Eagle Rock, Mt. Washington

Eagle Rock

Eagle Rock and Mt. Washington are both hillside communities each with their own unique flare. Mt. Washington’s hilly geography creates a rural retreat that contrasts with the cities otherwise urban landscape. This community has plenty of undeveloped land and cabin like homes on large lots amongst the trees. Just 4 miles north of downtown, with no major boulevards running through it, the area has been able to retain a county like feel. A Metro Gold Line station serves the southeastern parts of the neighborhood that connects to Pasadena and downtown Los Angeles. There is a stop at the local Southwest Museum, whose collections deal mainly with Native American and Spanish Colonial history. Adjacent to Mt. Washington, just five miles from downtown Los Angeles you’ll find Eagle Rock. The name was adopted from a bird-like rock formation at the north-eastern most corner of the area. It is home to many architectural treasures of the Arts and Crafts movement. Hill Drive offers some of the city’s most beautiful and well maintained Craftsman homes. Eagle Rock has an eclectic feel with a combination of city dwellers and suburbanites. It is bordered by the cities of Glendale and Pasadena, adding a suburban atmosphere and then Highland Park and Glassell Park that maintain an edgy, city vibe. Occidental College, the Ivy League of the west, is at the southern edge of Eagle Rock, adding a unexpected collegian energy to the area.

Atwater Village, Elysian Valley

Atwater Village

Although these areas are not technically hillside communities, they form the connections to the surrounding hillsides by way of geography and architectural merit. These neighborhoods are peppered with Spanish and Craftsman architectural gems. Most of the homes are smaller in size with much of their original character intact. The communities of Elysian Valley and Atwater are divided by the Los Angeles River. There is a river project underway that will unite the communities and create a destination spot for biking, walking and family based recreational outlets that will positively impact quality of life for residents. Elysian Valley has a commercial and arts district that follows the river’s path and will continue to expand as the river project is implemented. Atwater’s commercial district along Los Feliz Blvd., Glendale Blvd. and Fletcher has seen a recent expansion of eateries and quirky specialty shops.

Highland Park, Glassell Park, Cypress Park

Highland Park

Art and Architecture have flourished in the Highland Park neighborhood since its beginnings in the late 1880s. In 1885 Charles Lummis came to Highland Park and built his home, named “El Alisal,” along the Arroyo Seco. It took 15 years to build the concrete/stone craftsman residence whose name means “Place of the Sycamores.” The home is now a cultural monument and maintained by the Southern California Historical Society. A few decades after this primarily residential area was developed, its business district was established along Figueroa St. Like many other areas of Los Angeles the development in the 50’s and 60’s had an impact on the original architecture of the area. Much effort has gone into restoring the areas commercial and residential architecture. Heritage Square was started by local activists to save some of the Victorian homes that stood to fall victim to development. It has become a museum for the community to remember its history. There are large sprawling parks in the area, including the Arroyo Seco Park and the Ernest E. Debs Regional Park. Before the rise of Southern California housing prices from 2002–2005, many sought out property in Highland Park to own and revitalize Craftsman homes, some which had suffered neglect over the decades. Although this quiet movement continues, Highland Park has not undergone the dramatic changes that Echo Park and Eagle Rock have experienced. The district's proximity to those neighborhoods (coupled with low rents), have made it increasingly popular among "hipsters." Glassell Park and Cypress Park are blend of residential and commercial properties. They were developed along the Pacific Electric Railway and have a long industrial corridor along San Fernando Road, with a low rise commercial district on Eagle Rock Blvd. These neighborhoods have been significantly affected by the Southern California real estate boom that began in the early 2000s. An influx of middle-class families moved to these neighborhoods, attracted by the abundance of Craftsman homes and relatively low prices. Most current residents are working-class Latino, Caucasian, and Filipino families that benefit from easy commuter routes via three freeways (the 5, the 110, and the 2) and close proximity to Downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood.

Silver Lake, Franklin Heights, Moreno Heights

Silver Lake 

Prior to the construction of the Silver Lake reservoir by LADWP in the early 1900’s, this area 4 miles northwest of downtown, was known as Ivanhoe, a small suburban hamlet with street names taken from Sir Walter Scott’s novels of his native Scotland. The Ivanhoe School was begun here in 1888 and the street car from Los Angeles ran through the "center of town." An additional trolley known as the Ostrich Farm Railroad ran from Sunset Boulevard (then called Prospect Street) to the old Zoo, along the route we now call Griffith Park Boulevard. The area is famous for its varied architectural styles, much from the mid 1900’s by such well known architects as R. M. Schinder, John Lautner, Gregory Ain, and Dion Neutra. It is also the site for several new modern architectural projects. Silver Lake residents have been known to promote diversity and support artistic expression. The area is also known for its restaurants, spectacular downtown views, and irregular hillside roads that can make navigation difficult for non-locals. There are many pedestrian friendly locations in the area, including the Silver Lake reservoir, a dog park, Sunset Junction, and Rowena Ave.

Echo Park, Elysian Heights, Angelino Heights

Echo Park, located about 2 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, is a hillside community with a unique organic design, a mixture of inner city vibrancy and quiet country lanes. The areas eclectic mix of houses range from tiny two room hunting cabins off of stairs streets, to large Craftsman and Victorian villas on wide avenues. A truly diverse neighborhood exemplified in its large Latino, Asian, and Bohemian communities.

Elysian Heights at the north end attracts many writers, artists, and musicians, who are drawn to the areas quirky shops, impromptu events, and stunning downtown views. The southern most area has been designated as “Historic Filipino Town” and is home to one of the city’s largest Filipino populations.

Angelino Heights, L.A.’s first suburb located at the eastern end of Echo Park, was originally served by a cable car line along Temple Avenue. This area thrived during the large exodus of Americans who moved to California with the railroads, shortly after California was wrested from Mexico and became the 31st state. People were drawn in by the temperate climate and the elevation which provided beautiful vistas in a quiet suburban local just outside the big city. The Kensington Loop of Victorian homes built in the 1880’s are now preserved by a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone – the first of its kind in the city. Carroll and Kellem Avenue have many designated Los Angeles Historic Monuments, including the 1300 block of Carroll which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.