Park La Brea, Los Angeles, California
Encyclopedia
Park La Brea is a sprawling apartment complex in the Miracle Mile District
of Los Angeles, California
. It encompasses more than 4,000 apartments in both high-rise and garden-style buildings, and sits on 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) of land with numerous lawns.
on the west. The complex is notable for its octagonal street layout, with many thoroughfares at a 45° angle of displacement relative to the English street grid.
land grant, and remained largely devoted to agriculture and petroleum
production well into the 20th century. The growth of Hollywood and the Miracle Mile made the adjacent areas desirable centers for residential development in the 1920s, but the mid-rise apartment towers that give the district its current name were built later, between 1944 and 1948.
Park La Brea represents something of a historical anomaly, having been built at a time when most visions of Los Angeles' development were dominated by low-rise tracts of single-family houses along freeway corridors. As the towers are relatively isolated from the rest of the Miracle Mile — set far back from major thoroughfares in a nod to Le Corbusier
, they developed a reputation as "the projects," since they are reminiscent of such notorious housing developments as Chicago's Robert Taylor Homes
and New York's Queensbridge. The street layout was created in a masonic pattern as a reference to the masonic heritage of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, which built the complex toward the end of World War II
and immediately thereafter. After a period of decline in the 1970s and 1980s, the complex was refurbished in the early 1990s.
Metropolitan Life Insurance also constructed a sister complex, Parkmerced in San Francisco, which features a similar street layout as Park La Brea. At the same time, they built Stuyvesant Town
and Peter Cooper Village in Manhattan, Parkchester in The Bronx, and Parkfairfax in Alexandria, Virginia just outside Washington, DC.
Park La Brea was designed in the early 1940s by architects Gordon Kaufman and J.E. Stanton. Inspired by the innovative housing of Le Corbusier in Paris, this architectural team set out to create multifamily housing in a new way.
Garden Townhomes followed an innovative plan that placed blocks around common green space, in a way that gave the impression of a spacious back yard.
Landmark Towers, in a revolutionary "X" structure with a unique placement, became icons of the Los Angeles skyline. The ingeniously designed plan ensured that every unit would enjoy expansive views.
The area had been the home to several celebrities but fell into ill repair in the mid 1970s. By the 2000s, Park La Brea was refurbished by new owners and had again become a desirable rental community with its own community center, health club and pool, beauty parlor, and drycleaner in addition to its convenient proximity to local museums, Farmers Market (Los Angeles)
, and The Grove at Farmers Market
shopping complex. In recent years, additional improvements have been made, adding new pools, modernizing the tower buildings and townhouses, improved security.
.
Three different elementary schools serve portions of this neighborhood:
All of the neighborhood is zoned to John Burroughs Middle School and Fairfax High School
.
Miracle Mile, Los Angeles, California
The Miracle Mile in Los Angeles, California, is an area in the Mid-Wilshire region consisting of an almost two-mile stretch of Wilshire Boulevard between Fairfax and Western Avenues...
of Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. It encompasses more than 4,000 apartments in both high-rise and garden-style buildings, and sits on 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) of land with numerous lawns.
Geography and transportation
Park La Brea is bounded by 3rd Street on the north, Cochran Avenue on the east, 6th Street on the south, and Fairfax AvenueFairfax Avenue
Fairfax Avenue is a street on north central Los Angeles, California. It runs from La Cienega Boulevard with Culver City at its southern end to Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood on its northern end.Fairfax Avenue forms the western boundary of Hancock Park as well as Park La Brea, an 160 acre ,...
on the west. The complex is notable for its octagonal street layout, with many thoroughfares at a 45° angle of displacement relative to the English street grid.
The neighborhood
After the arrival of the Spanish in the 1780s and the displacement of the area's indigenous population, most of the area that is now Park La Brea became part of the Rancho La BreaRancho La Brea
Rancho La Brea was a Mexican land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given in 1828 to Antonio Jose Rocha and Nemisio Dominguez by José Antonio Carrillo, the Alcalde of Los Angeles. Rancho La Brea consisted of one square league of land of what is now Wilshire's Miracle Mile, ...
land grant, and remained largely devoted to agriculture and petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
production well into the 20th century. The growth of Hollywood and the Miracle Mile made the adjacent areas desirable centers for residential development in the 1920s, but the mid-rise apartment towers that give the district its current name were built later, between 1944 and 1948.
Park La Brea represents something of a historical anomaly, having been built at a time when most visions of Los Angeles' development were dominated by low-rise tracts of single-family houses along freeway corridors. As the towers are relatively isolated from the rest of the Miracle Mile — set far back from major thoroughfares in a nod to Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier
Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier , was a Swiss-born French architect, designer, urbanist, writer and painter, famous for being one of the pioneers of what now is called modern architecture. He was born in Switzerland and became a French citizen in 1930...
, they developed a reputation as "the projects," since they are reminiscent of such notorious housing developments as Chicago's Robert Taylor Homes
Robert Taylor Homes
Robert Taylor Homes was a housing project in the Bronzeville neighborhood of the South Side of Chicago, on State Street between Pershing Road and 54th Street alongside the Dan Ryan Expressway.-History:...
and New York's Queensbridge. The street layout was created in a masonic pattern as a reference to the masonic heritage of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, which built the complex toward the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and immediately thereafter. After a period of decline in the 1970s and 1980s, the complex was refurbished in the early 1990s.
Metropolitan Life Insurance also constructed a sister complex, Parkmerced in San Francisco, which features a similar street layout as Park La Brea. At the same time, they built Stuyvesant Town
Stuyvesant Town
Stuyvesant Town—Peter Cooper Village is a large private residential development on the East Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City, and one of the most iconic and successful post-World War II private housing communities...
and Peter Cooper Village in Manhattan, Parkchester in The Bronx, and Parkfairfax in Alexandria, Virginia just outside Washington, DC.
Design
Garden Townhomes followed an innovative plan that placed blocks around common green space, in a way that gave the impression of a spacious back yard.
Landmark Towers, in a revolutionary "X" structure with a unique placement, became icons of the Los Angeles skyline. The ingeniously designed plan ensured that every unit would enjoy expansive views.
History and revitalization
Farmers Market (Los Angeles)
The Farmers Market is an area of food stalls, sit-down eateries, prepared food vendors, and produce markets in Los Angeles, USA. It also a historic Los Angeles landmark and tourist attraction, first opened in July 1934...
, and The Grove at Farmers Market
The Grove at Farmers Market
The Grove is a retail and entertainment complex in Los Angeles, California, built, owned, and operated by Rick J. Caruso and his company Caruso Affiliated on parts of the historical Farmers Market.-History:...
shopping complex. In recent years, additional improvements have been made, adding new pools, modernizing the tower buildings and townhouses, improved security.
Education
Residents are zoned to schools in the Los Angeles Unified School DistrictLos Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
.
Three different elementary schools serve portions of this neighborhood:
- Carthay Center Elementary School
- Hancock Park Elementary School
- Wilshire Crest Elementary School
All of the neighborhood is zoned to John Burroughs Middle School and Fairfax High School
Fairfax High School (Los Angeles)
Fairfax High School is a Los Angeles Unified School District high school located in Los Angeles, USA, near the border of West Hollywood in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles...
.