Here Come the Giga-Mansions; There Go California’s Magnificent Hillsides

Not many Southern Californians know that there’s a 97-acre plot of undeveloped hillside property in tony Beverly Hills, famous 90210 zip code. But the precious land will soon be in developers’ hands, and a huge construction project will be underway. Make way for the mega-mansions; adventuresome locals who enjoyed trekking along the rugged hills with their expansive vistas can store away their hiking gear.

For $250 million, a mere $2.5 million per acre, the buyer will have several development options. Whichever choice the purchaser makes will create the last thing Southern California least needs, more sprawl. The property that overlooks magnificent Coldwater Canyon consists of 12 contiguous plots that could be sold as a lot or separately. Plans to build some of largest homes in the Los Angeles area, including a staggering 75,000 square foot eyesore, are in final approval stages.

As of today, the biggest house under construction in Southern California is a 100,000-square-foot, $500 million Bel Air monstrosity that’s described as a Monaco-style casino. Lexicologists created a new word to describe the massive structures: giga-mansions that will house 30-car garages, champagne cellars, and IMAX theaters.

Paul Habibi, a UCLA real estate professor, understates over-development’s foolishness. “This isn’t a logical thing,” he said. Then Habibi explained why $500 million homes have become the latest real estate fad: “The market size requirement is one buyer.”