Park La Brea: vibrant dwellings at heart of Miracle Mile

| February 28, 2019 | 0 Comments
RENDERING of one of the 18 towers during construction.

At the heart of the Miracle Mile on 155 acres of land, from Third to Sixth streets and from Fairfax to Cochran avenues, sits Park La Brea, a collection of 4,248 apartment units in buildings that have been part of Los Angeles history for more than 70 years. The complex is at the center of shopping at places like the Original Farmers Market and The Grove, museums such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Petersen Automotive Museum and the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, as well as schools, parks, bars, restaurants and other venues. It is an historic residential area in Los Angeles, and it is the largest apartment complex west of the Mississippi.

History

The townhouses were designed by Leonard Schultz & Son with associate architect Earl T. Heitschmidt in 1941, and the residential towers were designed in 1948 by Leonard Schultz Associates, with consulting architects Stanton and Kaufmann, partly in response to the post-World War II housing shortage. There are 26 two-story garden blocks in an octagon pattern and 18 12-story towers.

In 1950s, an article in “Arts & Architecture” magazine praised Park La Brea for its unique modern design, where towers were built with wings to help provide expansive views, and garden apartments had patios and a shared backyard.

Updates and amenities

TOWER 47 as it stands today in Park La Brea.

The complex has been updated and renovated regularly since then. Units range from studios to four-bedroom apartments, some of which are pet friendly. In addition, there are two pools, a café, barbecue and picnic areas, a fitness and activity center, tennis courts, a beach volleyball court, landscaped parks, jogging tracks, and a theater for the use of the 10,000-plus residents. Activities at the complex range from theater productions to music nights and recitals to outdoor movie nights. There are also special activities such as National Night Out, a chess club, writers’ circle, community garden, and more.

Residents association

This past January, the Park LaBrea Residents Association (PLBRA) had its 31st annual meeting, overseen by president Bernie Clinch, vice president Kenna Marshall and secretary-treasurer Col. Donald Harris.

LANDSCAPED PARK at Park La Brea.

The association not only advocates for the tenants, but also helps keep them in the loop about ongoing development in the neighborhood, and it also makes sure communication happens between tenants and management, and that the activities are being updated to meet residents’ needs. Major advocacy activities in the past year included facilitating a town hall meeting between residents and top Park La Brea management, joining management in fighting against prohibited Airbnb renters within the complex and helping with the popular outdoor movie showings and a dozen other favorite programs for residents.

Col. Harris also let us know about activities happening this year, including a free magic show for children who live in Park La Brea. It will be put on by Alfonso the Great from the Magic Castle in April.

In April and May, residents and their guests will be able to view this year’s Academy Award-winning movies on Thursday evenings in the theater.

Residents and neighbors alike can participate in the semi-yearly electronic and hazardous waste clean up sponsored by PLBRA Sat., May 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. One of the drop-off locations will be at the activity center at 475 S. Curson Ave. The other drop-off point will be behind the gatehouse east of Hauser Boulevard.

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Category: Real Estate

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