Silver Lake
Hello!
Welcome to Silver Lake, California
The Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, California is located northeast of downtown, in an area once known variously as Edendale and Ivanhoe, a beautiful landscape of hills and glens southwest of the Los Angeles River. The region became known more popularly as Silver Lake after a central reservoir was implemented by City Water Commissioner Herman Silver in 1907. The reservoir itself, designed by William Mulholland, enhanced the area and reflected the aspect of the surrounding hills north of the city’s original 28 square mile land grant, creating a desirable setting for residential construction despite the difficulty of the terrain.
Culturally, Silver Lake has always had a reputation for being home to artists, musicians, writers, and creative people, unique in its acceptance of a racially and ideologically diverse as well as politically progressive population. Innovators and celebrities such as Anais Nin, Raymond Chandler, and Woody Guthrie, at one time resided here, as well as such current notables as Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Chris Pine, Fred Armisen, Katy Perry, and many others from radio, television, and film. Harry Hay’s Mattachine Society and the Black Cat Bar, thought to be originating points of the gay rights movement in Los Angeles, were also located in the neighborhood.
ITS ALL ABOUT LOCATION
Silver Lake Real Estate
Silver Lake is bounded on the northeast by Atwater Village and Elysian Valley, on the southeast by Echo Park, on the southwest by Westlake, on the west by East Hollywood, and on the northwest by Los Feliz. Other boundaries include the Los Angeles River between Glendale Boulevard and Fletcher Drive and Riverside Drive on the northeast, the Glendale Freeway on the east, Effie Street, Coronado Street, Berkeley Avenue, and Fletcher Drive on the southeast, the Hollywood Freeway on the south, Hoover Street on the west and Fountain Avenue and Hyperion Avenue on the northwest.
The prime Silver Lake real estate around the lake is known by us realtors, as the “Moreno Highlands.” This residential section of Silver Lake on the west ridge of the hill overlooks the reservoir. The area was developed in the 1920s and 1930s, originally planned by silent film star Antonio Moreno and his oil heiress wife, Daisy Canfield to recreate the feel of a tile-roofed Mediterranean Village.
The Canfield-Moreno Mediterranean-style Villa set the tone for the neighborhood. Known as “The Paramour” this 22,000-square-foot, 22-room estate with a pool and separate guest houses was built in 1923 and was the weekend party house for the high society and stars of the silent film industry. The estate is now a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument and used mainly as a filming location.
The Moreno Highlands has curving terraced streets providing panoramic views of the reservoir, downtown, and out to the ocean depending on what side of the street a home is located. Some of the homes at the highest points afford views in every direction. The neighborhood was built with all utilities underground so there are no overhead wires to obstruct the fabulous views. There are no sidewalks on the streets but that doesn’t prevent residents from walking through the neighborhood and enjoying the vistas.
However, the desirable areas are not limited to the Moreno Highlands in and around the Silver Lake neighborhood. The Hyperion Ave shopping stretch, and the up-and-coming older residential south of the boulevard. Silver Lake is one of LA’s most walkable and bikeable ‘hoods with (almost) everything conveniently within walking distance along the neighborhood’s “downtown,” Sunset Boulevard.
Silver Lake Community
In the 1970s, Silver Lake, CA was a center for Los Angeles’ gay culture. The combination of affordable housing, a bohemian ambiance, and promotion by gay real estate agents helped the gay and lesbian population to swell.
Neighborhood bars Harry Hay’s Mattachine Society and the Black Cat were thought to be the originating points of the gay rights movement in Los Angeles.
Silver Lake Love Non-Profit
Silver Lake doesn’t have a shortage of non-profits and individuals inspired to give back to the community. Take Silver Lake Love, a local nonprofit addressing the overlooked causes of homelessness. Chi “Fuzzy” Ip founded ‘Silver Lake Love’ in 2015 with the goal of raising awareness and improving the lives of underserved, underprivileged, and highly vulnerable individuals living in Los Angeles; especially those of veterans, women, and children.
The homeowners in the area seem to be long-term owners and artists of sorts who have lived in Silver Lake for many years. Young professionals have been drawn to the area for its “bohemian modern” lifestyle and are bringing with them new alternative businesses, art/architecture and studio establishments, and local yummy dining scenes.
