In 1923, a 12-unit apartment court is constructed on the east side of 3rd St between Strand and Ocean Park. The units are 2-story each with an internal staircase.
[1923] Builder Morris
In 1923, Venice contractor J.T. Robinson1 builds a $10,000 12-unit hillside apartment court2 for a North Dakota recent arrival, R.H. Morris3 on a small vacant hillside lot on the east side of 3rd St between Hollister Ave and Mills St.4
The property consists of a 2-story over basement, flat-roof, stucco-on-wood-frame Mission Revival-style rectangular building that fills the lot. On the street facade, there is a red-tile skirt roof cornice, and a broad central entranceway to the apartments in the rear. A concrete retaining wall runs along 3rd St.
The apartments are each 2-story with interior stairs and bedrooms on the 2nd floor. The apartment entrances are shaded by red-tile skirt roof canopies. There is a full basement and, as is typical of apartment courts, no on-site parking. The building essentially occupies the entire lot, and there is minimal landscaping
[1933 to 1990] Various Owners
In 1933, John Marvin Cilker (1880 - 1973) is the owner, and the apartment court is known as Sea Breeze Terrace. In 1936, the 12-unit apartment property is offered for sale at $0.02 MM.
Between 1946 and 1957, David Corson (1883 - 1976) owns the apartments as Corson Court. In 1960, the property is offered for sale at $0.08 MM.
The property sells for $0.16 MM in 1984 and $0.80 MM in 1990.
[2007] Current Owner
The rent-controlled multi-family residential apartment court is acquired for $2.50 MM in 2007.
John T. Robinson (1879 – 1935). Born in New Orleans, Robinson marries Lena King. Robinson lists himself as a carpenter/house builder. We did not find reference to any other building by him. From the late 1920s, he works as a builder of movie sets in Culver City.
The 2425 3rd St apartment’s orientation around an open central common area is a characteristic of an apartment court. In Ocean Park of the 1920s, bungalow and apartment courts are a popular type of multifamily housing that takes advantage of the temperate climate and provides residents with access to outdoor space. The apartment court (attached units with essentially an exterior hallway) is a derivative of the traditional bungalow court.
Herman Rudolph Morris (1864 - 1947). Born in Germany, Morris comes (age 3) with his family to the US in 1867. By 1880, Morris is farming in North Dakota. In 894, he marries Sarah Brigetta Mockler (1864 - 1950). Sarah is the sister of Katherine L. Mockler (1866 - 1945) at 2504 3rd Street. Morris retires to Ocean Park (127 Ocean Park Blvd) in 1919, and builds the apartment court in 1923. In 1921, Morris is living at 2416 3rd St, and remains until his death in 1947. Sarah Morris continues to live at 2416 3rd St until her death in 1950.
The 50-ft x 155-ft 2425 3rd St property is the northwest quarter of Lot 4 of the Vawters Sub Lucas Tract of 1884.
The apartment court is built on the vacant lot in 1923.
