Los Feliz Homes For Sale


	Los Feliz Houses for Sale

Los Feliz

Though the history of Los Feliz is not well documented, it is known that the Gabrielino and Chumash tribes were the first inhabitants of the area that is now Los Angeles. The people of these tribes were later moved to settlements in Los Angeles and to the San Fernando Mission and Mission San Gabriel. Two Spanish land grants, Rancho Los Feliz and Rancho La Brea, gave settlers the rights to the land. The community’s early economy was supported by agriculture, primarily the production of hay, bananas, pineapples and citrus fruits. A few wineries also existed in the area.

The ranchos were subdivided in the 1880s. The parcels of land were then sold to wealthy adventurers who had come to California to see if rumors about the area’s weather and location were true (they were). H.H. Wilcox bought a portion and called it Hollywood. Wilcox laid out streets, including Prospect Avenue, which still runs through Los Feliz. The avenue reflected the prosperity of the community with Victorian, Queen Anne, and Mission Revival homes. Many of these homes are still standing, as are homes built by Rudolf Michael Schindler, an Austrian architect who came to Los Angeles to supervise the construction of Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House.

The film industry played a major role in the area’s colorful recent history. In 1911, the Nestor Company opened the first film studio in the area. Cecil B. DeMille made Hollywood's first feature length movie at Vine and Selma Avenues. D. W. Griffith, Mack Sennett and others opened studios and the area began the transformation from an agricultural community to a business community.

The movie industry with its attendant banking and the real estate businesses changed the area forever. Movie palaces, restaurants and nightclubs were built along the major streets and many offered promotions aimed at luring people to the area. Later, as more and more movies were made elsewhere, the glamour faded somewhat. The last 10 to 15 years, however, have seen a reapplication of the shiny patina that makes Hollywood and the surrounding areas what one expects them to be - fascinating places to visit and fabulous places to live.

Thanks to Southern California’s mild, Mediterranean climate, outdoor recreation is popular year-round. Favorite activities include hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains, biking at Paramount Ranch golfing on one of the area’s many challenging courses. Swimming and surfing in the clear waters of the Pacific are also popular, as is skiing in the winter on the nearby slopes. Griffith Park - part of the original Rancho Los Feliz land grant - provides more than 4,000 acres of open space. The Los Angeles Zoo is located at Griffith Park, as are the Observatory and Planetarium. A merry-go-round, the Autry Museum of Western Heritage and Travel Town are also located in the park.

The L.A. area is home to museums, including the Getty; amusement parks such as Six Flags; historic film-related sites including the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Grumman’s Chinese Theatre; the La Brea Tar Pits; and Angeles Flight Railway, to name just a few attractions. Area professional sports teams include the Lakers, Clippers, Sparks, Kings, and Dodgers. Auto racing, horse racing, polo and college football are nearby.