Residents in the community are extremely active in local city councils, associations, and neighborhood groups including the Silver Lake Neighborhood Associations, Silver Lake Improvement Association, Silver Lake Residents Association, Silver Lake Reservoirs Conservancy, the Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce and many others not noted.
Schools in and around Silverlake from GreatSchools.org.
- Allesandro Elementary
- Betty Plascencia Elementary
- Micheltorena Street Elementary
- Clifford Street Elementary
- Mayberry Street Elementary
- Rosemont Avenue Elementary
- Bellevue Primary
- Lockwood Avenue Elementary
- Dayton Heights Elementary
- Thomas Starr King Middle
- Washington Irving Middle
- Virgil Middle
- Washington Irving Middle
- Virgil Middle
- John Marshall High
- Belmont High
Find your local public or charter school with the: LAUSD Resident School Identifier.
Silver Lake Love Non-Profit
Silver Lake doesn’t have a shortage of non-profits and individuals inspired to give back to the community. Take Silver Lake Love, a local nonprofit addressing the overlooked causes of homelessness. Chi “Fuzzy” Ip founded ‘Silver Lake Love’ in 2015 with the goal of raising awareness and improving the lives of underserved, underprivileged, and highly vulnerable individuals living in Los Angeles; especially those of veterans, women, and children.
Silver Lake Love is founded on the principle that everyone matters. We pose the question: At what point does the dehumanization of the homeless impact the vicious cycle of homelessness? The lack of respect and recognition of those without homes has the power to breed much anger and bitterness, which forms a snowballing effect of further promoting the negative energies that lead to chronic homelessness. Everyone matters.
The Community Closet was their social experiment, relying on the goodness of people to recognize an opportunity to give and do good. The first Community Closet was installed at Sunset Triangle in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. Filled with great quality gently used sweaters, jackets, and clothes, it is free for the taking. Anyone in need is invited to take it. Anyone who wants to give is invited to leave something for someone else in the drawer. The community responded and we have seen the drawers emptied and filled, and kindness is constantly on the move. The experiment worked, and we are in the process of rolling out several more across the city of LA.
The Silver Lake Trash Club has been picking up garbage since 2021. Usually, 30 folks are part of the monthly excursions. Elaine Gale, started the volunteer group, the Silver Lake Trash Club, in 2021 by putting up signs on telephone poles around her Silver Lake neighborhood.
Since its first official gathering that drew 30 people, the club has picked up more than 1,000 bags of garbage! True to Silver Lake form, the club’s mascot is a colorful smiling unicorn that uses its horn to impale trash.
1101 Manzanita St – Manzanita Street Community Garden
Manzanita Street is the smallest community garden in Los Angeles: 13 irregularly shaped plots terraced into a hill and bisected by stairs linking Sunset Boulevard to a cul-de-sac below. It’s near the heart of Sunset Junction yet largely invisible, unless you’re looking for it.
Despite all that, Manzanita has its charms and the turnover in plots here is low. It’s a true urban pocket garden, like something you’d see in lower Manhattan except Cali-style, with a surprising burst of roses and chamomile, asparagus and artichoke, blossoming along the cracked 1920s concrete stairs.
You can find your local garden with the: Los Angeles Community Garden Council
Edendale Farm is located on a half-acre lot, on a small residential street in the heart of Los Angeles. Started in 2006 by David Kahn an architect turned to farming, he advocates and teaches how to replicate this sustainable model in any urban center. “Work with nature” as its motto, Edendale Farm teaches appropriate technologies such as regenerative design, small-scale bio-intensive farming, aquaponics, biomimicry, permaculture, building with natural and/or recycled materials, and the use of the blue economy principles. The farm produces no waste and hosts small farm animals such as chickens, ducks, pigeons, and edible fish.
It teaches over 20 different classes: from farming and mycology to cooking and wellness. It hosts community events such as art shows, film screenings, farm-to-table dinners, and small plays and concerts. The farm offers 2 distinct group visiting programs: one is educational for schools (grade level through college), and the other is called “Unplugged” hosting local businesses and designed to break up corporate culture and to build teamwork by working together on farm chores.
The farm offers a long-term hands-on internship program for individuals and in partnership with universities and other institutions, This program has drawn participants from around the world.
