You’re driving through Westlake, just a stone's throw from the chaos of Downtown Los Angeles, and suddenly you see it. High on a hill at the corner of 3rd Street and Loma Drive sits a building that looks like it was plucked straight out of the Loire Valley and dropped into a neighborhood of mid-century apartments and busy intersections. It’s got the turrets. It’s got the steep, slate-covered mansard roofs. It’s got the massive brick walls that feel like they could withstand a siege.
This is the Mary Andrews Clark Memorial Home.
Most people just call it the Clark Residence these days. To the folks living inside, it’s a roof over their heads. To architectural nerds, it’s one of the best examples of "Chateauesque" design in California. But to the man who built it, it was a half-million-dollar love letter to his mother.
Who Was Mary Andrews Clark?
In 1910, a guy named William Andrews Clark announced he was going to build something special. Clark wasn't just some local businessman; he was a "Copper King," a former U.S. Senator from Montana, and one of the wealthiest men on the planet. If you’ve ever wondered why Clark County, Nevada (home to Las Vegas) is named what it is—that’s him.
His mother, Mary, had passed away in 1904. To honor her 100th birthday, he decided to create a "perpetual memorial." But he didn't want a statue or a park. He wanted a "protecting influence" for young women.
Back then, Los Angeles was exploding. Thousands of young women were flooding into the city to work in department stores, offices, and schools. The problem? Safe, affordable housing for a single woman was incredibly hard to find. Clark’s vision was a place where these women could live "in delight and comfort" without going broke. Honestly, looking at the $500,000 price tag in 1913 money—which is well over $15 million today—he didn't cut any corners.
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Inside the "Institution of Comfort"
The building officially opened in February 1913. It wasn't just a dormitory; it was a mini-city. Architect Arthur B. Benton designed the 76,000-square-foot French Revival masterpiece with a U-shaped floor plan that wrapped around a central courtyard.
When it opened, it was the height of luxury for the working class.
- 130 living rooms, each equipped with its own sink and toilet (a big deal in 1913).
- A massive dining hall that could seat 200 people.
- A library with leather-cushioned nooks.
- Recreational perks like a bowling alley, a gymnasium, and even tennis and handball courts on the grounds.
- Social rules: Young ladies could entertain "gentleman friends" in small, glass-doored parlors on the first floor, but they weren't allowed to stay longer than three years.
It was basically a high-end sorority house for the city's workforce. The YWCA ran the show for over 70 years, keeping the spirit of the memorial alive.
The Decline and the Darker Years
Time, as they say, catches up with everyone. By the 1970s and 80s, the Westlake area had lost its luster. The grand rose gardens weren't as manicured. The wealthy residents who once lived nearby had moved further west.
Then came 1987. The Whittier Narrows earthquake rattled Southern California, and the Mary Andrews Clark Memorial Home took a massive hit. The structural damage was so severe that the YWCA had to shut the doors. For a few years, the grand chateau sat empty, a silent giant overlooking a neighborhood that was struggling.
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This is where the history gets a bit weird. To keep some money coming in, the YWCA allowed film crews to use the vacant building. You’ve probably seen the Clark Home without realizing it. It’s in Twins (1988), The Rocketeer (1991), and episodes of The Twilight Zone. However, there’s a persistent bit of local lore—and documented history—that things got a bit sketchy during the vacancy. In 1989, it was discovered that some adult films were surreptitiously shot there. Not exactly the "uplifting social life" Senator Clark had in mind for his mother's memorial.
A $16 Million Resurrection
The building was nearly lost. If it hadn't been for a massive push for historic preservation in the early 90s, the Clark Home might have been demolished. Instead, the Los Angeles Community Design Center (now Abode Communities) stepped in.
They spent roughly $16 million on a seismic retrofit and renovation. This wasn't just a fresh coat of paint. They had to:
- Remove bricks from the exterior one by one.
- Install "shotcrete" shear walls for earthquake safety.
- Carefully number and reinstall all the original wood trim, marble wainscoting, and fireplaces.
When it reopened in 1995, it transitioned from a YWCA residence to its current life as affordable housing for low-income single workers.
The Mary Andrews Clark Memorial Home Today
If you walk by today, the building still looks like a fortress. The "Mary Andrews Clark Memorial 1912" plaque is still there, carved into the terra cotta above the entrance.
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Currently managed by Abode Communities, the building provides about 150 units. Most of these are Single Room Occupancy (SRO) setups. While the rooms are small, the history is massive. It’s one of the few places in Los Angeles where someone earning 40% of the Area Median Income can live inside a designated Historic-Cultural Monument.
Current Status and Future Changes
Heads up if you’re looking for a spot here: as of late 2025 and moving into 2026, the building is undergoing another round of updates. There’s a plan in place to convert the old-school SRO layouts into 107 "fully contained" studio units. Basically, they're taking the shared kitchens and bathrooms and putting them inside the individual units to meet modern living standards. It’s a necessary evolution, even if it means fewer units overall.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Clark Home
There's a common misconception that the building is a museum or a public hotel. It’s not. It’s a private residence. While you can admire the "French Chateau" architecture from the sidewalk on Loma Drive, you can't just wander into the library to see the leather nooks unless you're a resident or a guest.
Another myth? That it’s haunted. While any 113-year-old building with creaky floorboards and a history as a "hospital suite" is bound to have ghost stories, there’s no documented "haunting" beyond the usual urban legends. It’s a place of life and housing, not a horror set.
How to Experience the History
Since you can’t go inside for a tour, the best way to appreciate the Mary Andrews Clark Memorial Home is a DIY walking tour of the exterior.
- Start at the corner of 3rd and Loma. Look up at the conical cupola and the copper finial—that’s the signature "castle" look.
- Check the brickwork. Notice the different textures. The building was designed to feel heavy and permanent.
- The Retaining Wall. The brick wall surrounding the sloping front lawn is original and gives you a sense of how "high on a hill" Clark wanted this memorial to sit.
- Visual Context. Look east toward the skyscrapers of DTLA. It’s a wild contrast to see a 1912 French manor framed by the modern glass towers of Wilshire Boulevard.
If you’re a fan of Los Angeles history, this building is a reminder that the city wasn't just built by Hollywood—it was built by "Copper Kings" and social reformers who believed that even a "working girl" deserved to live in a palace.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're interested in the architectural history of this area, your next stop should be the Carroll Avenue in Angelino Heights. It’s about a 10-minute drive away and features the city's highest concentration of Victorian-era homes. Like the Clark Home, it offers a rare glimpse into the "Old Los Angeles" that existed long before the freeways arrived. You can also check the Los Angeles Conservancy website for their occasional "walking tours" of the Westlake area, which sometimes include more detailed background on the neighborhood's transition from elite enclave to urban center.