Carpenters House demolition?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Chip TRG, Oct 7, 2007.

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  1. Chip TRG

    Chip TRG Senior Member Thread Starter

    Maybe some of you Californias might have been hearing more, but I've been reading various internet chatter about the possible demolition of the former house of Richard and Karen which appeared on the NOW & THEN LP cover.

    Anyone know what's going on?
     
  2. Dillydipper

    Dillydipper Space-Age luddite

    Location:
    Central PA
    Well you know, they gotta tear something down to build something else.

    After all...they're Carpenters. :hide:
     
  3. MarilynsPickle

    MarilynsPickle Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    wakka wakka.
     
  4. John Carsell

    John Carsell Forum Resident

    Location:
    Northwest Illinois
    :laugh:

    Seriously though that's modern day progress whether we like it or not.
     
  5. quicksrt

    quicksrt Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    That was their real house on the cover? I didn't know that.
     
  6. BradOlson

    BradOlson Country/Christian Music Maven

    Yes it was their real house
     
  7. yesstiles

    yesstiles Senior Member

    That's the house where Karen died.

    I sure hope it's just a rumour. I have a friend who lives about 10 min. from there, and I often drive by the house when I'm in the area just to get that nice, squishy feeling. :D
     
  8. BradOlson

    BradOlson Country/Christian Music Maven

    I'd rather have it on the historical landmarks list instead of it being torn down, and operated as a museum.
     
  9. quicksrt

    quicksrt Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    What is the address if you know off hand?
     
  10. BradOlson

    BradOlson Country/Christian Music Maven

    I have wrote to Richard asking if this rumor is true.
     
  11. Richard could go buy it if he wanted to. I'm sure he's got the money.
     
  12. BradOlson

    BradOlson Country/Christian Music Maven

    9828 Newville Ave. in Downey, CA is the address.
     
  13. jstraw

    jstraw Forum Resident

    Next thing you know...someone will tear down Big Pink...
     
  14. quicksrt

    quicksrt Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Thanks. I'll get some pictures to share before the "wrecking crew" arrive. :) :cry:
     
  15. HGN2001

    HGN2001 Mystery picture member

  16. -Alan

    -Alan Senior Member

    Location:
    Connecticut, USA
    Rainy Days and Mondays and Demolitions
    Monday, October 1, 2007, by jwilliams

    Bad news for fans of 70's easy listening superstars The Carpenters. The Lotta Living forum reports that the Downey home of the sister-brother team may soon fall to the wrecking ball - or whatever they use for single family homes. Via poster Chrisgreen, the sad state of affairs is revealed:

    "Many people equate Downey with the Carpenters. Their music continues to sell hundreds of thousands of units each year, and come holiday time, is an annual radio staple...

    According to information sent to me by Downey City Councilmember Kirk Cartozian, an application for demolition has been received for the "addition" to the property at 9828 Newville Avenue. (The house consists of two connected structures--the "addition" and the main house.) According to a reliable source, another application will be filed to demolish the main house sometime after the addition is torn down.

    http://la.curbed.com/archives/2007/10/rainy_days_and.php

    The Carpenters - The Family Home in Downey
    http://youtube.com/watch?v=gZ9u3PsGOwY
     
  17. yesstiles

    yesstiles Senior Member

    I can't fathom why anyone would want to demolish the house. It is a very long house with a partial second story that is far more appealing than today's current trend of big box homes. Besides that, it has historical value!

    Here is what the property looks like nowadays:

    http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Pointe/7561/Newville.html
     
  18. quicksrt

    quicksrt Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    yes, but if you read the link previously posted, it is smelly like mildew and not kept up at all. A total mess.

    http://www.amcorner.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8268

    This is my favorite Carpenters album, so I think I will take a drive over and have a look at the house in person very soon.
     
  19. Todd E

    Todd E Forum Resident

    Location:
    Hollywood-adjacent
    Silly, they didn't record in the house.
     
  20. yesstiles

    yesstiles Senior Member

    Well, I think that is where they recorded their demos though.
     
  21. quicksrt

    quicksrt Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    No, just used the house for the graphic of their best album. Kind of like CSN used a porch on their first one, of the Doors used Morrison Hotel as the cover.

    I'm not sure The Doors ever played at the Hard Rock Cafe next door to the Morrison Hotel, and I am sure they never recorded there, silly.
     
  22. kwadguy

    kwadguy Senior Member

    Location:
    Cambridge, MA
    You know that Big Pink was sold a in the past few years? It was on the market for not much money--somewhere around $200K as I recall. Anyone could have purchased it...
     
  23. Dillydipper

    Dillydipper Space-Age luddite

    Location:
    Central PA
    If they tear down the Carpenters house...will Richard re-build it with "just a few little tweaks"...?
     
  24. Anders B

    Anders B Forum Resident

    Location:
    Sweden
  25. sungshinla

    sungshinla Vinyl and Forum Addict

    I grew up just blocks away from "The Carpenters house" during the late 70's (I lived in Downey from '77 to '84, when I went off to college).

    We used to drive by there, as many of us were big Carpenters fans, being from Downey and all. Our high school even dedicated a stage-like monument to Karen, when she passed away.

    BUT I don't remember the house looking like the one in the pictures. I remember that they had an advanced (at the time) security system, including CC cameras in their front yard. But then again, my memory is not that great.

    Perhaps, it is like other things -- things that you remember as big and grand in the past were, in fact, much smaller and more "normal".
     
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