Edendale Farm applies all of these technologies to grow organic food, harvest and conserve water, produce renewable energy, build soil fertility, and in the process build a vibrant community that is healthy, resilient, and diverse.
Silver Lake Art and Shopping
There are three main commercial strips within the neighborhood – Sunset Boulevard, Hyperion Avenue, and Silver Lake Boulevard. Many say the heart of the community is at the junction of Sunset and Santa Monica Boulevards, named Sunset Junction, and home to the festival by the same name that ran from 1980 to 2010. Surprising to some, music runs deep in Silver Lake. It is home to various independent record labels and music studios including Dangerbird Records, Epitaph Records, Avatar Records, and Beggars Group.
Silverlake Conservatory of Music
Silverlake Conservatory of Music was founded in 2001 by longtime friends and musicians Michael “Flea” Balzary and Keith “Tree” Barry. After severe cutbacks to arts education programming throughout Los Angeles public schools, the two enlisted the help of their friend Peter Weiss and founded SCM to fill that void and bring music education to the community.
4652 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90027
(323) 665-3363
Silverlake Conservatory of Music provides scholarships to children whose families would otherwise be unable to afford lessons. Through a variety of sources including personal contributions, corporate contributions, musical instrument donation and in-house fundraising activities, the Conservatory has maintained a strong roster of talented and committed future musicians. We strive to address the decrease in arts education in schools while providing cultural enrichment to our community at large.
4652 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90027
(323) 665-3363
Murals in Silver Lake
Art is everywhere in the Silver Lake community, whether it’s in the form of the legendary former cult mural of Elliott Smith memorial ‘Figure 8’, a dilapidated Bates Motel covered in white limewash, or intimate galleries featuring handmade jewelry.
A collaborative mural titled
Lake Boutique
Founder Melissa Lovoy opened Lake in February 2007 in the heart of Silver Lake and filled this quietly low-key space with pieces that are modern, beautiful, and well-made. Lake is a neighborhood lifestyle boutique in Silver Lake.
We began ten years ago before the Silver Lake boom began. We specialize in smaller designers and European designers. Many of the lines we carry are made in LA. We are known for a mix of color and patterns in both the clothing and the housewares we carry. Melissa knows how to curate a local gem filled with treasures on every corner. Another concept pretty prevalent is its true appeal to the California aesthetic.
Most of the goodies are sustainable, fresh, and timeless and rather representative of the laid-back chic styles SoCal is known for. They feature locally made body products and even artisanal jewelry made in Cape Cod. This is also a favorite amongst celebs, so be sure to keep your eyes open and be ready to mingle.
Silver Lake Farmers Market
Silver Lake Farmers Market – 1500 Griffith Park Blvd
Tuesday 1:30 pm-7 pm
Saturday 8 am-1:30 pm
Silver Lake Farmers Market – 3700 Sunset Blvd
Open-air marketplace for local produce, vintage clothing & prepared food.
Tuesdays 1:30 pm to 7 pm
Saturdays 8 am to 1:30 pm
With multiple Farmer’s Markets to choose from there is never a dull moment or missed opportunity to grab fresh local food and an item made artisanally. If you are tight on the budget late-night deals are the best time to negotiate.
GOLDEN AGE - Hollywood
A storytelling fashion brand based in Los Angeles since 2017. With products handcrafted using fine leathers, fabrics, and components providing a timeless look, and high quality. The stores stores display inspiring and unique designs for cutting-edge customers, fashion designers, and stylists.
Shopping in Silver Lake California is just as eclectic, with everything from vintage clothing, throwback record shops, Motorcycle Garages, farmers markets with local artisanal products, retro/mid-century modern furniture shops, and so much more!
3210 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
+1 213-298-7115
Silver Lake Flea
Silver Lake Flea – (held Every Friday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 pm, Saturday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, and Every Sunday from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm) is located in the lot right behind LA’s favorite landmark Taix right Sunset Blvd right at the border of Silverlake and Echo Park, CA 90026. The Free Entrance is located at 1911 Sunset Blvd. LA CA 90026.
