Mt. Washington Info Needed

[nickdahammer]

Originally Posted by singlus

Okay, how about this one: given the recent fire in the Sierra Madres near Pasadena, how likely is it that a fire would break out on Mt. Washington? Has it ever?

And any estimate on how much fire insurance and earthquake insurance runs on average every year? Thanks so much for your help, guys... my wife and I will be taking a house hunting trip out to L.A. this Friday.

Every once in while we see fire trucks passing us on their way up the hill. We got them in Montecito Heights as well (fires AND trucks, that is). I never hear of homes being lost- there is alot of open space, at least for an urbanized area, up above us and LAFD is awfully quick in putting the fires out up here.

[jennastarr]

I know it's true the farther up the hills you are the better. Is anyone familiar with the area around Frontenac and Ave 46? If so, how would this area rate on a scale between the best parts to the shady parts? Also, what ARE considered areas to avoid in Mt Washington if any? Any advice you could give would be much appreciated as we too are looking to buy a home in the area.

[karkyco]

Originally Posted by jennastarr

I know it's true the farther up the hills you are the better. Is anyone familiar with the area around Frontenac and Ave 46? If so, how would this area rate on a scale between the best parts to the shady parts? Also, what ARE considered areas to avoid in Mt Washington if any? Any advice you could give would be much appreciated as we too are looking to buy a home in the area.

The areas up into the hill are great, the bad parts are the bottom where you get into Highland Park (Avenue 50 on the north, Marmion on the east), Cypress Park on the south and southwest (Figueroa, Isabel, and Division). The Glassell border, along Division, is not too bad. All you have to do is drive the border streets and you will see , if you go no more than one block into Mt. Washington, a dramatic difference. You will see obvious third world barrio on the border, then all of a sudden, these beautiful, well kept homes, often estates.

Any of the low lying areas, particularly with apartment houses, are shady, but they're not really truly in Mount Washington. The border is really El Paso to the north, continued along Avenue 50 (though it's really beyond the border and into the "barrio" territory of Highland Park), to MonteVista which turns into Marmion along the east, then Isabel along the southeast through the south, to Division which goes back up to El Paso.

[karkyco]

The truly best parts are the ones with a great actual view (not a canyon view in the interior of the hilly area), either on the top, or high up on the edges on any side.

You can get nice homes, quite a variety of styles from Craftsman to Spanish Revival to 50's mid century to modern, with HUGE lots here for quite a discount relative to other higher elevation comparable 'premium' locations (Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz) without the less desirable elements further east or south of the city in their hilly areas (Baldwin Hills/Ladera Heights, Lincoln Heights, Montecito Heights, east LA higher, hilly areas).

[nickdahammer]

Originally Posted by jennastarr

I know it's true the farther up the hills you are the better. Is anyone familiar with the area around Frontenac and Ave 46? If so, how would this area rate on a scale between the best parts to the shady parts? Also, what ARE considered areas to avoid in Mt Washington if any? Any advice you could give would be much appreciated as we too are looking to buy a home in the area.

Yeah, I'm very familiar with that area- just voted up there last go-round at the Carlin Rec. Center. The area is fantastic, very quiet, still rather open and green in parts. Mt Wash actually spreads farther than one would think, but most consider those areas Glassell or Cypress Park(s). Some of the flatlands are rather nice, but most consistent are the hills. Used to live on Montecito, by Radio Hill which is very nice, but that long drive up can get old.

Klaus Voorman lived on Avenue 46 for years, had a recording studio downstairs. He was a close friend of the Beatles- bass-player, did the cover art for Revolver album. But I digress. Anyhow, I know of no areas up the hill that are 'bad' or dangerous. Having the Gold Line right there at Museum and Marmion is hard to beat.