Janss Investment Company
Industry | real estate development |
---|---|
Founded | 1895 |
Founder | Peter Janss |
Defunct | 1995 |
Headquarters | Los Angeles, California |
Key people | Edwin Janss Sr. Harold Janss Edwin Janss Jr.(Chairman, 1970s) Bill Janss William Janss Jr. (President, 1980) Todd Janss |
The Janss Investment Company was a family-run, Los Angeles–based real estate development company that operated from 1895 to 1995.[citation needed]
First generation
The Janss Investment Company was founded by Peter Janss, an immigrant doctor from Denmark. Peter Janss graduated in the class of 1877 in Keokuk, Iowa, and by 1882 he was appointed Hall County physician.[1][dead link] He moved to Los Angeles in 1893, planning to practice medicine but discovered the real estate industry was much more lucrative.[citation needed]
By 1906 he and his two sons, Edwin Janss Sr. and Harold Janss established an investment company, creating subdivisions in
Janss developed Ramona Acres in Monterey Park.[5] Janss subdivided Highland Villa and Belvedere Gardens (now known as East Los Angeles) in Boyle Heights.[6]
In 1909, Janss subdivided a 3,500-acre (14 km2) part of the Bernardo Yorba Rancho Cañón de Santa Ana property and named the new town "Yorba Linda".[7]
Second generation
Sons Edwin Janss Sr. and Harold Janss developed
In 1911 Harold Janss married
After Janss sold the land to help build the UCLA campus, many organizations affiliated with university began to form. Many of these groups were fraternities and sororities whose members were mostly white men and women. The land for the university had been sold, but the land surrounding it still belonged to Janss. They sold the land along Hilgard Ave. to twenty one European American groups for the prices between $7,500 and $9,500, whereas the usual asking price was between $8,000 and $12,000.
In 1938 an Asian American sorority, Chi Alpha Delta, wanted to purchase the UCLA Religious Conference building with the hopes of setting up a home for its members and students near campus. The university appeared to be wanting to sell the building for this purpose, but while some of Janss was willing to sell, one was unwilling to sell to "Orientals".[13][14]
The Janss Brothers' headquarters in Westwood Village, the
Third generation
Edwin Janss Jr. was chairman of the Janss Investment Company and the third generation of a family of Los Angeles real-estate developers.
Fourth generation
William Janss Jr., M.D., took over the family business and became Janss Corp.'s president in 1980. During his term, the firm developed some $160 million worth of projects. The firm ceased operations in 1995.[18] Dr. Janss now[when?] resides in El Paso, Texas, where he practices.
References
- ^ 1890 Hall County History
- ^ Spitzzeri, Paul R. (May 15, 2020). "Over the Line: A Photograph of Belvedere Gardens (East Los Angeles), 13 May 1926". The Homestead Blog. Homestead Museum. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- ^ United States Commission on Industrial Relations, 1916, Industrial Relations: Final Report, Testimony of Edwin Janss - Janss Investment Company, Vol VI, p. 5826 - 5833
- ^ "Finding Aid for the Wilshire Family Papers, 1898-1985". oac.cdlib.org. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-56639-262-4
- ^ Broad Acres To Be Platted; Janss Investment Company Makes Big Purchase, p. 3 col 4, Los Angeles Herald, April 02, 1905
- ^ "Janss Investment Company advertisements for Yorba Linda land". www.yorbalindahistory.org. May 25, 1910. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ "Wrong shelf. | UC Berkeley Library". www.lib.berkeley.edu. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ISBN 978-0-520-22627-2
- ISBN 978-0-262-62125-0
- ^ a b Enriquez, Sam (January 4, 1987). "A Family's Fortune". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
- ^ "Janss Investment Co. v. Walden, 196 Cal. 753 | Casetext Search + Citator". casetext.com. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- OCLC 85841620.
- )
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ISBN 978-1-58465-489-6
- ^ Janss Corp. real estate firm closing down, Los Angeles Business Journal, Oct 9, 1995 [dead link]