1911 Sunset Blvd. LA CA 90026
Silver Lake Nightlife
Silver Lake, known as one of the city’s hippest neighborhoods, has many bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. Since the 1990s, Silver Lake has become the center of the alternative and indie rock scene in Los Angeles. The neighborhood was home to two major street festivals each year: the Silver Lake Jubilee, held in May and the Sunset Junction Street Fair, held in August. The last festival was held in 2010. The Silver Lake Jubilee, a more recent addition, featured live music by local musicians, local artists, and community businesses. It moved out of the neighborhood to private grounds near the Los Angeles River and changed its name in 2013.
Silver Lake is often referred to as the “Williamsburg of the West” due to the growth in the indie rock music scene and its characteristics similar to New York City’s hip neighborhoods. Many of the local spots are rehabs of former dive bars, previously and mostly inhabited by gay, Latino, and artist types. Whether you’re headed to Los Globos for some dancing, Akbar for a cocktail, or the Good Luck Bar for a casual encounter, there’s a bit of everything here – and you can find the breakdown right here!
Cafe Kitsuné
Trendy fashion house Maison Kitsuné just opened Cafe Kitsuné, in Silver Lake next to its remodeled clothing boutique on November 8, 2023. The Tokyo- and Paris-inspired brand from Gildas Loaëc and Masaya Kuroki operates stylish cafes in Paris, Tokyo, New York, and Vancouver.
3814 W Sunset Boulevard 90026 Los Angeles
+1 (323)-407-6433
+1 (323)-407-6433
For their L.A debut they will be serving Guatemalan and Colombian coffees roasted in New York City with a few specials like a hojicha cream cold brew or matcha creme latte made with creme fraiche and served over ice. LA’s own Sugarbloom bakery will provide sweet and savory pastries with international flavors, like the kimchi spam musubi croissant and the fox-shaped cookie made specifically for the cafe kitsuné (which means fox in Japanese). They offer more substantive selections like their baguette sandwich with ham, Comté cheese, and butter. If it’s past morning, the cafe also serves beer and wine similar to its locations in Paris or Tokyo.
3814 W Sunset Boulevard 90026 Los Angeles
+1 (323)-407-6433
+1 (323)-407-6433
Akbar
Back in the early 90s, couple Scott Craig and Peter Alexander were living in Silver Lake, going to live shows and throwing parties. Their love of punk rock and parties and their desire to create a bar where gay and straight people could party together inspired them to buy a defunct piano bar and transform it into what is now known as Akbar. Much has changed in the 20+ years since the pair opened Akbar: they’re no longer a couple, the neighborhood has gentrified, and our nation’s attitude towards gays has changed immensely for the better. But the bar has remained true to its roots, selling cheap, basic drinks and offering a casual space for people from any walk of life to unwind.
4356 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029
+1 323-665-6810
akbarsilverlake@gmail.com
4100 Bar
A more intimate spot where you can actually hear a conversation is 4100 Bar. This is a chill-out spot pulling in more locals and visitors with their word-of-mouth handcrafted cocktails, inviting couches & intimate atmosphere. This spot is a must if you’re in this part of Silver Lake and looking to unwind.
Hands down the best local bar in Silverlake. Unpretentious and still cool. What makes this bar is the bartenders and the crowd. It has been said that it is the best on Wednesday and Thursday nights with a jukebox stocked with primo tunes.
1087 Manzanita St, Los Angeles, CA 90029
+1 213-784-6595
Edendale
Tucked away on Rowena Avenue in the heart of Silver Lake, Edendale was first built in 1924 as Los Angeles Fire Station 56. For over 60 years it served the neighborhood of Edendale, which encompassed Silver Lake, Los Feliz, and parts of Echo Park.
This area had some of the first silent film studios, which are now depicted in galleries throughout the space. It made the transition to a bar and restaurant in 2002, and then resident bartender Eddie Ebell took ownership in 2010. This solidified the establishment as a local favorite through his focus on worldly comfort food, great cocktails, and a casual environment perfect for a variety of occasions.
2838 Rowena Ave. Silverlake CA
edendale56@gmail.com
(323)666-2000
Cafe Nido
Cafe Nido is on a mission to build more community in the world through delicious coffee, beautiful spaces, and shared experiences. Our first stop is in the wondrous, weird, and gorgeous Silver Lake. Derek and Devin two brothers recently opened Cafe Nido which was for a long time coming for both of us.
