Life in LA: Neighborhoods
Neighborhoods
Brentwood Santa Monica Bel Air Pacific Palisades Westwood MarVista WestLA
Geography
Brentwood is an upscale area of
West Los Angeles, roughly delineated by the 90049 ZIP code. The community is bounded by
26th Street (the dividing line between Brentwood and
Santa Monica),
Wilshire Boulevard, the 405 Freeway, and the
Santa Monica
Mountains. Sunset Boulevard runs east-west through the middle of Brentwood, and North of Sunset streets often wind up into the canyons of the
Santa Monica
Mountains.
The population of
Brentwood is about 38,000; and there are close to 18,500 residences, comprised of about 50% single-family residences and 50% condominiums and upscale apartments. Most Apartments and Condominiums are found immediately adjacent to, and below
San Vicente Boulevard. Above San Vicente, single-family residences are the majority.
Brentwood is primarily a community of families and young professionals. The small-town convenience of
Brentwood’s main business areas – along
San Vicente Boulevard and
Barrington Avenue – make walking and shopping an enjoyable experience. Restaurants, boutiques, and small businesses line either side of
San Vicente Boulevard, while the median strip is lined with Coral Trees – the town’s trademark.
Homes
A delightful mix of mid-century ranch homes, elegant mini-mansions, and serene canyon dwellings can all be found in the
Brentwood area. Winding and shady side streets in
Lower Brentwood are lined with Craftsman-style, Spanish-influenced and Traditional Homes.
In the upper canyons, many Mid-century Contemporary homes feature walls of glass, wide outdoor patios and swimming pools to take advantage of the serene vistas and the indoor-outdoor lifestyle so intrinsic to
Southern California. Aside from the lush greenery and local flora of the canyons, in many North of Sunset locations it is possible to see to the
Pacific Ocean, as well as to Downtown Los Angeles.
Although technically a part of one of the world’s biggest cities, housing density in Brentwood remains low – affording residents the luxury of large yards, privacy, and a peaceful setting.
Community
The
Getty
Center
Museum -- one of the world’s largest and best-known museums -- makes its home high in the hills above
Brentwood. The Richard Meier-designed campus opened in 1997, and quickly became the cultural and artistic center of the Westside. The home of vast collections of Architecture, Furniture and Decorative Objects, Paintings, Photographs and Manuscripts; the museum plays host to international touring exhibitions, outdoor concerts and lecture series. Surrounded by lush gardens, artful landscape designs and breathtaking views from Downtown to the Pacific, the
Getty
Center
Museum is truly a jewel, and ideally located for
Brentwood residents to take full advantage of its myriad cultural and educational opportunities.
Brentwood celebrates its small-town feel with numerous community events throughout the year, including the Brentwood Art Fair (April), The Brentwood Cornfest (July) and the Taste of Brentwood Food Festival (October). The close proximity of the Los Angeles Veterans Administration Campus makes the last weekend in May a truly special celebration. A traditional Memorial Day Parade, as well as 5-K and 10-K runs celebrates Memorial Day Weekend. The Holiday Season finds
Brentwood’s Business district glittering, as the Coral Trees on
San Vicente Boulevard are festooned with lights, and local merchants decorate their stores and boutiques in seasonal finery.
Areas
Brentwood Circle
This new guard-gated area of Brentwood is nestled just beneath the
Getty
Center
Museum. It is a private community and features some of
Los Angeles’ most beautiful new homes.
Brentwood Flats
This neighborhood is the core of
Brentwood, comprised of many cul-de-sacs and side streets. It is a charming "white picket-fence area" with well-tended yards and a real neighborhood atmosphere. Some of
Brentwood’s best shops and restaurants are within easy walking distance.
Brentwood
Park
The area of Brentwood known for estate-sized properties,
Brentwood
Park has its own homeowners association and distinctive feel. Most homes are gated and offer beautifully manicured rolling lawns.
Bundy Canyon
A charming North-of-Sunset area with a delightful mix of old classic homes and newer estates. The gentle hills and canyon greenery add to this areas considerable charm.
Kenter
Canyon
Natural beauty abounds in this picturesque area, with steep hillsides giving a true "
California
Canyon" feel.
