcases opens to the covered side porch, and just off the two rear bedrooms is the back porch. 

Finding a 1,680-square-foot beautifully original Tudor home with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a garage apartment is a tall order these days, especially in Hollywood Heights. I recommend making a very fast move on this one, as it’s not going to last!  

Morgan has 7000 San Mateo Blvd. listed for $779,000.