Their ethos is that community is something that they found themselves craving more and more these days a craving that reached fever-pitch during the pandemic. We started working remotely, the world shut down, and people started crossing the street to avoid each other. A lot of our favorite restaurants sadly closed places we’ve been going to for decades. Others started going towards fast food, takeout, and delivery.
2810 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
+1 323-250-6176
Silverlake Lounge
The Silverlake Lounge is one of the oldest drinking establishments on LA’s eastside, serving the community as a nightlife venue since 1938. The bar has a long and celebrated history within the Indie Music Scene and the LGBT community that continues to this day. Settling into its current iteration around 1975, it was an early stage for drag and gay cabaret acts and a safe space for non-identifying Latinx locals. In the early 2000s, it gained notoriety as one of the central hubs and incubators for the blossoming indie music scene. Bands like Rilo Kiley, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and The Silversun Pickups all started on their stage. As the longest-standing, independent, live music venue in Silverlake, the blending of the two subcultures has cemented its place in local history. The Silverlake Lounge is a place of diversity and a safe space for Creatives and the Queer BIPOC community. It is one of the few properties left that serves the whole of its community.
2906 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 663-9636
Bacari
Tucked away in leafy surroundings just off the Sunset strip, the 5,000-square-foot space boasts a verdant, multi-level outdoor patio with two fire pits, a bar, strings of lights, and a beautiful tree at the heart of it all. Matt Winter’s transformation of this beloved space can only be described as a chic, Tuscan-style treehouse. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Matt Winter has a keen eye for all things vintage. From being the first baby in 40 years to be born at home in Beverly Hills, to his interest in vintage cars (including his 1930s hot rod) and WWII Quonset Huts, Matt has a passion for finding, collecting, and utilizing period-correct pieces to create authentic atmospheres and lifestyle destinations.
3626 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
+1 323-410-7304
www.bacarisilverlake.com
Los Angeles-based M. Winter Design is an interior design studio with an extensive portfolio of retail, hospitality, residential, and specialty projects for a wide array of clients, brands, and influencers. Founder and interior designer Matt Winter uses his eclectic and unique eye to create authentic atmospheres and lifestyle destinations using vintage pieces that are praised by collectors, designers, and enthusiasts alike. Matt strives to continuously provide clients and patrons with a flawless thematic experience.
3626 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
+1 323-410-7304
www.bacarisilverlake.com
Silver Lake Architecture and Real Estate
MODERN ARCHITECTURE
The majority of the neighborhood’s streets were laid out in the 20s, following the contours of the hills. The subsequent development of individual lots resulted in a great variety of architectural styles and modernist experimentation. Private homes and apartment complexes by Rudolph Schindler, Richard Neutra, John Lautner, Gregory Ain, Harwell Hamilton Harris, Raphael Soriano, Allyn Morris, and other modern innovators are well represented.
Many architects such as Lautner, Neutra, Morris, and Eugene Kinn Choy designed and built their own homes in the area. There are also numerous representatives of Tudoresque, Chateauesque, Mission Revival, Italianate, Streamline Moderne, and other eclectic styles.
These homes challenged traditional principles of design and spatial characteristics of their time, with a more modernist experimentation, and still today sit majestically atop the beautiful hillsides or sit cozily on unassuming streets. Take a drive through the Silver Lake hills to see representatives of Tudoresque, Chateauesque, Mission Revival, Streamline Moderne, Mid-Century Modern, and other eclectic styles. There are more architecturally significant homes per square mile in Silver Lake than in other areas of Los Angeles, making Silver Lake Real Estate a rare commodity!
ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT & HISTORICAL HOMES
The Edward A. Adams House – Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #922 located at 2331 Cove Ave. An ongoing and cohesive effort by architects John Rex, Douglas Honnold, A. Albert Cooling, and James DeLong. Edward Albert “Tink” Adams. The house follows a version of International Style often referred to as “organic” architecture, where the structure is so entwined to its surroundings that it becomes almost one with the land. This principle was first developed in the early Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian structures and is employed at great lengths in the Adams House.
