The 90-year-old property the place famed health guru Richard Simmons lived for 4 many years earlier than his loss of life is returning to the market with a new asking value—and a “extremely strategic” gross sales technique that sees the property touted as a “growth alternative” and an opportunity to “create a world-class” dwelling.
Simmons, who shot to fame within the Nineteen Seventies after launching a profession as a health skilled and weight reduction guru, died in July 2024, days after he celebrated his 76th birthday.
Lower than a 12 months later, the Hollywood Hills property that he had referred to as residence because the Eighties was put available on the market, with an asking value of $7 million, though that was steadily lowered over the course of 5 months, earlier than the house was delisted altogether in February of this 12 months.
Now, the property is making a daring return to the market, itemizing for the a lot lower cost of $5.79 million with Rachelle Rosten and Kelly deLaat of The Rachelle Rosten and Kelly deLaat Group at Douglas Elliman.
Having initially been touted as an opportunity to personal Simmons’ former residence, the dwelling is now being marketed as a one-of-a-kind growth alternative for a purchaser who’s looking for to create their very own private paradise perched above the long-lasting Sundown Strip.
“Initially celebrated for its connection to former proprietor Richard Simmons and the personal sanctuary he created, the property is now being reintroduced as a compelling canvas for transformation,” Rosten explains to Realtor.com®.
“Set excessive above the Sundown Strip with sweeping panoramic views, this iconic property presents a uncommon alternative to reimagine and construct one thing actually outstanding in considered one of Los Angeles’ most coveted enclaves.”
Described in its new itemizing as an “superb canvas for a world-class property,” the property is positioned in what deLaat and Rosten view as the right spot for a a lot bigger and extra fashionable mansion—one that may both be expanded out from the present construction or created from scratch.
The prevailing residence, which options 4 bedrooms and 4.5 loos, at the moment occupies solely a small portion of the 0.56-acre parcel on which it sits, permitting ample alternative for added buildings or for a a lot bigger major residence to be constructed.
“The gated, personal parcel affords dramatic panoramic metropolis views and sweeping vistas, with a number of usable tiers that includes beneficiant flat pads, terraced gardens, and a devoted pool stage,” the outline notes.
“This versatile topography creates a really perfect canvas for brand spanking new development, visitor buildings, growth, or a reimagined fashionable compound whereas capitalizing on the distinctive privateness and positioning.”
Addressing the pivot within the residence’s advertising and marketing technique, Rosten—who, together with deLaat has quite a lot of expertise in belief gross sales like this one—explains that the choice to supply the property up as a growth alternative got here after a “cautious reassessment of [its] full potential,” one that isn’t meant to eradicate Simmons’ legacy, however somewhat breathe new life into it.
“Whereas the present residence carries plain attraction, character, and a joyful spirit that mirrors Simmons’ distinctive persona, the true worth lies within the land itself,” she shares.
“With its beneficiant scale, prime setting, and extraordinary vistas, the location invitations a brand new imaginative and prescient the place new development can absolutely notice and elevate every thing this distinctive property has to supply.”
A part of that analysis concerned arising with a brand new asking value that precisely displays the worth that Rosten and deLaat see within the property—and its potential as the house of a way more extravagant abode.
deLaat explains that she and Rosten took into consideration the work that can should be achieved with a view to deliver the house into the trendy period, even factoring in “right this moment’s elevated development and materials prices” with a view to attain what they imagine is a good ask.
“Our valuation displays an intensive evaluation of comparable properties with related views, a lot of which might require substantial renovation or full redevelopment,” deLaat says.
“We additionally accounted for right this moment’s elevated development and materials prices, together with the time and complexity concerned in securing permits and approvals.
With out query, the best draw of the property is its location, which sits on an elevated hilltop perch overlooking the Sundown Strip, mere minutes from a few of Los Angeles’ hottest eating places and venues.
“Perched simply above Sundown Plaza and the world-famous Sundown Strip, it affords the distinctive benefit of privateness and elevation whereas nonetheless being inside shut proximity to premier purchasing, eating, and nightlife,” Rosten says. “This mix of scale, views, and walkability is what actually units the parcel aside.”
But regardless of its proximity to the hustle and bustle of the Strip, the property nonetheless maintains a sense of privateness and safety that’s exhausting to search out in such a outstanding spot.
Nonetheless, Rosten notes that the property’s movie star historical past additionally offers it an added cachet—and helps to attract in a a lot wider crowd which may ordinarily be interested by this sort of itemizing, significantly as a result of Simmons put such a private stamp on the house whereas dwelling there, filling it with distinctive ornamental parts.
“The property’s movie star provenance and distinctive design particulars will naturally generate important curiosity,” she explains.
“Parts such because the staircase cherubs, vibrant patterned wallpaper, curved French patio doorways, and the deeply private, expressive touches all through make the house each memorable and visually putting.”
In the case of figuring out the perfect purchaser, Rosten and deLaat clarify that they aren’t specializing in one particular pool of potential events—as an alternative preferring to solid the “widest doable web” and attract each those that have an interest within the residence’s storied historical past and those that view the parcel as simply that: the right spot for a brand new growth.
In different phrases, whereas they aren’t discounting the house’s enduring connection to its well-known former proprietor, they’re additionally not counting on that historical past as their sole technique of discovering a purchaser.
“Our technique for figuring out the proper purchaser is to solid the widest doable web,” Rosten says. “Whereas some could also be drawn to preserving the present residence, the chance to redevelop the location right into a premier trophy property with sweeping views is equally compelling.”
The brand new itemizing comes practically two years after Simmons died on the property—having spent the final decade dwelling a really reclusive life-style that noticed him hardly ever leaving his residence.
But, he maintained a detailed connection together with his followers by Fb updates by which he would supply glimpses of his life—whereas additionally sharing inspirational messages.
The rationale behind his disappearance turned the supply of intense media scrutiny, with a TMZ documentary, titled “What Actually Occurred to Richard Simmons,” claiming that his resolution to step away from public life was the results of a longtime ailment that he had suffered since start.
“One thing that occurred to him at start is instantly linked to his disappearance—a start defect that considerably affected considered one of his legs,” TMZ editor Fabian Garcia claimed within the documentary, based on the New York Put up.
“He was born with no full set of bones in his foot, and it causes bodily and emotional issues.”
In 2024, earlier than his loss of life, Simmons addressed the hypothesis about his disappearance in a social media put up, urging his followers to pay no consideration to the rumors.
“Don’t imagine every thing you learn. I now not have a supervisor, and I now not have a publicist. I simply attempt to reside a quiet life and be peaceable,” he wrote.
In accordance with property data, Simmons bought the house within the Eighties, and it’s understood to have served as his predominant residence till he died.
Nonetheless, the dwelling, which was inbuilt 1937, was transferred to a belief of which Lenny is the trustee, after Simmons’ loss of life.