Beautiful
Parks, large lots and one of
Brentwood’s best elementary schools make this North of Sunset neighborhood special.
Mandeville
Canyon
Best-known as an equestrian area,
Mandeville
Canyon is known for its large lots, many with traditional ranch-style homes.
Mandeville
Canyon runs furthest into the
Santa Monica
Mountains of all Brentwood-area canyons, and offers hikers and mountain bikers access to the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area.
Westridge Hills
Directly adjacent to
Mandeville
Canyon, Westridge Hills winds in and through the
Santa Monica
Mountains, and features dramatic canyon views
Brentwood Glen
In the early 1920s the Ratteree Brothers bought the area of property now know as Brentwood Glen, which at the time was a walnut grove. The land was referred to as the Ratteree Tract. The Ratterees filed for subdivision of the land in the mid 1920s. They named all the streets (and the names are original to this day) but they did not market the property until after the onset of the depression. The streets and sidewalks were poured in 1927. One of the original Pepper Trees is still in front of
11346 Montana St. In 1932 the first house was built at
11344 Albata Street. It is still the original structure. The majority of the houses were constructed between 1935-42. 1969 was the year the Homeowners' Association was formed. At that time residents decided to change the name of the neighborhood from the Ratteree Tract to Brentwood Glen. Today Brentwood Glen is home to 560 dwellings consisting of single family homes, duplexes, triplexes and multiple-unit apartments.
Geography
Santa Monica is considered a part of Greater Los Angeles, but in fact it is an incorporated city founded in 1875. One of the most famous beach cities in the world,
Santa Monica is located on the coast of
West Los Angeles, south of Pacific Palisades, and just north of
Venice
Beach.
Santa Monica is served by the 90401 – 90405 ZIP codes. The community is bounded by
26th Street (the dividing line between Brentwood and
Santa Monica) on the east. Most of West Los Angeles’ main east-west arteries – including Wilshire, Santa Monica, Olympic and Pico Boulevards -- end at the Santa Monica Coast.
The population of
Santa Monica is just over 84,000; and apartments/condominiums outnumber single-family homes by a 4-to-1 ratio. Most Apartments and Condominiums are found along the coast, and south of Montana Avenue Boulevard. North of Montana, single-family residences are the majority.
Santa Monica’s population is a primarily young (or young-at-heart), and reflects the community’s mélange of activities -- outdoor recreation, dining and nightlife, numerous retail areas and business centers are all found within Santa Monica. The
3rd Street Promenade, located near the coast between
Wilshire Boulevard and Broadway, is a well-known outdoor meeting place. The wide street is pedestrian-only, and is lined with numerous stores, restaurants and movie theatres. Street performers and exhibitions add to the ambiance, and a twice-weekly Farmer’s Market is a popular feature.
Homes
According to 2000 Census Data, over 60% of
Santa Monica’s housing units are apartments and condominiums, and 70% of those units are rental properties.
Santa Monica has long been known as a renter’s paradise, due to strict rent-control legislation. However, vacancy decontrol legislation was passed in 1999 by the City Council, and expected to have a great impact on renter demographics as time goes on.
Most of these multi-unit dwellings have been constructed to reflect
Santa Monica’s close proximity to the beach, and the historic Spanish and Mexican influences on
Los Angeles. Stucco and tile are favored finishes, and bougainvillea vines and palm trees are ubiquitous. Closer to the beach, quaint one-story cottages and bungalows nestle close together on side streets.
Single-family homes are a mix of new and old construction. Vintage Spanish-style bungalows, California Craftsman and beach cottages are found in every area of town, and most have been lovingly restored. Larger homes are found North of Montana and Wilshire Boulevards, with examples of
Cape Cod, Mediterranean-influenced and Traditional construction.
Although considered an intrinsic part of one of the world’s high-flying metropolises,
Santa Monica retains a laid-back beach feel, particularly in the summer months. The myriad of outdoor activities and pedestrian-friendly atmosphere bring a community feeling to the city, and that warmth embraces long-term residents and visitors alike.
Community
Life in
Santa Monica has always centered around
Southern California’s Three S’s – sun, surf and sand. A wide beach runs the western length of
Santa Monica – about 4 miles of coastline -- punctuated by the world-famous amusement-park pier and a bike path that runs from
Malibu to
Long Beach.