Originally built in 1932, the 2,000-square-foot (190 m2) house was built for Neutra and his family and called the VDL Research House because it was built with a loan from Neutra’s early patron, Cees H. Van der Leeuw, a wealthy Dutch industrialist and architecture aficionado.[7][8] Neutra and his wife, Dione, raised their three sons at the house.[9] He also ran his architecture practice out of a studio in the house until he later opened his design studio at the Neutra Office Building on Glendale Boulevard (a property that is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places).
Richard Neutra’s Family House 1932 Architect Richard Neutra located at 2300 Silver Lake Blvd
In his design of the VDL Research House, Neutra sought to show that the innovations of his Lovell Health House could be incorporated into designs for less affluent clients. Through the use of natural lighting, glass walls opening onto patio gardens, and mirrors, Neutra designed a space that was not confining and that reflected the nearby lake.
A cultural salon for Los Angeles hosted visitors such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Alvaar Alto, Charles and Ray Eames, and many others. The social history of this place has been documented at www.neutrahistory.org/.
One critic later said of the house:
Even a down-on-his-luck architect deserves humane housing. When the budding Modernist hero Richard Neutra built a home along Silver Lake Reservoir in 1932, he had a budget of $10,000 and a tiny sliver of land. What he built became a nimble experiment in urban living.
WHY SILVER LAKE?
In the book of love letters and family letters that Dione Neutra translated and published, there is a letter that describes the selection of this site.
At the time they lived in a rented house not far away, near Elysian Park. The couple were looking for a place near downtown for Neutra’s office, yet also wanted a site with a beautiful view. Silver Lake Boulevard was already a convenient and major thoroughfare. It also provided a wonderful view of the reservoir, the hills, and the mountains beyond.
It was a community influenced by the nearby movie studios, a place where the artistically oriented technicians of the industry liked to live.
Nin-Pole Residence 1961
Nin-Pole Residence 1961 Architect Eric Lloyd Wright located at 2335 Hidalgo Ave
The property meets the criteria for HCM designation because it is identified with historic personages,” as the home of Anais Nin (1903-1977) and her spouse Rupert Pole (1919-2006). Nin was a noted writer and leader in the Women’s Rights Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Pole was the step-grandson of Frank Lloyd Wright and the literary executor of Nin’s work. During the 1960s and 1970s, the residence was a cultural gathering place for artists, writers, and teachers. Although not nominated for it, since the residence was a frequent gathering place for writers, artists, and teachers, the property also meets the criteria for HCM designation under the SurveyLA theme of Literature, Music, and Art and sub-theme of Bohemians, Beats, and Hippies: Gathering Places.
Reiner-Burchill Residence
(Silvertop) 1956-1970
Reiner-Burchill Residence (Silvertop) 1956-1970 Architect John Lautner located at 2138 Micheltorena St
Commissioned by industrialist and engineer Kenneth Reiner as his home, Silvertop was Lautner’s first major use of monolithic concrete as a sculptural as well as architectural component. Architect John Lautner is legendary for inventive, boundary-pushing designs. Silvertop is slightly less known because it is perched out of view atop a hill and can best be seen from East Silver Lake Boulevard, across the reservoir.
The Lipetz House 1936
The Lipetz House 1936 Architect Raphael Soriano located at 1843 N Dillon St.
Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #967. Acknowledged as one of the most rigorous adherents to the classic International Style, Soriano established his career with the Lipetz House, which was presented at the Paris Exposition in 1937; with it, he won the prestigious Prix de Rome.
A semicircular bank of windows in the music/living room maximizes panoramic views afforded by the ridge-top site. Patio decking originally finished for dancing surrounds the house above the garden. The building was Soriano’s first residential commission and arose from his knowledge and passion for both language and music. The main feature of the house was a music room with excellent acoustic properties that could accommodate Mrs. Lipetz’s Bechstein Grand piano and up to twenty guests.
The Hawk House 1939
The Hawk House 1939 Architect Harwell Hamilton Harris located at 2421 Silver Ridge Ave
An early example of Los Angeles modernism and hillside design. Embodying important themes of modernism at the time such as modular design and Japanese architectural influences, the Hawk House is uniquely perched above the Silver Lake Reservoir offering sweeping views west towards Hollywood and Santa Monica.
Originally built for Stan and Ethyle Hawk, the house also acted as the headquarters for the iconic Hawk House brand of Mid-Century furnishings that epitomized indoor-outdoor living. Having only 3 owners throughout its history, the house in 2018 was showing significant deferred maintenance and damage to important architectural features of the structure.
