Beverlywood
Developer Walter H. Leimert had a specific vision for his planned community: neatly manicured homes to be subject to a single set of codes and restrictions. Today, any proposal for architectural designs must be reviewed by committee where the codes are strictly enforced.
The planned residential community of Beverlywood is located slightly southwest of Pico and Robertson Boulevards. Specifically, Beverlywood is bordered roughly by Monte Mar Drive on the north, Robertson Boulevard on the east, Beverlywood Street on the south, and Roxbury Drive on the west.
It is a development consisting of 1,354 homes that belong to the Beverlywood Homes Association. An application is required for any change wanting to be made to a home, including small changes, additions, and even exterior paint color. For instance, one home owner did not submit his application to change the exterior paint color and was cited for having a purple colored house. He was cited by the association and forced to paint the house an approved shade of blue. The community also has landscaping regulations which include specifications regarding lawn trimming which is "no more than 4 inches in height."
On the positive side of things, several private schools have been constructed to meet the demands of the growing community. However, as a result, the parking situation has become a real issue. The limited space for parking has forced residents to lobby for restricted parking areas in front of their houses. As an initial fix for the increased traffic, speed bumps have been added in the residential areas, to at least slow down the flow of cars.
Due to the large property sizes in Beverlywood, the homes appeal to families with larger numbers of members, particularly, the young Orthodox Jewish families. For the practicing Jews, there are synagogues, specialty stores, and kosher restaurants within walking distance of the community.
Maintained by the Beverlywood Association, Circle Park is a meeting spot for residents to "catch-up." It has a grassy lawn and beautiful flowers to enjoy at one's leisure. For the kids, Irving Schachter Park features playground equipment.
Originally, the homes were to be modest single story houses with flagstone facades. These days, the once modest homes have turned into stone-accented mansions, some being larger than 4,000 square feet. Although the style has changed over time, the look has remained cohesive throughout the community due to the design review that upholds its strict regulations on architectural design, materials, and landscape.
The public schools are part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The three schools: Canfield Elementary, Palms Middle School, and Hamilton High School, scored 775, 750, and 636, respectively, on the 2003 Academic Performance Index.
Historical values of single-family homes:
| Historical values Single-family detached resales | |
| Year | Median Price |
| 1990 | $535,000 |
| 1995 | $439,750 |
| 2000 | $557,500 |
| 2002 | $612,000 |
| 2003 | $750,864 |
Resources & Links:
- Local School Links
- Crime Statistics
- Southern California Home Sale Activity
Los Angeles home sales data, organized by ZIP code. Updated monthly. - LA County Online
- The Los Angeles Times
Online version of the local periodical. - KCRW
National Public Radio station, based at Santa Monica College. - MovieLink/777-FILM
Local movie listings and show times. - ArtScene
Guide to California's museums.
- National Park Search
Great National Parks link. - California State Parks
Highly recommended.
- Yahoo! Neighborhood Profiles
For neighborhood demographics, cost of living and quality of life.