Casa Romantica
Why it's listed
Casa Romantica is a large Spanish Revival house on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean at 415 Avenida Granada in San Clemente. Architect Carl Lindbom designed it for Ole Hanson, and it was built in 1927-1928. The single-story building has thick stuccoed walls, a handmade tile roof, 14 rooms and about 9,800 square feet arranged mostly around an inner courtyard. An entrance arch in the form of a Chinese Moongate reflects Hanson's interest in Oriental art. Inside are a sunken solarium, a beam-ceilinged living room, an octagonal tower office and a veranda facing the ocean. Hanson planned and developed San Clemente as a Spanish-style planned community beginning in 1925, and he lived here with his family until 1932, when he lost the house during the Depression. The house was later a retirement home. The City of San Clemente bought it in 1989, and it now hosts weddings and special events.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its connection to Ole Hanson, who planned and created San Clemente, one of the first planned communities on the Southern California coast. Hanson built the house as his personal residence and lived there with his family until 1932. It is evaluated at the local level under Criterion A, in the area of Community Planning and Development.
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 91001900, listed December 27, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | December 27, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001900 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927-1932 |
| Architect / builder | Lindbom, Carl (architect); Hanson, Ole (significant person/builder) |
| Architectural style | Spanish Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the City of San Clemente since 1989 and leased for special events, mainly weddings; described as in good repair, with neglected grounds. |
| Acreage | 2.4 |
| Coordinates | 33.42121, -117.62107 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 91001900.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5047876
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.