The Quaint Seaside Cottages of Corona del Mar, California—One Is For Sale

One of Southern California’s most beautiful and historic neighborhoods, Corona del Mar (Spanish for "Crown of the Sea") got its start in the early 1900s when developer George Hart purchased 700 acres of bluff-top land for $150 an acre. Known locally as "CdM" or "The Village," it is a blend of affluent seaside elegance and small-town charm, part of the city of Newport Beach. Hart’s dream was to create a quaint and walkable seaside resort of unique cottages, a goal he jump-started by grading Ocean Boulevard. He built the neighborhood’s first cottages and the nearby Hotel Del Mar to attract potential land buyers to the area. The neighborhood's distinctive grid of "Flower Streets," where each road is named alphabetically after a different flower, as well as its striking cliffs and immaculate beaches, was part of an early 20th-century idea to replace numbered streets with botanical charm.

Corona del Mar remained a remote weekend getaway until the Pacific Coast Highway was finished in 1926. Local artists and retirees, who infused their designs with their style and ideas—such as porthole windows and grand fireplaces—constructed many of the cottages. Many residents purchased their lot and then literally laid the foundation and bricks and did their own carpentry, plaster, finishes and landscaping.

By the 1960s, the Flower Streets were a patchwork of approximately 1,800 eclectic cottages, but by the 2020s, that number had plummeted to just 540. Recognizing that these "original" homes were disappearing at an alarming rate, the Corona del Mar Historical Society organized a panel of experts—including a former mayor, an architect, and local historians—to identify the "best of the best," the "Top 100" list. To be considered, a cottage generally had to be built before 1960. Judges made their choices based on "charm," "originality," and how much the home contributed to the "village feel." One of the most important homes from the “Top 100” list is for sale.

Built in 1941, 724 Poppy Avenue offers a charming escape into the past when California coastal living was still new, when these one-of-a-kind cottages were defined by craftsmanship and a feeling of partnership with the other cottage owners and the California landscape. Unlike many of the neighborhoods’ newer homes that have been significantly "modernized" with stucco or glass, 724 Poppy maintains its original brickwork and traditional cottage silhouette. While most of the lots in the Flower Streets are smaller, 724 Poppy is perched on the edge of Buck Gully on a 7,200-square-foot lot with a garden entrance and panoramic views of the ravine. Towering trees provide a year-round canopy and frame over the home’s rustic setting and a lovely garden path that ties it all together, while winding through a grove of olive trees. Smaller trees, bushes, and well-placed greenery complete the lovely picture.

The home has excellent walkability, next door to the 300-acre Buck Gully Reserve with four miles of trails rolling along a year-round picturesque creek, and is also close to the village heart of the neighborhood with its boutique shops and cozy cafés. It is a quick bike ride or leisurely stroll to Little Corona del Mar Beach or Corona del Mar State Beach Park.

Inside the 1,170-square-foot home are original tiled floors, brick and stone walls, and a pleasant, radiant heating system. There is a sunlit bedroom with its own fireplace, a comfortable den, and a bright living room. There are fireplaces in the living room, bedroom, and den.

724 Poppy Avenue is listed with Cari and Sue Young at Compass for $3.995 million.