Santa Monica’s passion for all things outdoor is reflected in many environmental events and charities, including an annual Earth Day rally, and the Save The Bay program, which has made the
Santa Monica bay one of the cleanest salt water bays on the
California
Coast.
Santa Monica is governed by its own City Council, and protected by its own police and fire departments. The Big Blue Bus serves as public transport both within the city limits, and to points beyond. Additionally,
Santa Monica
Airport serves both amateur pilots and local businesses -- small planes from Cessnas to Lear Jets take off and land throughout the day.
Santa Monica is also one of the best school districts in
Southern California. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District includes 9 elementary schools, 3 middle schools and 2 high schools. Over 50% of the district’s 4th and 5th graders participate in the school’s music program, and over 90% of the district’s high school graduates continue on to college or university.
Santa Monica
College, on
Pico Boulevard, leads the state in transfers to 4-year schools, and offers hundreds of seminars, adult education classes and lectures throughout the year. Several private schools, including the prestigious
Crossroads
School and Le Lycee de Francias have their campuses within the city.
Areas
West of Seventh
The West of
7th Street/North of
Montana Avenue area is considered to be
Santa Monica's finest neighborhood. The area was developed primarily in the 1910's & 1920's. At that time broader streets and wider lots (100' was the standard) were established to attract buyers to the "distant location" (at the time). The large and stately homes were built in many styles but there is a strong sense sense of community and history, and newer construction is of top quality and design. The ocean breezes and good schools are an added attraction.
North of
Montana
The area North of Montana Avenue and between 7th and Centinela and has been a popular one for many years especially for families. Two highly-respected elementary schools, Roosevelt and Franklin, are in the neighborhood. The homes in this area are usually positioned on lots of about 50' x 150' with an alley in the back. 17th through
21st Place are referred to as "Gillette's
Regent Square". The many original Spanish houses were built in the 1920's and average about 1000-1500 sq. ft. Newer 2-story Mediterraneans are from 4000-6000 sq. ft. It is a highly desirable neighborhood with tree-lined streets and convenient to retail, restaurants, parks.
Sunset Park
Sunset
Park is on the southeastern sector of
Santa Monica. Prices now range from $500,000 to over $1,000,000 and the houses tend to be smaller and on lots of 5000-7000 sq.ft. Originally a neighborhood of tract housing built around Douglas Aircraft in the 1940's-1950's, the area is changing as younger people move in and rebuild newer homes, or renovate original construction. Some streets slope and curve and afford wonderful views of the
Pacific Ocean and bluffs to the south. It’s an area with a warm personality and neighborliness.
Geography
One of the most elite areas of
Los Angeles, if not the world, Bel Air, is an area of
Los Angeles? Westside, roughly delineated by the 90077 ZIP code. Beverly Glen and
Benedict
Canyons, Sunset Boulevard, the 405 Freeway and
Mulholland Drive bound the community.
Roscomare Road and
Beverly Glen Boulevard are the region?s main roads, both running north-south from Sunset into the
Santa Monica
Mountains.
Bel Air has long been the home to some of the most influential and popular names in entertainment, business and politics. The community is a mix of young and older residents, some with families and some without. What remain constant are a desire for privacy, security, and the ability to afford some of the largest and most luxurious estate properties in Greater Los Angeles.
Bel-Air surrounds the Bel-Air Country Club and Hotel, and residents are within close proximity to
Beverly Hills, Westwood and
Santa Monica. Movie Studios and Entertainment complexes are on either side of the hill.
Homes
Lower Bel-Air homes are situated in the foothills of the
Santa Monica
Mountains, just above Sunset Boulevard. These tend to be multi-acre estates, mansions and executive homes with generous pools, extensive gardens and spectacular views. Many of these estates face the Bel-Air golf course, and are within close distance to the Bel Air Hotel. This area is accessible though the East Gate and main streets include
Stone
Canyon,
St. Cloud,
St. Pierre,
Chalon Road and
Strada Court. These homes have an average price of $4 million, with some exceeding $10 and $20 million.
