Los Feliz
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a Los Feliz — named after Corporal Jose Vicente Feliz, soldier and co-founder of the Los Angeles pueblo— is the neighborhood encompassing Griffith Park. It is a charming and vibrant neighborhood that lies just northeast of Hollywood. Its boundaries are Hollywood Boulevard on the south, Hyperion Avenue on the southeast, Griffith Park on the north, Los Angeles River on the east, and Western Avenue on the west. Los Feliz Boulevard is the main thoroughfare lined with stately deodar cedars and pines.
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Its most prominent landmark is the Observatory pompously perched on the summit of Griffith Park. With over 4,210 acres of both natural chaparral-covered terrain and landscaped parkland and picnic areas, Griffith Park is the largest municipal park with urban wilderness area in the United States. The area is absolute paradise for horseback riding, running, strollng, biking, hiking, and dog walking.
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It is a charmed town that boasts a medley of prized Mediterranean, French Normandy, Country English, Traditional from the 30s and ‘40s, Colonial, Italianate style homes immersed in lush mature vegetation of mixed chaparral, oak woodland, coastal sage scrub in deep canyons north of the Boulevard. The verdant hills also are blanketed by the California species of oak, walnut, lilac, mountain mahagony, sages, toyon, and sumac. This neighborhood is also notable for its architecture, in particular Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis-Brown house, which is tucked high in the hills, and the architect’s Hollyhock house, which sits just over a mile south. Los Feliz has an affluent hilly residential area that soaks up spectacular vistas of downtown Los Angeles, San Gabriel mountains to the east, and the ocean to the west.
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The Oaks with its narrow meandering streets, with names bearing the word “Oak” in them, is home to rather swanky mansions, old and new. However, over the years, Los Feliz’s architectural landscape has become more layered to include other genres such as fabulous architectural, mid-century homes. South of the Boulevard are more homes replete with old charm. There one will also find Los Feliz’ social nucleus comprised of hip and eclectic restaurants and boutiques packing the streets of Vermont and Hillhurst.
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Laughlin Park is an insular gated community within Los Feliz. Cecil B. DeMille purchased a 1914 estate at 2000 De Mille Drive for $27,893 and developed it to become what is now the quietly celebrated Laughlin Park. The array of architectural styles vary from Craftsman, Spanish, Italian, Mediterranean, French, English Gothic to comfortable Traditional, and Modern. A privileged set of modern architects have left their handprint on this extraordinary neighborhood such Roland Coate, Gordon Kaufman, Julia Morgan.
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The Los Feliz Estates or more commonly referred to as "The Estates", is another highly sought after area of Los Feliz owing to its characteristically level terrain. Another desirable unique aspect of its blueprint is that homes are situated only on one side of the street . Security is stringent with cameras at strategic locations, and a 24-hour roaming security funded by association dues.
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Franklin Hills between Los Feliz and Silver Lake is another of central Los Angeles’ disarming hilly neighborhoods. This residential area was developed in the 1920s as a quiet community centrally located in the midst of the sprawling metro area. It retains an old-fashioned, neighborly quality that is lacking in many of LA’s newer developments as reinforced by the two very long concrete stairways that connect the area’s winding streets, giving neighbors relatively easy walking access to one another’s home. Original Disney studiois were located nearby, and several "Cinderella"-style bungalows are scattered around the neighborhood. Many Hollywood artists, studio musicians and technical people live in this area.
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Los Feliz Village is the main social hub. In very recent times, it has metamorphosed into a hip, hot spot replete with five-star restaurants, outdoor cafes, bistros, wine bar, spas, yoga studios, and unique boutiques. Hillhurst Ave. and Vermont Ave. primarily comprise the Village. Fans of Doug Liman’s 1996 movie Swingers will also recognize a couple of the night spots featured prominently in the film, the Dresden restaurant and bar, and the Derby swing club, along Los Feliz’ main drags. Click on this link for a New York Times article describing the vibrant Village scene : travel.nytimes.com/2007/04/08/travel/08surfacing.html.
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Los Feliz’s liaison with Hollywood celebrity and other icons is a legendary. To this day, it remains home to more than a few celebrities who shun the overtness and glitz of the Westside. Many private estates here are obscured behind massive walls and acres of land which is precisely what the rich and famous seek.
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Get comprehensive Los Feliz Community Reports right here!
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