Miracle Mile
See also Park La Brea.
The famous Miracle Mile is the one mile stretch of Wilshire Boulevard located between Fairfax and La Brea Avenues. The mile received its name in the 1920s because of the Jewish immigrants who settled in the area and worked financing miracles in the banking industry, or so one theory suggests. Another theory is that when A.W. Ross visualized the unpaved area as a bustling shopping area and when it indeed developed into such it was dubbed "Miracle Mile."
Housing in the area reflects early 1920s Tudor, Country English, and Spanish-style homes and duplexes. Single family homes, condominiums, and apartments are all available in Miracle Mile. Almost half of the original homes in specific parts of Miracle Mile were demolished by 1980. In other areas, like Orange Grove Avenue, four-plexes were replaced with seven-unit buildings; and along the 700 block of Spaulding Avenue, apartment buildings were replaced by huge condominium complexes.
For a small two bedroom home one can expect to pay at least $725,000. For a five-bedroom five bath, newly renovated home of more than 5,000 square feet, the price will be listed for at least $1,150,000. A buyer looking at condominiums can expect to pay in the mid-$500,000 for an early 1980s condo of 1,350 square feet.
Miracle Mile is home to approximately 25,000 residents; these residents live between San Vicente Blvd and Sixth St. and Fairfax and La Brea Avenues. The area is served under the Los Angeles Unified School District and for the 2003 Academic Performance Index Wilshire Crest Elementary scored 664, John Burroughs Middle School scored 726, and Fairfax High School's scores were not available.
Miracle Mile offers a place for one to experience culture and history. One of the area's most unique aspects are the Tar Pits where archeologists discovered skeletal remains of wolves, saber tooth tigers, and one skeleton of a human being. The World Famous La Brea Tar Pits contain the excavated remains and can be viewed year long at the museum.
Some of Los Angeles' finest restaurants are less than a mile away from Miracle Mile on La Brea Avenue or in Beverly Hills which is just two miles away. Some recommendations are:
- Ca Brea on La Brea features upscale Italian food
- Campanile's on La Brea also features upscale Italian food
- Sonora Cafe on La Brea features authentic Mexican cuisine
- Spago on Canon is Wolfgang Puck's flagship restaurant
- The Ivy on Robertson serves California cuisine where you're sure to see celebrities
- Le Colonial off Beverly Boulevard offers French Vietnamese and California cuisines
For those uninterested in skeletal remains and fine dining, car enthusiasts can view vintage autos at the Petersen Automotive Museum. Art enthusiasts may enjoy a day at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and viewers can attend a visiting exhibit such as Van Gogh in the nearby event's building. For entertainment, many flock to the El Rey to witness musical performances or they go to the Conga Room for live Salsa.
The area is home to many well respected companies, particularly Variety Magazine, E! Entertainment Television, the Screen Actors Guild, and Spelling Productions. Although Miracle Mile is very upscale, it has a high rate of car theft. One would be wise to use fee paid parking lots on their future visits.
- Miracle Mile Residents Association
- Jim O'Sullivan, president
- 323-934-4627
- Boundaries: Sixth St. to Edgewood Pl., Fairfax to La Brea
Park La Brea
Park La Brea is a rental complex which encompasses 167 acres in Miracle Mile and is home to 10,000 residents. It is located between 3rd and 6th streets and Fairfax and Cochran avenues. Originally, the complex was to be an area of garden apartments that began development in 1939, but World War II, hindered the progress. After the war, veterans were desperately seeking homes for their families and Developer Metropolitan Life Co. installed eighteen 13-story towers to the Park.
The exteriors had remained beige and gray until 1995 when new ownership took over. Interior changes were made as well, bathrooms and kitchens have been improved, all units are wired for high-speed internet access. However, porcelain tiles and oak floors still remain. The median household income is $53,000 and the median age is 36. For a one-bedroom one bath apartment of 700 square feet, a tenant can expect to pay $1250 a month. For a three-bedroom two-bath apartment of 1,400 square feet, one can expect to pay $2400.
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.