Westwood
What is now known as Westwood was once the location of a 3,000 acre tract of land called Wolfskill Farm. In 1919, Arthur Letts who was a wealthy retailer, bought the land and later had his son-in-law, Harold Janss, develop the area. Janss was the vice president of Janss Investment Co.; in 1922, the company began advertising new homes in Westwood for sale.
Westwood is bordered by Brentwood to the west, Century City to the south, and Beverly Hills to the east. Due to Westwood's location, it is extremely close to UCLA. Architectural styles vary here; one will find basic apartment buildings, 1930s mansions, and contemporary penthouses. There are 419 acres of gardens and large lawns surrounding classic Mediterranean architecture.
Westwood Village has a fantastic array of restaurants, shops, and other activities. The village was built with Spanish Modern architecture in mind. The famous landmark, the Fox Theater, was built in 1931 and is still the "it" spot for movie premieres. There are ten movie theaters, the Geffen Playhouse, and the Armand Hammer Museum in Westwood--more than enough choices to choose from for your typical Saturday night out. Cuisine choices vary as well, pricier restaurants include, Moustache Cafe and Palomino Euro Bistro. If you're looking for a more casual dining experience, pizzerias and Middle Eastern kebab restaurants line the streets.
The "Wilshire Corridor" is where you'll find exquisite high-rise apartments and condominiums. These complexes are some of the most expensive and gorgeous properties in the country. Most units are enveloped by lush landscaping and flowers; many have ocean views or views of downtown, and last but not least most offer 24 hour valet service.
In the year 2002, Westwood had 27 single-family homes for sale; these homes ranged from $695,000 to $3.6 million. Of the 27 homes, 19 were listed for more than $800,000. Also, 133 condominiums were listed for sale, out of the 133, 43 of those units were listed at more than $1 million. Prices for condominiums can range from $218,000 for a one bedroom to $15.9 million for Wilshire penthouse.
It is hard to believe, but in the 1980s, Westwood Village businesses were in a slump; however with the onslaught of new retailers, business is booming once again. The newer stores such as Best Buy, Expo, Ralphs and Whole Foods have contributed to the popularity of the area as well as the Thursday afternoon farmers markets. The city line is continually changing, development is always in progress and zoning has adapted to the needs of the university and its surrounding area.
The public schools in Westwood are part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Out of a possible 1,000 on the 2002 Academic Performance Index the elementary schools scored 867 and 893. Emerson Junior High scored 584 and University High scored 587.
Historical values for single-family residences:
| Historical values | |
| Year | Median Price |
| 1990 | $575,000 |
| 1995 | $376,000 |
| 2000 | $650,000 |
| 2002 | $723,023 |
| 2003 | $821,750 |
Resources & Links:
- UCLA
- UCLA Life Sciences
The department's home page. - The UCLA/Armand Hammer Museum
Houses both permanent and touring collections. - The UCLA Fowler Museum
Features a large variety of art and artifacts outside Western culture. - 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.