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History of Palos Verdes Estates

The City of Palos Verdes Estates, incorporated December 20, 1939, is the oldest of the four cities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

The Palos Verdes Peninsula, which became known as Rancho de los Palos Verdes was part of a land grant deeded to Don Delores Sepulveda in 1822 in return for his support of the Mexican Revolution. In 1882, the land was deeded to Jotham Bixby who brought farming to the Peninsula. The Bixby family in turn, sold the land to New York City Financier Frank A. Vanderlip, Sr. in 1913. Vanderlip, then President of National City Bank in New York, covered every mile of his new acquisition on horseback and formed his vision of a magnificent community by the sea. To achieve these goals, Vanderlip called in the most talented experts and professionals of his day.

Deed restrictions were imposed on the land in 1923 when the Bank of America as trustee for Vanderlip’s Palos Verdes Project drafted a trust indenture and outlined provisions for development of the new community. The restrictions included specific items to “preserve the fine views of ocean, mountains and park,” and “increase with the years the wonderful natural beauty of the property”. The document established set back requirements, prohibited billboards and imposed a system of architectural review on builders administered by the Palos Verdes Homes Association and the Palos Verdes Art Jury.

Vanderlip’s plans were slowed by World War I, but subdivision of the land and construction of the first Spanish style homes in what is today Palos Verdes Estates began in the early 1920’s.

The new community was laid out and landscaped by the famous Olmsted Brothers, sons of Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr., who designed Central Park in New York City. Gently winding roadways, green hillsides, paths, stands of eucalyptus, pepper, and coral trees were established and a full 28% of the land area was dedicated to be permanent open space. This early planning and dedication of parklands gives the City its unique rural character and has resulted in its international reputation for scenic beauty.

Palos Verdes Estates first functioned as an unincorporated community and the Homes Association was liable for taxes on all parkland. After the economic crash in 1929, the Association owed parkland taxes to Los Angeles County and area residents were afraid that the parklands might be sold for payment. City incorporation was voted in 1939 and the parklands were deeded to the new City in 1940 by the Homes Association.

Neptune Fountain

One of Palos Verdes Estates’ notable landmarks is Neptune Fountain, the City’s logo, in Malaga Cove Plaza. The elaborate two-thirds scale replica of a bronze statue and fountain erected in Bologna, Italy in 1563, was donated to Palos Verdes Estates in 1930 by the Palos Verdes Project. The statue is thought to have been over 100 years old before it was brought to the City and was obtained from a villa courtyard outside Venice.
http://www.palosverdes.com/pve/welcome/index.cfm

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