Villa Riviera
Why it's listed
Rising fifteen stories above a bluff on East Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach, this apartment building was designed by architect Richard D. King in the Chateauesque style and completed in 1929. Its steel-framed concrete structure is clad in stucco with cast stone trim, and it is topped by a steep copper-clad roof, dormers, gargoyles and a hexagonal pinnacle that brings the height to 277 feet. Developer Lionel Mayell promoted it as a cooperatively owned building with 154 apartments, a ballroom, lounge, roof garden, shops and a parking garage. During World War II the Navy leased floors for officers, earning it the nickname "Home of the Admirals." It was listed for its architecture. The nomination calls it the largest and perhaps purest Chateauesque building in Southern California and the only significant example of the style remaining in Long Beach. It was the city's tallest building until the 1980s, and its original design remains largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an outstanding example of a Chateauesque luxury apartment building under criterion C. At 277 feet it was the tallest building in Long Beach until the 1980s, and it is described as the largest and perhaps purest Chateauesque example in Southern California. It is also the only significant example of the style left in Long Beach.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 96000778, listed July 25, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 800 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | July 25, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000778 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929 |
| Architect / builder | King, Richard D., Architect; Kinne & Westerhouse, Builders |
| Architectural style | Late 19th Century & 20th Century Revival: Chateauesque |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as multiple dwellings; the nomination says integrity is almost entirely intact despite early and recent rehabilitation that altered some interior spaces. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.76643, -118.18259 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 96000778.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7930479
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.