Welcome to NELA’S Glassell Park
Glassell Park’s Modern History
Glassell Park is bordered on the north by Glendale, on the east by Eagle Rock, on the south by Mount Washington and Cypress Park, and on the west by Atwater Village and Silver Lake. Glassell Park homes and neighborhoods combine historic character with classic California living.
The origins of our modern-day Northeast Los Angeles NELA began with 36,000 acre Rancho San Rafael which was a gift from the Spanish governor of California to Jose Maria Verdugo in 1784. Through foreclosure, the Verdugo family lost the land, and two industrialists Andrew Glassell and Alfred Chapman quickly acquired it. The rancho was then split by the men into 31 separate tracts in “The Great Partition of 1871.”
Glassell and Chapman ended up with fewer than 6,000 acres, and when Glassell died in 1901, his family began selling off chunks of his holdings (in the 1920s they would sell the land that would become Forest Lawn), and as investors snapped up the acres they began to develop the tract that would bear his name.
Modest Craftsman bungalows began to sprout up along winding streets named after Glassell’s children, and in 1912 the burgeoning hillside community was annexed by the city of Los Angeles.
The neighborhood was a convenient location for commuters who worked downtown or in the rail yards just north of the city, with the Los Angeles Railway’s Eagle Rock line. When Southern Pacific Railroad’s Taylor Yard opened in 1923 this boosted growth in Glassell Park further establishing the neighborhood’s ties to the railroad.
Glassell Park‘s Architecture
Glassell Park similar to its NELA neighbors in Eagle Rock and Highland Park’s residential architectural roots began with Victorian farmhouses and charming Craftsman homes.
In the 1920s modern homes included Spanish colonial revival, English Tudor, and smaller bungalows. In later decades streamline modern was introduced, International, post-war traditional, and mid-century modern.
Glassell Park’s Must-Haves
Verdugo Plaza in Glassell Park has it all! Minibop Music offers kids music classes and lessons, parent & me group classes, music lessons, private music playdates, birthdays, and more! Juicy Leaf is a boutique store that offers unique designer terrariums and succulent arrangements. They also offer remote, virtual, and in person planting parties as well as weekly virtual succulent workshops through our IGTV. Gregga LA salon is a welcoming, gregarious, laid-back environment. A neighborhood spot to both indulge and transform. Where they believe in the importance of their hairstylists well being as much as their clients.
Lemon Poppy has been a neighborhood brunch & bakery powerhouse for 9 years. They recently expanded their menu and hours and are evolving as an all-day café! Pacific Martial Arts teaches authentic karate-do, jiu-jitsu, and traditional Okinawan weapons (Kobudo). Their classes are designed to be developmentally appropriate for their students, with classes for toddlers, young children, pre-teens, teens, and adults. Nectar is a TCM Clinic focusing on resolving the root cause of pain & discomfort, rather than managing symptoms.
Owners Seleste Diaz and Joana Rubio dreamed of opening up a caffeine cafe. As women of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community, Diaz and Rubio shared, “Little Barn’s mission is to provide to all communities in which no one will be discriminated against.” They gathered up a team of independent women passionate about their mission and got to serving the most mouth-watering dishes. The menu offers a wide range of vegan sips and eats including an Oat Horchata Cold Brew, Build Your Own Vegan Omelette, Reuben Sandwich, Vegan Queso con Rajas Tamales, and more. They also stock vegan pastries from Ridiculous Baking Co.!
Glassell Park’s Art & Culture
The Los Angeles Industrial Arts Compound LAIAC is in the heart of Glassell Park located at 2640 N. San Fernando Rd. The compound is an industrial arts-based community with work-only studios for professional fabricators, artisans, and fine artists on 1.5 gated acres.
The LAIAC has several work only studios available to rent with 10 foot ceilings, Midcentury Modern architectural elements and a few specialize in the fine arts.
Glassell Park Real Estate
In May 2021, Glassell Park home prices were up 23.4% compared to last year, selling for a median price of $1.1M. On average, homes in Glassell Park sell after 34 days on the market compared to 33 days last year. There were 18 homes sold in May this year, up from 12 last year. (Redfin)
