Julian Weinstock; Built Thousands of Homes

Julian Weinstock, an architect who early in his career designed homes but who found himself spending more time supervising their construction and decided he would rather be a contractor, has died.

A son, Brian, said his father, who built thousands of residential dwellings in the San Fernando Valley, died Sunday of the complications of a fall he suffered last year while he was vacationing in Sydney, Australia. He was 71.

He had been constructing homes in Southern California since the late 1940s, when he moved here from St. Louis. He attended the School of Architecture at Washington University in St. Louis.

His first client wanted a custom home in the Hollywood Hills, and Weinstock found himself spending most of his time hanging over the contractor’s shoulder, making sure the house was constructed to his detailed specifications, rather than at his desk picking up new business.

Reasoning that he could combine his design and construction skills, Weinstock formed the Julian Weinstock Construction Co., building homes on a fee-and-contract basis. He began with custom homes and small apartments in the Los Feliz area, Beverly Hills and the Sunset Strip.

By 1950 he was subdividing and developing large tracts in the Valley, and building apartment and industrial complexes.

In 1953 he and his associates developed more than 1,000 acres in the Sepulveda Pass. Part of that development, along Mulholland Drive, now is home to the University of Judaism, the Stephen S. Wise Temple, Bel Air Presbyterian Church, Leo Baeck Temple, Hebrew Union College and the Beverly Crest Estates.

Much of his time in his later years was devoted to his philanthropies, among them Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the United Jewish Fund, the University of Judaism and Vista del Mar. In 1962 he was named man of the year by the City of Hope National Medical Center.

Survivors include his wife, Lois; two other sons, Bradley and Darren; two daughters, Elaine and Elisabeth, and four grandsons.

A memorial service will be held today at 11 a.m. at the University of Judaism.