Upper Bel-Air is accessible through the West Gate. This area’s main roads are Stradella,
Roscomare Road,
Benedict
Canyon and Beverly Glen. As homes move up towards
Mulholland Drive, the lots tend to become smaller, though many have wonderful views and lush greenery surrounding. Upper Bel Air boasts some of the most spectacular sites for private estates with phenomenal views, and the winding roads are still quiet and lush.
Beverly Glen is a mini-community unto itself, with a small market and plaza, and a few restaurants known for their quality and privacy.
Community
As one of Los Angeles’ most private residential enclaves, Bel Air does not offer the sort of public community events found in areas such as Westwood and Brentwood. However, residents are close to everything – from first-class shopping, dining and entertainment, as well as abundant recreational opportunities. The Bel-Air Country Club, Golf Course and Hotel often serve as a "home away from home" for locals – many residents are within walking distance and often meet regularly for games, drinks or a meal. Socializing in Bel Air often takes the form of in-home entertaining.
In Beverly Glen, the closer proximity of homes creates a more traditional neighborhood ambiance, and an active community association provides an opportunity for residents to meet and discuss matter such as local traffic, zoning laws and charitable or fund-raising events. The Beverly Glen plaza is a popular spot to meet, and the area’s few restaurants are universally of high quality.
Geography
One of the most low-key, yet affluent areas of Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades is located along the Pacific Coast north of Santa Monica, south of Malibu and east of Brentwood. It is an area roughly delineated by the 90272 ZIP code. Along the ocean, the
Pacific Coast Highway (Route 1) runs north-south. Sunset Boulevard Chautauqua Boulevard,
Temescal Canyon Road and
Palisades Drive are the main thoroughfares away from the coast.
The population of Pacific Palisades is just over 25,000, and the community is a town within the City of
Los Angeles. Pacific Palisades is a quiet, family-oriented community with over 80% of the residential units being single-family homes. These properties range from modest mid-century ranches and bungalows to grander, more recent construction. Local zoning laws and neighborhood committees have maintained the restful ambiance of the side streets, and large lawns, wide sidewalks and streetlights make this an ideal area for family living.
The heart of Pacific Palisades is a Main Street-like area known as The Village – a cluster of upscale boutiques, coffeehouses and specialty shops. The streets around The Village are called "The Alphabet Streets", based on their name order. Other areas of note are The Huntington Palisades and The Palisades Riviera. These areas are known for grander residences, and many have ocean or golf course views. The Palisades Riviera is adjacent to the Riviera Country Club.
Homes
The unique topography of Pacific Palisades delineates various neighborhoods – each with their own typical style of homes. The palisades and mesas along the shoreline find a mix of old and newer homes, many with views of the ravines or the ocean.
Palisades Road runs up from the coast into Palisades Highlands. Construction in this planned community began after 1970. The properties are a mix of townhouses, executive homes and mansions, most of which have views of the Pacific or
Temescal
Canyon. The Huntington Palisades and Palisades Riviera are very affluent neighborhoods, with impressive homes and manicured lawns. The Rivera Country Club and Golf Course are nearby.
The Alphabet Streets, adjacent to The Village are smaller family homes, typically built between the 1930s to 1970s. Usually of a traditional or bungalow style, these houses enjoy a small-town ambiance and close proximity to the Village.
Community
One of the Pacific Palisades best-known attractions is
Will
Rogers
State Park. Technically outside the town limits on Sunset Boulevard, it is nonetheless the outdoor recreation area of choice for Palisadeans. The property was originally the ranch home of
America’s Cowboy Humorist, and his home has been turned into a museum. Horses are boarded on the property, and weekend hikers populate the many trails leading up into the
Santa Monica
Mountains.
Picnickers and family gatherings dot the expansive green lawns of the former working ranch, and the full-size polo field plays host to many weekend matches in season.
Temescal
Canyon
Park is another favorite destination of hikers and mountain bikers, while golf and tennis enthusiasts enjoy the Riviera Country Club and Pacific Athletic Club.
The Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine is a ten-acre site on Sunset Boulevard, devoted to followers of Paramahansa Yogananda. It is the only site in the
Western United States where one can visit the ashes (a portion) of Mahatma Gandhi. They are housed in a spectacular 1,000-year-old sarcophagus on the western side of the lake. The grounds of the shrine are more like a variety of scenic paths and meditation sites, than a traditional temple. It is open to the public and people of all faiths, and there is no preaching or conversion – it is simply a peaceful park, surrounded by breathtaking natural vistas.
The
village of
Pacific Palisades hosts several community events throughout the year, none more nationally-known than the Nissan Open Golf Tournament, which is held at the Riviera Country Club in February.
Pacific
Palisades Areas
Palisades Village
Pacific Palisades, lies between
Santa Monica and
Malibu. The Palisades (as locals refer to their town) has a population of approximately 24,000. Pacific Palisades postal zip code is 90272, is home to the J.Paul Getty Villa (The Getty Web site refers to the Villa as
Malibu, but the postal zip is Pacific Palisades), Self Realization Lake Shrine,
Temescal
Canyon
Mountain
Gateway
Park,
Will
Rogers
State
Historical
Park. On the east, Pacific Palisades borders
Mandeville
Canyon (Brentwood), and on the west,
Malibu. Set above the beach on bluffs or palisades (hence its name), much of the area commands breathtaking ocean views.
The
Village of
Pacific Palisades was founded in 1922 as a residential community, Pacific Palisades is located on the "westside" of
Los Angeles. For the original properties, the planning and choice of street names had come under the aegis of the Pacific Palisades Association and the
Methodist
Church.
Huntington Palisades
In the 1920’s a large piece of land belonging to the heirs of one Collis Huntington became available, and the Palisades Association purchased the entire 226-acre plot for $1,625,000 on February 6, 1926. Palisades residents apparently discovered that the Catholic Church was looking for a college and was seriously considering the
Huntington property but after The Association arranged the purchase Mount St. Mary's College was established in
Brentwood instead.
The Association agreed that Huntington Palisades would be an exclusive development for a discriminating clientele. Broad Streets in graceful curves outlined the periphery of the mesa and formed concentric semi-circles around
El Cerco Place. W.W. Williams, who developed the plan, was responsible for the engineering and construction while Mark Daniels directed the landscaping and beautification phase of the development. Underground utilities were installed and ornamental light fixtures were provided.
Palisades Rivera
In 1923, Alphonzo Bell purchased 22,000 acres of choice land from the Santa Monica Mountain Park Company and
Santa Monica
Land and Water Company, giving
Bell a princely expanse of scenically beautiful mountain property that extended from Bel-Air to the sea and included most of the acreage that surrounded the community of Pacific Palisades.
Bell's influence on these tracts was strong, both in their restrictive character and in the choice of street names which were drawn from the family's travels in Italy, France, and Spain, Most of the names are Italian in origin, many being inspired by the beauty of the Amalfi Coast, south of Naples, where, just as in Pacific Palisades, "the mountains meet the sea."
Palisades Highlands
"The
Highlands" are an island of residences in upper Santa Ynez Canyon, and the most recent large-scale development in Pacific Palisades.
Roads and tracts of Palisades Highlands have reached the top of the eastern ridge, and the final phase is now complete. Extending northeastward to the highest point in the development, "The Summit" is a 313-unit planned community, with a clubhouse, tennis courts and other recreational facilities. In seeking an overall theme for a large, up-scale development, the developers have uniformly chosen Spanish names, some of them memorializing persons affiliated with the enterprise.
Residents of the Palisades Highlands continue to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding parklands and numerous hiking trails that divide Santa Ynez Canyon.
Geography
Westwood is the name given to the area of
Los Angeles surrounding the
University of
California at
Los Angeles (UCLA).
Santa Monica Boulevard roughly bound the community to the south and Sunset Boulevard to the north. The Los Angeles Country Club forms Westwood’s eastern border and the 405 freeway is on the west.
Wilshire Boulevard runs east-west through Westwood, and includes the Wilshire Corridor, a half-mile long stretch of luxury high-rise condominiums.
Westwood Boulevard is the main access to the UCLA campus, while
Beverly Glen Boulevard runs north from
Santa Monica, Wilshire and Sunset Boulevards, over the hills through Bel Air to
Studio
City in the
San Fernando Valley. Westwood is profoundly influenced by its close proximity to UCLA.
