The Westside: What's the big deal? (Los Angeles, Torrance: best neighborhoods, cinema, middle schools)

[BRinSM]

with all of the residential buildings around westwood one has to wonder why it is experiencing such depression while places like Larchmont, Main St., Abbot Kinney, Montana, Hillhurst, Sunset Junction, and even Culver City are doing just fine (or at least much better).

[SoCal35]

Originally Posted by smokingGun

I gotta disagree. Many of the estates in Brentwood Park are gorgeous Tuscan or Spanish villas, often on double or triple-lot properties. And you can't forget the modern architectural gems hanging over the cliffsides on Tigertail, which are featured in the LA Times every other month. All of these are custom builds costing multiple millions to erect & furnish.

Living on the Westside & having roots here through my grandparents, it isn't just the locale, climate or homes that distinguishes itself from other neighborhoods: it's the people.

I have to disagree with much of your post:

1. COST does NOT equate to quality in architecture. The "Case Study Homes" are one of LA's BEST contributions to American residential architecture. Case Study Houses - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
These were "relatively" affordable homes built from the 1940's to the 1960's from Hollywood to the Pacific Palisades. They look very MODEST compared to the Executive housnig built in later decades in these areas.

2. The residential architecture in Brentwood PALES in comparison to the FAR MORE significant contributions in neighborhoods like SILVER LAKE, HOLLWYOOD/HOLLYWOOD HILLS, and LOS FELIZ.

Brentwood hardly even registers in one of the better guidebooks on LA architecture: An Architectural Guidebook to Los Angeles by Gebhard & Winter.

I paraphrase and (quote directly where indicated) their comments on those communities:

HOLLYWOOD HILLS/LOS FELIZ:
"No serious student of 20th Century traditional or avant-garde architecture can IGNORE this area" (a direct quote)as it is punctuated with works by Neutra, Schindler, Koening, and Frank Lloyd Wright (including the famous Hollyhock House). In addition, there is a significant amount of the housing stock dating from the Period Revivals of the 1920's and 1930's including Egyptian, Mayan, Spanish, Tudor, Hansel & even Medieval style, to name a few.

SILVER LAKE:
"For a small district, the SILVER LAKE area has a HIGH concentration of FIRST RATE archictecture, making it one of the most important places to visit in the city." The most influential work is by LA Modernists including: Schindler, Neutra, Ain, Soriano, and Lautner.

Brentwood PALES in comparison (and boasts very little in terms of significant architecutre)...it's really not even close regardless of who lives there. Don't get me wrong, I am not claiming the place is a dump. Given the price it better not be. It's just not earth shattering or even innovative in terms of design, etc.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

with all of the residential buildings around westwood one has to wonder why it is experiencing such depression while places like Larchmont, Main St., Abbot Kinney, Montana, Hillhurst, Sunset Junction, and even Culver City are doing just fine (or at least much better).

Montana's also depressed from what I've heard and saw on my last trip to SM.

The reason why those other areas are doing better is that they contain some shops that cater to the community. CC has a VERY strong community pride. Silver Lake, Los Feliz, and Venice also have community pride. Main St. caters to actual Santa Monicans who wouldn't be caught dead on the promenade or Montana as well as tourists.

Westwood's problem was that the RE bubble made it too expensive for shops which catered to the community to afford the rents and thus T-shirt shops, novelty shops,etc. were the only people to afford the rents - all the types of businesses that are most disposable when the economy goes bad.

[californio sur]

The Westside, to me, is epitomized by the HBO comedy series, "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Larry David is always driving around neighborhoods I recognize in West Los Angeles. It just seems exactly like the TV program: mostly upper middle-class to wealthy professionals who live in large homes w/ pools. Mostly Anglo\ Jewish\ Iranians who eat at sidewalk cafes or dine in expensive restaurants on La Cienega\ Pico\ Sunset blvds. Everyone has a dog or two and maybe a maid. All are liberal and many read the New York Times.

Now a different HBO show, "The Entourage" is definitely the Hollywood Hills\ West Hollywood. Young single and wealthy who go to pool parties\ club in West Hollywood\ go to gyms that have valets. Lots of beautiful women who go topless at parties\ clubs\ swimming pools. Everyone smokes weed non-stop. Lots of actors\ musicians.

[smokingGun]

Originally Posted by SoCal35

I have to disagree with much of your post:

1. COST does NOT equate to quality in architecture. The "Case Study Homes" are one of LA's BEST contributions to American residential architecture. Case Study Houses - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
These were "relatively" affordable homes built from the 1940's to the 1960's from Hollywood to the Pacific Palisades. They look very MODEST compared to the Executive housnig built in later decades in these areas.

2. The residential architecture in Brentwood PALES in comparison to the FAR MORE significant contributions in neighborhoods like SILVER LAKE, HOLLWYOOD/HOLLYWOOD HILLS, and LOS FELIZ.

Brentwood hardly even registers in one of the better guidebooks on LA architecture: An Architectural Guidebook to Los Angeles by Gebhard & Winter.

I paraphrase and (quote directly where indicated) their comments on those communities:

HOLLYWOOD HILLS/LOS FELIZ:
"No serious student of 20th Century traditional or avant-garde architecture can IGNORE this area" (a direct quote)as it is punctuated with works by Neutra, Schindler, Koening, and Frank Lloyd Wright (including the famous Hollyhock House). In addition, there is a significant amount of the housing stock dating from the Period Revivals of the 1920's and 1930's including Egyptian, Mayan, Spanish, Tudor, Hansel & even Medieval style, to name a few.

SILVER LAKE:
"For a small district, the SILVER LAKE area has a HIGH concentration of FIRST RATE archictecture, making it one of the most important places to visit in the city." The most influential work is by LA Modernists including: Schindler, Neutra, Ain, Soriano, and Lautner.

Brentwood PALES in comparison (and boasts very little in terms of significant architecutre)...it's really not even close regardless of who lives there. Don't get me wrong, I am not claiming the place is a dump. Given the price it better not be. It's just not earth shattering or even innovative in terms of design, etc.

True. Brentwood (and much of the Westside for that matter) may not have historically significant architectural works but we shouldn't judge a neighborhood's visual appeal just on the sheer number homes on the National Register of Historic Places. My point is the variety & juxtaposition of modern custom homes with Mediterranean/Tuscan/Spanish villas makes Brentwood & much of the Westside unique compared to other wealthy LA enclaves like Encino or South Pas or Malibu.

[SoCal35]

Originally Posted by smokingGun

True. Brentwood (and much of the Westside for that matter) may not have historically significant architectural works but we shouldn't judge a neighborhood's visual appeal just on the sheer number homes on the National Register of Historic Places. My point is the variety & juxtaposition of modern custom homes with Mediterranean/Tuscan/Spanish villas makes Brentwood & much of the Westside unique compared to other wealthy LA enclaves like Encino or South Pas or Malibu.

I'll agree with you on Malibu and Encino....but South Pasadena has far more character and charm than Brentwood.

[West of Encino]

I think the reason why the Westside is a big deal to some is because they picture the Westside as a safe haven from all the problems the rest of the county/city is facing. From a perspective, the Westside is pictured as the wealth capital in the city of LA.

[NorCal Dude]

I never leave the west side is translation for I never travel outside my comfort zone

[miyu]

The good thing about Westside is that you are going against traffic in all directions. Commuting to the westside is a nightmare for most.

That's where the benefits end.

[vdy1985]

The westside is the best side.