LOS ANGELES _ In Pasadena, a home with a rich history has sold to a man who plans to keep it that way.
The John S. Cravens estate, a grand mansion on Millionaire's Row, has been purchased by Grammy-nominated singer-musician Michael Feinstein for $7 million.
The estate boasts nearly 20,000 square feet of elegant flourishes and European finishes. Its architect, Lewis P. Hobart, designed such structures as San Francisco's Grace Cathedral; its builder, P.J. Walker Co., constructed the Los Angeles Times building and the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills.
Built in the 1930s, the home features steel-reinforced concrete, brick veneer and a Vermont slate roof. A skylight atrium sets the tone in the stately interior, and, further in, living spaces are filled with chandeliers, ornate woodwork and elaborate wrought-iron work. Murals by artist Ernest Peixotto decorate the grand gallery.
The property changed hands a few times in the 1940s and '50s before it was donated in 1962 to the American Red Cross.
In selling the home, originally priced at $10.5 million, the organization vowed to find a buyer who would appreciate its historical significance. After nearly a year of showcasing the property, it found one that filled the bill: Feinstein.
"(Feinstein) has restored, to my knowledge, three other properties, and I was lucky enough to see the one he did in Los Angeles," said co-listing agent Gretchen Seager.
Original owners John and Mildred Cravens never had children but kept 32 servants, according to Seager. Consequently, the home is laid out as a master suite with an abundance of rooms for live-in staff. "Feinstein will do a nice job bringing the interior up to speed for the way modern families live," Seager said.
Seager shared the listing with fellow Sotheby's International Realty agent Josie Tong. Because of Tong's longtime support of the Red Cross, the pair covered marketing expenses and donated their commission to the organization.
Feinstein, 61, has had a successful career as the ambassador of the "Great American Songbook," a collection of pop and jazz songs from the early 20th century. In 2012 he was named the principal conductor for the Pasadena Symphony and Pops.