Westwood
Village offers a wide variety of retail shops, specialty boutiques and restaurants. These businesses run the gamut – from student-oriented bookstores, artsy coffeeshops and typical college bars to upscale boutiques, quiet al fresco cafes and fine restaurants.
UCLA sporting events are popular destinations for students and native Angelenos alike, and the school’s athletic facilities are often the site of regional and national sporting events, including the Pac 10 college basketball playoffs. Many movie premieres are held at
Westwood
Village’s historic movie theatre – a wonderful example of Art Deco Architecture from
Hollywood’s Golden Age -- and the Geffen Theatre and UCLA Royce Hall play host to a variety of lectures and cultural events throughout the year.
Homes
Westwood includes many smaller neighborhood areas most of which are predominantly single-family residences. The two exceptions are the rental properties and apartment buildings immediately adjacent to UCLA, and the Wilshire Corridor. A stretch of
Wilshire Boulevard between Westwood and Beverly Glen, the Corridor is lined with high-rise luxury condominiums– most are full-service buildings with such amenities as 24-hour valet, pools, tennis courts and spas. The price of these units is equal to or greater than the price of a detached dwelling.
Little Holmby and Westwood Hills are North of Sunset. These upscale areas feature tree-lined streets and hard-to-find ambiance. Older Spanish, Tudor and English-style homes reflect tremendous pride of ownership. Little Holmby surrounds
Armand
Hammer
Park, which features a large playground and 18-hole Par 3 public golf course. Westwood Hills is just to the west, between the 405 and UCLA. Many faculty members live in this area, which is named for the rolling hills that signal the start of the
Santa Monica foothills.
Although technically a part of one of the world’s biggest cities, housing density in Westwood remains low – affording residents the luxury of large yards, privacy, and a peaceful setting.
Community
The
Getty
Center
Museum -- one of the world’s largest and best-known museums -- makes its home high in the hills above
Brentwood. The Richard Meier-designed campus opened in 1997, and quickly became the cultural and artistic center of the Westside. The home of vast collections of Architecture, Furniture and Decorative Objects, Paintings, Photographs and Manuscripts; the museum plays host to international touring exhibitions, outdoor concerts and lecture series.
Geography
Mar Vista is near the center of LA's West Side. The city of Santa Monica lies to the northwest, West Los Angeles to the north, Palms to the northeast, Culver City to the east, Del Rey to the southwest, and Venice to the west. Its approximate boundaries are the city limits of Culver City and the San Diego Freeway (I-405) on the northeast and southeast, Walgrove Avenue on the southwest, and the Santa Monica Municipal Airport and National Boulevard on the northwest. Major thoroughfares through the district include
Washington Place; Palms, Venice, Sawtelle,
Inglewood, and Grand View Boulevards; McLaughlin,
Barrington, Short, and Centinela Avenues; and
Beethoven Street. The district uses the 90066 ZIP code.
The Westdale area of northern Mar Vista — the area bounded by
Sawtelle Boulevard,
National Boulevard,
Bundy Drive, and
Palms Boulevard — is a neighborhood within the bounds of the Mar Vista Community Council.
Homes
Mar Vista is an economically diverse neighborhood of apartment buildings and single-family homes. The hilly areas near its border with
Santa Monica, whose spectacular ocean views give Mar Vista its name, hold some of the most expensive land in the community.
Mar Vista is considerably less densely populated than neighboring Palms, as its homeowners' associations successfully fended off the 1950s up-zoning that changed much of Palms and
West Los Angeles from suburban areas to renter-dominated urban neighborhoods. It should be noted, though, that some 60 percent of the district's residents live in rental housing, owing to the density of apartment buildings on thoroughfares like
Venice Boulevard and
Barrington Avenue.
In recent years, the escalating cost of real estate (even a 1,500 square foot (140 m²) 1940s tract house may go for upwards of $800,000) has led to a rise in the number of newly constructed Mediterranean Revival-inspired McMansions and "Persian palaces" on Mar Vista Hill. Nearby UCLA maintains a large graduate student housing complex along
Sawtelle Boulevard near
National Boulevard, as well as a smaller housing block along the north side of
Venice Boulevard between
Inglewood and McLaughlin Avenues.