Silver Lake Historical Fun Facts
Silver Lake was home to many early motion picture studios – it was all here way before Hollywood! The area of Silver Lake on Glendale Blvd starting at Rowena and extending down into the Echo Park area near Sunset Blvd was known as Edendale. It was home to the early Sennett and Keystone silent movie studios, and the site of many movie firsts, including Charlie Chaplin.
During the 1930s, Walt Disney built his first large studio in Silver Lake at the corner of Griffith Park Boulevard and Hyperion Avenue, which is now the site of Gelson’s Market. As a consequence, the name “Hyperion” is of great significance to the Walt Disney Company, with many company entities carrying the name, such as Hyperion Books and the Hyperion Theater in Disneyland, how awesome is that little piece of trivia?
There are almost 50 public staircases in the Silver Lake area that crisscross up and down the signature hills that were mostly built for access to the long-gone Red Car trollies. Among these are the Descano Stairs, the Redcliffe Stairs, the famous Laurel and Hardy short film “The Music Box” (aka. The Music Box steps) was filmed here, and the familiar comedy trio, The Three Stooges stared in “An Ache in Every Stake” filmed in 1941 on the stairs just off of Cove Avenue.
The area was originally named “Ivanhoe” before the turn of the Century by a Scotsman named Hugo Reid, who thought the rolling hills reminded him of his homeland Scotland. He named the area after a famous Scottish novel Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott. This is why you’ll notice many of the street names in the neighborhood are Scottish or names of characters of the novel such as Herkimer, Rowena, Kenilworth, Ben Lomond, Hawick, St. George, (that’s a fun scavenger hunt!)
The Silver Lake neighborhood was named for Water Board Commissioner Herman Silver, who was instrumental in the creation of the Silver Lake Reservoir, located within the neighborhood. Not a bad gig, ugh?
In the Silver Lake community lies the namesake reservoir composed of two basins, with the lower named Silver Lake and the upper named Ivanhoe. The lower body of water was named in 1906 after the commissioner, and the upper body received its name after the Ivanhoe novel.
By the 1920’s and 1930s, with the growing number of residential developments, and the equally growing movie industry, city planners saw the development opportunities and started making investments in underground utilities and cement streets. One of the most notable developers was the silent film star Antonio Moreno (the Moreno Highlands) whose development projects resembled the Mediterranean villages he visited. This landmark home, the Canfield-Moreno Estate set the architectural tone for many of the homes on the west side of Silver Lake by the reservoir hills.
Besides Silver Lake, the reservoirs are owned and maintained by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and could provide water to 600,000 homes in downtown and South Los Angeles, holding 795 million gallons of water! Only the smaller of the two, however, Ivanhoe, remains online.
The reservoir is a focal point in the Silver Lake community and has evolved as a regional recreational resource, which includes the Silver Lake Recreation Center, the adjacent city park and popular dog park; the Silver Lake Walking Path, (stretching 2.25 miles around); and the Silver Lake Meadow, modeled after N.Y.C.’s Central Park Sheep Meadow. On the northeast corner of the property is the Neighborhood Nursery School, which since 1976 has been at the corner of Tesla Avenue and Silver Lake Boulevard. It is a parent-participation cooperative preschool, affiliated with the California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools.
Is Silver Lake Safe?
Every metropolitan city with high density carries with it the increase in crime based on the increased population sample. As a whole Silver Lake is safe and here are the numbers!
Crime Rates in Silver Lake:
Silver Lake in terms of crime rate in Los Angeles is not one of the safest cities to live in with 334.89 total crimes being committed to every 100,000, according to The University of Southern California’s Crosstown Project whose data comes from the two largest agencies, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The next-door Los Feliz Community along with Silverlake does contain some of the most affluent neighborhoods and tremendous resources are available. In major cities with trendy bars and late-night activities, this draws more people from outside the community to attend these events. With more people and later hours this correlates to an increase in the majority of the crime which is burglary and petty theft rather than assault and murder as you see in other regions.
Crime Statistics and Types in Silver Lake:
For a more comprehensive look take a look at the Los Angeles Police Department Crime Mapping site. You can get up-to-date crime statistics for neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles. Silverlake ranks 37 out of the 134 Los Angeles cities covered. There were 12 accounts of burglary in October, 16 of larceny, and 8 assaults with no homicides.
