Brentwood

History/Geography
Brentwood was founded in the 1880s after the establishment of the large 600-acre Pacific Branch of the National Home for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors. The Branch helped stimulate the growth of the agricultural district into a full and vibrant community.  Today, Brentwood is home to nearly 42,000 residents and is one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Los Angeles.  In addition to its residential areas, Brentwood has a number of commercial districts located along its major thoroughfares of Wilshire, San Vicente, and Sunset Boulevards.    This, combined with the area’s natural beauty - ranging from its scenic trails above Mandeville Canyon, to its famous coral tree median on San Vicente Boulevard - helps  Brentwood continue its long tradition of being a wonderful place to work, live, and play.

Mar Vista

History/Geography

Once named Ocean Park Heights in hopes of relating itself to the neighboring City of Ocean – now the community of Venice – in 1924, Mar Vista adopted its current name, and soon after, was incorporated as an independent city.  Its incorporation was short lived however, as Mar Vista residents, following the trend of other local cities, quickly began to seek greater access to Los Angeles’water supply.  By 1926, residents had weighed their options and decided to merge with the City, with the annexation becoming official on March 10, 1927. 

By the 1950s, with Mar Vista growing into a vibrant community, residents and neighborhood associations decided to fight to prevent up-zoning in the area.  As a result of their effort, the area is considerably less dense than many of its neighboring communities.  Yet, despite this lack of density, Mar Vista today has grown into an economically diverse community, hosting nearly 52,000 residents, including Councilman Bill Rosendahl.

Palms

History/Geography

Beginning as a part of the Rancho La Ballona cattle grazing land in the early 1880s, in 1886, Palms was settled as an agricultural community, and in 1915, annexed by the City of Los Angeles.  Today, Palms is home to some 30,000 residents, the vast majority of whom – about 92 percent – are renters living in the abundant apartment buildings of the area.  Uniquely divided, the neighborhood of Palms is represented in City government by three City Council Districts:  CD 11, CD 5, and CD 10.  Like its governance, Palms today is a highly diverse community, with its relatively affordable housing and central location a major draw to potential residents.

Playa Vista

History/Geography

Originally home to ancestors of the Gabrielino Tongva Native Americans, and then to European settlers in the mid-1700s, the marshlands of Playa Vista have a long history.  Like many of Los Angeles’ communities, the area was once the site of agriculture and dairy farms.  It later transformed into a major hub of the then-thriving Southern California aircraft industry, serving as the headquarters of the Howard Hughes Aircraft Company from the 1940s to the 1980s (it was on this site where Hughes constructed his famous Spruce Goose aircraft).  Today, Playa Vista contains a mix of residential, business and commercial developments, while maintaining a large amount of open space and parks.  The restored Ballona Freshwater Marsh treats urban runoff from Playa Vista and is home to some breathtaking natural beauty.  The area is also located within a mile of the ocean and in close proximity to many Westside attractions.

West Los Angeles

History/Geography
Colonized by the Spanish and later inhabited by a number of Japanese immigrants, West Los Angeles was originally its own municipality known as Sawtelle.  In 1922, Sawtelle was annexed by the City of Los Angeles.  Today, West Los Angeles is a largely affluent community, home to about 30,000 residents.  In addition to its residential areas, West LA is home to a number of commercial developments, including some high-rise office buildings along its main corridors.  It continues to maintain a strong Japanese community and business district along Sawtelle Boulevard. 

Del Rey

History/Geography
Del Rey was established as an agricultural community in the 1800s, but slowly began to urbanize with the arrival of Hughes Aircraft in the 1940s.  With the area’s susceptibility to flooding eventually proving too problematic for the continued sustainability of agriculture,  today, Del Rey is primarily a residential community consisting largely of post-war bungalows, along with some apartment buildings; it also contains a small industrial area.  Although located in the City of Los Angeles, a large portion of Del Rey carries Culver City’s zip code of 90230, which is a common cause for confusion.  Del Rey is the most affordable and ethnically diverse community within Council District 11.  While predominantly Latino, Del Rey also contains large East Indian, Fijian, Hawaiian and Japanese communities.  Its Latino population is the largest on the Westside. 

One of Del Rey’s key physical features is Ballona Creek, which features a popular bike path that provides convenient access to the beach.  The Culver Boulevard Median Bicycle Path offers another great place to ride bikes and to walk, in addition to providing much needed green space.  There is a growing sense of community within Del Rey; its proximity to the beach, ethnic diversity and relative affordability make it a desirable place to live.

Pacific Palisades

History/Geography
Located in the northwest portion of Council District 11, the community of Pacific Palisades was founded in 1922 by Methodist residents.  The community they created spawned into what is today a primarily residential area – containing single family homes, and condominiums and apartments – with a small business district at its core, known to residents as “the Village”.  Pacific Palisades is home to some 27,000 residents, and is one of Los Angeles’ safest and most affluent communities, with some of its best public schools.  However, the area is perhaps best known for its natural beauty, ranging from its parkland and hiking trails, to breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.

Playa del Rey

History/Geography
Development of the Playa del Rey community began in the late 1920s with the construction of the Del Rey Hills neighborhood.  Today, the coastal community Playa del Rey is home to approximately 14,400 residents.  It is a walking community with its shops, restaurants and beaches all in close proximity.  The most southerly section of the area contains the Hyperion Treatment Plant, which safely treats all the Los Angeles’ wastewater, and Dockweiler Beach, which is a popular attraction for surfers and beachgoers alike. With clean air, a beautiful coastline, and tight-knit community, Playa del Rey offers a small-town-feel in a large city.

Venice

History/Geography

Founded by Abbot Kinney in 1905 as an elaborate beach front resort originally called Ocean Park, the area, which included a series of canals and amusement park rides that made it a major tourist attraction, was officially renamed Venice in 1911.  For its first years, the area thrived, but after Kinney’s death in 1920, Venice became difficult to govern and its infrastructure fell into disrepair, prompting a successful vote for annexation to the City of Los Angeles in 1925.  Having been revived from its once-disrepaired state, today, Venice is one of the most eclectic and vibrant areas in Southern California.  Home to some 37,000 residents, this coastal community contains a mixture of residential and commercial properties, but is most famous for its beachside attractions, including Muscle Beach.

Westchester

History/Geography
Westchester began as an agricultural area in the early 20th century.  In the 1930s the area transitioned into a residential community resulting from the rapid development of the aerospace industry at LAX, known at the time as Mines Field.  Today Westchester is home to some 48,000 residents.  Approximately 50% of the local housing stock consists of single-family detached homes, most of which are modestly sized on small lots.  Westchester is also home to a number business and commercial districts along its main arteries of Lincoln Boulevard, Sepulveda Boulevard and Manchester Avenue.  Loyola Marymount University and Otis College, both well respected institutions of higher learning, are also located within the area.