Victor Heights, Los Angeles Explained

Victor Heights
Nickname:Forgotten Edge
Pushpin Map:United States Los Angeles Central
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Los Angeles
Settlement Type:Neighborhood of Los Angeles
Coordinates:34.0691°N -118.2465°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2: Los Angeles
Subdivision Type3:City
Postal Code Type:Zip Code
Postal Code:90012
Area Code:Area code 213
Timezone:Pacific

Victor Heights, sometimes referred to as the Forgotten Edge,[1] is a neighborhood in Central Los Angeles.

History

The neighborhood was named after Victor Beaudry, a water mogul. He was the younger brother of Prudent Beaudry who was the 13th Mayor of Los Angeles, California from 1874 to 1876.[2] In 1887, Victor Heights was advertised as having "Choice lots, commanding a splendid view" for $1,200. Lesser lots went for $700 to $1,300. All had "Water piped through the street."[3] In 1908 its residents took a fight against disruptive dynamite blasting by the Los Angeles Brick Company in Chavez Ravine to the Los Angeles City Police Commission. They complained that the explosions were "cracking the plaster on their walls and causing their homes to settle to such an extent that they could not open their doors.[4]

Geography

Victor Heights is located northwest of Downtown Los Angeles. It is bounded by Sunset Boulevard on the south, 110 freeway and Chinatown on the east, Stadium Way on the north, and Marview Avenue on the west.[5] [6]

It is a neighborhood of steep hills where new condominium complexes stand next to 1920s-era bungalow houses and old apartment buildings[7] The neighborhood backs up against Elysian Park. In the 19th century, an oval-shaped parcel (where the former Metropolitan Water District headquarters stands) was Beaudry Park.

Government

Victor Heights is part of the Historic Cultural North Neighborhood Council (HCNNC) which represents Chinatown, El Pueblo, Solano Canyon, and Victor Heights in the City of Los Angeles.[8]

Demographics

In 2009, The Los Angeles Times defined the neighborhood's demographic mix as older Italians and Croatians who once dominated the area, along with newer Asian and Latino immigrants, and a smattering of hipsters.

Forgotten Edge

The neighborhood residents selected the nickname "Forgotten Edge" in 1992 when they formed a "neighborhood watch" group. Residents were frustrated about being transferred back and forth between the Central and Northeast police divisions whenever they tried to phone in a crime report because the Police Department couldn’t figure out where Figueroa Terrace and a pocket of neighboring streets were.

Peacocks

A notable neighbor of Victor Heights are the peacocks and peahens that reside on the lawns and rooftops but adopted by the community as part of its urban landscape.

Landmarks

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Yokoi . Iris . 1994-03-27. CHINATOWN/ECHO PARK: "Forgotten Edge" Takes a Stand . Los Angeles Times . 7. .
  2. Roger Vincent (March 6, 2014), Vacant offices designed by William Pereira to become apartments Los Angeles Times.
  3. Web site: Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, January 01, 1887, Image 20]. National Endowment for the. Humanities. January 1, 1887. chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
  4. Web site: "No Half Measures on Blasting Asked," Los Angeles Herald, August 19, 1908, page 12.
  5. Web site: Historic Cultural North Neighborhood Council Map . Office of the City Clerk . 31 March 2022.
  6. Web site: Boundaries . hcnnc.org . 31 March 2022.
  7. News: DiMassa . Cara Mia . Where peafowl don't run afoul . 30 March 2022 . Los Angeles Times . May 11, 2009.
  8. Web site: HCNNC . hcnnc.org . 31 March 2022.
  9. Web site: Brightwell . Eric . February 7, 2018 . No Enclave — Exploring the Remains of Los Angeles's Little Italy . 2022-07-26 . California Fool’s Gold.
  10. Web site: Brightwell . Eric . 2015-02-07 . Exploring Victor Heights . 2022-07-26 . California Fool’s Gold . en.
  11. News: Cedillo . Gilbert . Council File 17-0169 . 30 March 2022 . City of Los Angeles . February 14, 2017 . I THEREFORE MOVE that the City Council designate the intersection of Alpine Street and Figueroa Terrace as the “Eastside Market Square” and that the Department of Transportation be directed to fabricate and install appropriate ceremonial signs to this effect at this location. Presented by: Gilbert A. Cedillo Council member, 1st District.
  12. Web site: Los Angeles Department of City Planning RECOMMENDATION REPORT . LACity.org . 31 March 2022 . 16 . July 21, 2016 . In 1959 the MWD purchased a seven acre parcel of land at Sunset Boulevard and Beaudry Avenue in the Victor Heights neighborhood for $1.2 million..
  13. Web site: Angeleno . Militant . 2009-05-12 . Militant Angeleno: WTF Week: The Militant Walks From Union Station To Elysian Park (2.1 mi) . 2022-08-15 . Militant Angeleno.