Homeless Population in Silver Lake:
According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority LAHSA in the Service Planning Area Metro 4 where Silver Lake resides as of 2022, 124 individuals constituted the entire homeless population of Silver Lake 29,346 residents.
Twenty percent of the homeless population are on the streets predominantly in the major areas of high density along both Los Feliz and Vermont Boulevards. Other major areas such as South L. A (SPA 6) has 14,598 homeless people in the San Fernando Valley (SPA 2) 9,829 and the lowest region is the Antelope Valley with 4,598. The range falls between the highest being the South Los Angeles Service Area at 1.38% and the lowest being the San Gabriel Valley at .28%. Echo Park / Service Planning Area 4 is at 1.23%.
Neighborhood Council and Community Engagement
The Echo Park Neighborhood Council is a publicly funded and elected group of individuals who live, work, own property, or otherwise have a connection to Echo Park. They address issues and engage in initiatives affecting the neighborhood as a whole, as well as in each of its six districts. The EPNC connects residents on a local level with their city government and aims to address issues of safety, development, and quality of life with those who live and work around us.
The Echo Park Neighborhood Council’s Homelessness & Housing Committee (HHC) mission statement is “The EPNC Homelessness & Housing Committee seeks to implement ideas that will benefit our unhoused residents. HHC strives to connect those experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity to resources and to advocate for the effective use of government programs to help address our housing crisis.” They have board members and meet the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7pm.
Neighborhood Watch and Crime Prevention
To keep an eye on things in your neighborhood the more modern neighborhood watch is Crime Stoppers. This site is where you can submit a tip, follow up, and collect a cash reward! “The purpose of Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers is to prevent and reduce crime, by forming a partnership among the community, law enforcement and the media to offer anonymity and cash rewards to anyone providing information leading to an arrest. Crime Stoppers encourages members of the community to assist local law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime by overcoming the two key elements that inhibit community involvement: fear and apathy.” (Crime Stoppers)
Local Resources:
Northeast Community Police Station
- Phone (Voice): 323-561-3211
- Phone (TTY): 877-275-5273
- Address: 3353 San Fernando Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90065
Los Angeles Fire Department Station 56
- 2759 Rowena Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039
- (213) 485-6256
- https://www.lafd.org/
- 2144 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
- (213) 485-6220
- https://www.lafd.org/
Silver Lake Neighborhood Council
Neighborhood Councils are liaisons between neighborhoods and Los Angeles City Hall. Council board members are city officials elected by their communities and advise on issues such as development, homelessness, and emergency preparedness on behalf of local residents, schools, and businesses.
Each council is allocated a taxpayer-funded annual budget to be used for operational expenses, outreach, service projects, and local events. There are currently 99 neighborhood councils in Los Angeles, each serving about 40,000 people. You can learn more about the city’s various neighborhood councils at empowerla.org/councils.
CONTACT US:
Web Address: https://www.silverlakenc.org/
Meeting Address:
Silver Lake Neighborhood Council
Ivanhoe Elementary School Auditorium
2828 Herkimer St
Los Angeles, CA. 90026
Mailing Address:
Silver Lake Neighborhood Council
1850 W Silver Lake Dr
Los Angeles, CA. 90026
Don’t know your district? Find it HERE
● Health Services of Los Angeles County
● Phone: 211
● Services: Primary care, emergency services for insured, uninsured, low-income, no income
● 211 County Help Line
● For emergency food/shelter, dial 211 and choose option 3
● Emergency Senior Meals Response
● Phone: 213-202-5669
● Services: Meals for seniors 60+
● Los Angeles County Domestic Violence Safety Plan Hotline
● Phone: 800-799-7233
Your Next Chapter Starts Here
Senior Guide
Our golden years bring lots of changes.
It’s important to consider the people you invite to be on your support team. Part of that team is a Senior Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®) by your side.
THE SHELHAMER GROUP | DRE: 01950995
Glenn Shelhamer is a licensed real estate broker DRE: 01950995 in the state of California and abides by equal housing opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. To reach The Shelhamer Real Estate Group’s office manage please call (310) 913-9477.
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