S W E E T D I G S | 2 7 0 0 H I G H L A N D A V E
I
n 1962 Robert "Bob" Beverly and his
wife Elizabeth Louise, known as "Bettelu,"
moved into a big house on the corner of
Highland Avenue and 27th Street. It had
terrific views of the ocean that were ampli-
fied by leafy trees and the lush grass of the
park it bordered. For decades the remarkable
property—which spans a neat cluster of resi-
dences—would serve as a sunlit home base for
these local icons of California's Golden Age.
"He was a big to-do around here," real estate
agent Carol Glover says of Bob Beverly. An attor-
ney and three-term mayor of Manhattan Beach,
Beverly graduated to the state Legislature in
1967, where he served for nearly 30 years.
Beverly is perhaps best-remembered politically
for the Song-Beverly Act, a game-changer in
consumer protection that became a template for
such laws beyond California. Meanwhile Bettelu
was a matriarch of Manhattan Beach, active
in local charities and running her husband's
campaigns while raising their four children.
"She was a dynamo," Glover describes.
Two parcels - 6 residences
Much of their lives centered around Manhat-
tan Beach, so it's fitting the Beverly property
occupies a central spot in the town, and is more
than ordinary: It's a compound of approximately
11,400 square feet (roughly 1/4 acre) consisting
of cleverly planned residences—6 in all—that
range from a main house to a group of apart-
ments. "There are two different parcels here,"
real estate agent Dave Salzman says of the prop-
erty, which is located diagonal to Bruce's Beach
and is neatly bordered on three sides by High-
land Avenue, 27th Street and Crest Avenue.
First, the larger parcel: It consists of three
full lots that include the main residence—a
5-bedroom hacienda-style house wraps around
a large backyard. "Unheard of for the Sand
Section," Glover says of the wonderfully private
green space that connects with the interior
via big French doors. Then there's a full-size
pool and 4 separate apartments, several with
majestic views of the ocean due to their lofty
elevation. Interestingly, there was previously
yet another 1-bedroom apartment that, at some
point, was integrated into the floorplan of the
main residence, where it lives today as a nicely
tucked-away bedroom wing.
The smaller parcel is a half-lot, consisting of
a 1-bedroom apartment along Highland Avenue
with a private patio and yard in the rear.
There's also room on the compound for
6-plus vehicles in the form of three garages in
all, each with capacity for two cars, plus a small
outdoor lot for additional parking.
A
R
C
H
I
T
E
C
T
U
R
E
+
D
E
S
I
G
N
54 DIGS.NET
| 2.23.24
