In the 1920s and the early 1930s, a new architectural style known as the Revival period was introduced. The Revival period was basically the incorporation of foreign and romantic architectural styles into the American fabric. These revival styles included: English Tudor, Spanish Colonial, Mediterranean, and Streamline Moderne examples. Ideas for the revival period styles came from fantastic architectural structures shown in the movie houses, generating the first new breeze of architecture since the Craftsman. As a result, the new architecture incorporated 13th century and earlier period architecture into this late 19th and early 20th-century emerging community with its Queen Anne, Turn of the Century, American Foursquare, and Craftsman buildings.

In 1979 the Northeast Los Angeles Plan created a land-use dilemma for Highland Park, which led to the demolition of many of the early century styled single-family homes and their replacement by rectangular-shaped box apartment buildings, which were out of scale, density, and character with the earlier Highland Park community. Thus, these actions lead to a proposal for the establishment of a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone.

Starting in the early 2000s, a diverse mix of people began arriving at Highland Park to seek out, buy, and revitalize Craftsman homes, and Highland Park Real estate — some of which had suffered neglect over the decades. Many of Highland Park’s oldest homes were razed during the 1950s and 1960s. One architecturally significant home made its way to Heritage Square Museum, thanks to the efforts of local activists dedicated to saving Victorian homes scheduled for demolition. Like Echo Park and Eagle Rock, Highland Park has steadily seen some gentrification. People from across the region have been attracted to the historic Craftsman homes that escaped demolition. Its relatively low rents have made it increasingly popular among young people who value the walkable urban lifestyle afforded by the older style of the neighborhood.