Church may renovate part of Chateau Emanuel

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has proposed removing several structures and building a two-story retreat for priests if it buys Chateau Emanuel, one of the largest properties in Eagle Rock.

The three-acre property at 1554 Hill Drive contains a 6,000-square-foot main home, three guest homes and waterfalls. Church officials plan to remove a garage, swimming pool and patio to build the new structure but would not change other parts of the chateau, which was built in 1925.

“We are committed to preserving the historic integrity of the property,” said Adrian Marquez Alarcon, director of media relations for the archdiocese.

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Only six to eight people would work there, with two priests living onsite, Marquez Alarcon said. Church officials believe the retreat would not create a disturbance in the residential neighborhood.

“We feel that this property would allow for a peaceful environment for quiet reflection and prayer,” Marquez Alarcon said.

The church currently has retreats in Pomona and Los Angeles.

Chateau Emanuel previously was listed for $5.99 million, according to a 2010 Curbed LA Post, and relisted for $4.45 million in 2011, according to the Huffington Post, but the property was not sold.

“Most people I know think of it as a bit of a white elephant, and assume only a unique buyer would want to take care of all that land,” said David Greene, president of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council.

Church officials have not purchased the property but have submitted renovation plans to the city in case they do acquire it.

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The property is owned by Robert Kvassay, according to property records.

Some neighbors have worried that renovations could increase traffic and noise, but the property does have space to park 40 cars, so construction vehicles could potentially be kept from clogging streets.

Chateau Emanuel is not the only high-priced property the archdiocese has been interested in of late.

Church officials have been in a property dispute with a group of nuns who wanted to sell a Los Feliz convent to restaurateur Dana Hollister. Church officials favored selling the property to pop star Katy Perry for $14.5 million.

In April, a judge quashed the nuns’ effort to sell the convent to Hollister. But an attorney representing two nuns said he was considering an appeal.

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