Highland Park, Los Angeles

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"Highland Park, California" redirects here. For the neighborhood of Oakland, California, see Highland Park, Oakland, California.
Highland Park
—  Neighborhood of Los Angeles  —
The Highland Park Masonic Temple
Highland Park, Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles
Highland Park
Location within Central Los Angeles
Coordinates: 34°06′43″N 118°11′53″W / 34.11194°N 118.19806°W / 34.11194; -118.19806
Country United States
State California
County County of Los Angeles
City City of Los Angeles
Government
 • City Council Ed Reyes, Jose Huizar
 • State Assembly Kevin De León (D), Anthony Portantino (D)
 • State Senate Gil Cedillo (D), Carol Liu (D)
 • U.S. House Xavier Becerra (D)
Area[1]
 • Total 3.4 sq mi (9 km2)
Population (2000)[1]
 • Total 57,566
 • Density 16,809/sq mi (6,490/km2)
  Population changes significantly depending on areas included and recent growth.
ZIP Code 90042
Area code(s) 323

Highland Park is a historic neighborhood in Northeast Los Angeles. It is inhabited by a variety of ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

Contents

Location [edit]

Highland Park is a hilly neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, located along the Arroyo Seco. It is situated within what was once Rancho San Rafael of the Spanish / Mexican era. Its boundaries are roughly the Pasadena Freeway (California Route 110) on the southeast, the city limits of Pasadena on the northeast, Oak Grove Drive on the north, and Avenue 51 on the west. Primary thoroughfares include York Boulevard and Figueroa Street.

The neighborhood [edit]

One of the oldest settled areas of Los Angeles, Highland Park is also one of the most scenic due to its architecture and location between the Mt. Washington hills, the San Rafael hills and the Monterey Hills of Los Angeles, California. It has sprawling parks, including the Arroyo Seco Park and the Ernest E. Debs Regional Park. The Southwest Museum, with one of the largest and most significant collections of Native American artifacts in the country, is located in adjacent Mt. Washington. The light rail Metro Gold Line travels from East Los Angeles Atlantic Station through Union Station to Pasadena, traversing all of Highland Park.

Temple Beth Israel of Highland Park and Eagle Rock was founded in Highland Park in 1923 and constructed its building in 1930. It is the second oldest synagogue in Los Angeles still operating in its original location, after the Wilshire Boulevard Temple (built in 1929).[2][3]

Highland Park has experienced economic highs and lows during its first 100 years, most recently enjoying a Renaissance. After the Mexican-American War ended in 1848, California became part of the United States and Rancho San Rafael was subdivided, creating the neighborhood of Highland Park.[4] In the early 20th century, Highland Park and neighboring Pasadena became havens for artists and intellectuals who led the Arts and Crafts movement.[5]

But with the completion of Arroyo Seco Parkway in 1940, Highland Park began to change. By the 1950s, the artsy enclave experienced white flight, losing residents to the Mid-Wilshire district and newer neighborhoods in Temple City and in the San Fernando Valley.[6] By the mid-1960s, it was becoming a largely Latino enclave. Mexican immigrants and their American-born children began owning and renting in Highland Park, with its schools and parks become places where residents debated how to fight discrimination and advance civil rights.[7] By the mid-1970s, it had emerged as a predominantly Latino area. In keeping with its tradition of being a haven for immigrants, however, it remained a place where many racial and ethnic groups found a place to call home.

In the final decades of the 20th century, Highland Park suffered waves of gang violence, as a consequence of the Avenues street gang claiming the adjacent Glassell Park neighborhood and parts of Highland Park as its turf. At the dawn of the 21st century, the city attorney intensified efforts to rid Highland Park and Glassell Park of the Avenues. In 2006, four members of the gang were convicted of violating federal hate crime laws.[8] In June 2009, police launched a major raid against the gang, rooting out many leaders of the gang with a federal racketeering indictment.[9] By 2009, the city demolished the gang's Glassell Park stronghold.[10] Law enforcement, coupled with community awareness efforts such as the annual Peace in the Northeast March, have led to a drastic decrease in violent crime in the 2010s.

LACMTA Gold line train pulling into Highland Park Station

Starting in the early 2000s, a diverse mix of people began arrived to Highland Park to seek out, buy, and revitalize Craftsman homes, some which had suffered neglect over the decades. Sadly, many of Highland Park's oldest homes were razed during the 1950s and 1960s. One architecturally significant home made its way to Heritage Square Museum, thanks to the efforts of local activists dedicated to saving Victorian homes scheduled for demolition. Like Echo Park and Eagle Rock, Highland Park has steadily seen some gentrification. People from across the region have been attracted to the historic Craftsman homes that escaped demolition.[11] Its relatively low rents have made it increasingly popular among young people who value the walkable urban lifestyle afforded by the older style of neighborhood.[12][13]

Once again, Highland Park is building a reputation as a mecca for artists, with trendy shops, galleries, bars and restaurants opening throughout the neighborhood. The continuation of several long-time businesses lend credibility to the neighborhood's hipster status and add to its charm. One of the last typewriter shops in the City of Los Angeles, the U.S. Office Machine Company, is located in Highland Park at 5722 N. Figueroa. It specializes in repairing antique typewriters and has restored a few for movie studios. It is one of three businesses located in the old Sunbeam Theatre. It is owned by longtime resident Jesse Flores. The popular landmark statue Chicken Boy was relocated from a downtown Los Angeles restaurant to 5558 N. Figueroa in 2007. The trendy clothing chain Forever 21 was founded in Highland Park in 1984. The first store continues to operate in its original location at 5637 N. Figueroa and bears the original name of the company, Fashion 21. New hipster clubs have joined the local dive bars, with all become trendy gathering places.[14] The Old LA Certified Farmers Market opened in 2006, operating adjacent to the Highland Park Gold Line Station and providing a new nexus of community activity. A number of shops selling vintage clothes and boutiques offering hip home-decor accessories have opened along York Boulevard.[15]