Current Los Angeles City Council member Bill Rosendahl resides in Mar
Vista. He was elected in 2005 on a slow growth platform, motivated in large part by the concerns of Mar
Vista residents over traffic congestion and lost views resulting from the Playa Vista project.
The Pacific Electric Railway "Red Car" streetcars ran along
Venice and Culver Boulevards during the neighborhood's early years, but were shut down after World War II.
Community
A portion of north-central Mar Vista, the Gregory Ain Mar Vista Tract, is designated as a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone by the city of
Los Angeles. This area, built immediately after World War II, contains an abundance of excellently preserved mid-century modern architecture.[1]
Geography
The district is bordered by Santa Monica on the west, Brentwood on the northwest, the unincorporated Sawtelle Veterans Administration grounds on the north, Westwood on the northeast, Rancho Park on the east and southeast, and Mar Vista on the south and southeast. Its generally accepted boundaries are the San Diego Freeway on the east, the Santa Monica Freeway on the south, the city limits of
Santa Monica on the west, and
Wilshire Boulevard on the north.
Its major thoroughfares are Olympic, Santa Monica, Pico, Wilshire, and Sawtelle Boulevards,
Barrington and
Bundy Drive.
Because the Big Blue Bus (
Santa Monica's municipal bus network) uses UCLA as one of its terminals, it provides good public transit within the region, especially along east-west routes, as does the LACMTA to a lesser extent. However, public transit from West Los Angeles to other, more distant districts within
L.A. is poor.[citation needed]
This district contains an area of Japanese-American culture along
Sawtelle Boulevard which is sometimes called Sawtelle.
Homes
After the area's colonization by the Spanish, most of what is now West Los Angeles became part of the Rancho San Vicente y Santa Monica. With the arrival of Anglo settlers after the Mexican-American War, the original Californio landowners sold out, or were forced from their holdings, and by the beginning of the 20th century the area was mostly bean and wheat fields. Many Japanese immigrants settled in the district, establishing orchards and nurseries in the process. Some of these nurseries are still in business today, along the stretch of
Sawtelle Boulevard between Olympic and Santa Monica Boulevards.
The core of what is now West Los Angeles, including the West Los Angeles government center at
Santa Monica and Purdue, was incorporated as the City of Sawtelle. In the 1920s, the area was annexed by the City of
Los Angeles.
Community
As with most parts of the Westside,
West Los Angeles is an affluent neighborhood. Its central location has made it a locus of commercial development, with several high-rise office buildings along Olympic,
Santa Monica, and Wilshire Boulevards. It also contains a large number of Japanese-owned businesses. A satellite congregation of the
Wilshire Boulevard
Temple, one of the most prominent Reform Jewish congregations in Southern California, occupies the northeast corner of Olympic and
Barrington.
Housing in West Los Angeles is a mixture of low-rise apartment buildings, mostly inhabited by young professionals and working-class families, and single-story tract house developments built between late 1920 and 1960.[citation needed] Two of Los Angeles' tallest residential towers are at the neighborhood's northern edge, at the intersection of Wilshire and Barrington. There is a trend toward greater density, as single-family houses get replaced by apartment buildings, or apartment buildings by taller ones, as building sites become available through demolition.
Schools in the area, such as
Wildwood
School, are well-respected and of generally high quality. University High School, a secondary school named for nearby UCLA, is in the district. "Uni" is one of very few older high schools in
Los Angeles that have not had to be completely rebuilt following earthquakes over the years, and still has a traditional look to it featuring weathered brick walls and arched entries. As a result, it is a popular with film producers as a shooting location, even when school is in session, much to the chagrin of the students and faculty. The campus also contains within its bounds an artesian well (claimed by the Tongva people as their ancestral home) which has never failed, even in the driest years. Junipero Serra's party is said to have camped there in the course of their journey up and down the state.
West Los Angeles is the home of a Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP). It is part of an initiative by the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide mail order prescriptions to veterans using computerization at strategic locations throughout the
United States.[1]
West Los Angeles has a small Hispanic community evident by the authentic Mexican restaurants and a few Mexican shops. Among the area's Latino residents are a large number of immigrants from Oaxaca.[2]