Local Business [edit]

Highland Park has a wonderful legacy of local businesses, some that have been a staple in the Highland Park community for over 20 years. The first of such businesses is Galco's Soda Pop Stop. Galco's has been family owned and operated for over 100 years. Galco's is a shining example of successful small business in Highland Park as it has stood the test of time. [16] In addition, another cultural landmark in Highland Park is Avenue 50 Studio. Avenue 50 Studio is a non profit community based organization grounded in Latino and Chicano culture. Although a non-profit like Galco's, Avenue 50 Studio has been a community mainstay in Higland Park for over 20 years.[17] Also as a result of the gentrification of Highland Park there are several new successful businesses as well.

Popular References [edit]

Because of the picturesque neighborhoods in and around Highland Park, many movies are filmed here:

Many television and features films have used the old Los Angeles Police Department building on the 6000 block of York Boulevard.

Government and infrastructure [edit]

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Central Health Center in Downtown Los Angeles, serving Highland Park.[18]

The United States Postal Service Highland Park Post Office is located at 5930 North Figueroa Street.[19]

Los Angeles Fire Department Station 12[20] is in the area.

Transportation [edit]

Highland Park is served by the Highland Park (LACMTA station), along Metro's Gold Line light rail line. The station is an island platform located near the intersection of North Avenue 57 at Marmion Way, (one block west of North Figueroa Street).

It is also served by Metro Local bus lines 81, 83, 176, and 256, as well as LADOT's DASH Highland Park/Eagle Rock bus line. Highland Park is served by the historic Arroyo Seco Parkway SR 110, formerly known as the Pasadena Freeway.

Education [edit]

Highland Park is zoned to the following schools in the Los Angeles USD (LAUSD).[21]

Zoned elementary schools include:

  • Aldama Elementary School
  • Annandale Elementary School
  • Buchanan Elementary School
  • Bushnell Way Elementary School[22]
  • Garvanza Elementary School
  • San Pascual Elementary School
  • Saint Ignatius of Loyola School (K-8)
  • Toland Way Elementary School
  • Yorkdale Elementary School
  • Monte Vista Elementary School
  • Arroyo Seco Museum Science Magnet School (K-8)

Residents are zoned to Luther Burbank Middle School[23] and Franklin High School. Los Angeles International Charter High School and Academia Avance Charter also serve the community

Notable Residents [edit]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b "Los Angeles Times Neighborhood Project". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-04-11. 
  2. ^ Leibowitz, Ed. "Finding Sanctuary", Los Angeles, September 2008.
  3. ^ History, Synagogue website. Accessed August 27, 2009.
  4. ^ "Departures". KCET. 
  5. ^ "Departures". KCET. 
  6. ^ "Departures". KCET. 
  7. ^ "Departures". KCET. 
  8. ^ Mozingo, Joe; Quinones, Sam; Winton, Richard (February 23, 2008). "A gang's staying power". Los Angeles Times. 
  9. ^ "Major police raid targets L.A.'s notorious Avenues gang". Los Angeles Times. September 22, 2009. 
  10. ^ Quinones, Sam (February 5, 2009). "Avenues gang bastion is demolished". Los Angeles Times. 
  11. ^ "Highland Park becoming gentrified". Los Angeles Times, March 11, 2012. March 11, 2012. 
  12. ^ McDonald, Kathy A. (June 18, 2008). "Edgy neighborhoods attract frosh buyers". Variety, June 2008. 
  13. ^ "Experience an alternative Los Angeles". London Evening Standard, February 22, 2012. 
  14. ^ "The Hermosillo brings craft beer and wine to Highland Park". Los Angeles Times, June 8, 2012. June 8, 2012. 
  15. ^ "York Boulevard, Highland Park: A hub of hip, really". Los Angeles Times, March 9, 2012. March 9, 2012. 
  16. ^ http://www.kcet.org/socal/departures/highland-park/reinterpreting-highland-park/galcos-soda-pop-stop.html
  17. ^ http://www.kcet.org/socal/departures/fieldguides/highlandpark/art/avenue-50-studios.html
  18. ^ "Central Health Center." Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Retrieved on March 18, 2010.
  19. ^ "Post Office Location - HIGHLAND PARK." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 9, 2008.
  20. ^ "Los Angeles Fire Department — Fire Station 12". 
  21. ^ Susan Carrier (2003-10-12). "History hopes to repeat itself in Highland Park". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-12-26. [dead link]
  22. ^ http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Bushnell_EL
  23. ^ Luther Burbank Middle School
  24. ^ Mallman, Brian. "Remembering Antonio Corsi". Retrieved 1 November 2012. 
  25. ^ McKinley Jr., James C. "Manic Peter Pan Rules Dance Clubs". Retrieved 1 November 2012. 
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External links [edit]

Compass rose pale.svg Eagle Rock, Los Angeles Pasadena, South Pasadena
 
Compass rose pale.svg
 
North
Glassell Park, Los Angeles West   Highland Park, Los Angeles    East Garvanza, Los Angeles
South
Mount Washington, Los Angeles Monterey Hills, Los Angeles Hermon, Los Angeles

Coordinates: 34°06′43″N 118°11′53″W / 34.11194°N 118.19806°W / 34.11194; -118.19806
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