Welcome to Westwood
The Land of the Bruins, the village of Westwood is a college town and a West LA hotspot rolled into one dynamic neighborhood. It’s young, it’s hip, it’s culturally diverse, it’s a major economic hub. It’s also considered as one of the best places to live in the Westside.
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The location
Westwood is well-tucked inside the Westside of Los Angeles County. It is bordered by several prominent communities: Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Century City, and Beverly Crest. Holmby Hills is here.
Downtown Los Angeles is about 25 minutes away by car, and it takes roughly the same time to get to LAX via I-405 N.
Southern California’s best college town
Westwood was developed out of the 3,000 acres that were formerly Wolfskill Ranch, purchased by Arthur Letts, Sr. in the late 1910s. His son-in-law, Harold Janss (and his brother, Edwin) of Janss Investment Company took over the development of the area when he died.
They offered to sell a part of the ranch to the University of California Board of Regents, and it’s just what UCLA needed. At the time, what used to be the Southern Branch of the University of California faced overpopulation in the campus because of the increased enrollment.
There was a hitch, however. The new campus must be on gifted lands, according to the regents. And so, four cities (Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Venice, and Santa Monica) banded to purchase the Westwood site for $1.3 million. They then proceeded to donate the land to the UC system.
In preparation for the new campus, the Janss brothers began development on the Village and, as they say, the rest is history. Westwood is the very definition of a college town and has grown to be one of Los Angeles’ best-known neighborhoods.
The real estate market
The hills of Westwood mark the spot where the real estate landscape changes, including more variety into the fold. Tony million-dollar estates remain at the top of the pyramid, but they share the space with luxury high-rise apartments and condos that add a modern flair to the real estate market.
If expansive single-family homes and mansions are the sole focus of the topic, no neighborhood in Westwood can compare to Holmby Hills, home to some of Los Angeles’ most notable (and expensive) residences.
Along Wilshire Boulevard, homes for sale in Westwood, Los Angeles open up to comprise luxury apartments and condos. The Wilshire Corridor, in particular, is where one can find Westwood’s most upscale condo dwellings.
The Westwood lifestyle
Dining in Westwood
- Pomodoro Trattoria is a casual Italian eatery in Westwood that has made waves for its fresh and handmade gnocchi and selection of thin-crust pizzas.
- Hamasakuoffers counter-side omakase dining experience featuring sushi, sashimi, and creative rolls that merge Japanese and Mexican flavors.
- La Table de Sophie along Westwood Boulevard serves French cafe classics like galettes and cold appetizers but with a modern twist. They also serve dessert crepes and seasonal specials.
- Eduardo’s Border Grill in Moss Plaza is an unassuming strip-mall restaurant specializing in what is considered the best Southwestern food in Westwood. Diners keep coming back for their homemade salsa— it goes with everything.
- Thai Fresh’s cozy interiors provide comfort as as patrons dig into their incredible array of Thai curries that don’t lack for spice. Their salads, soups, and rice dishes are not to be missed as well.
Shopping in Westwood
Opportunities for retail therapy abound in Westwood, especially at the neighborhood’s very core: Westwood Village. There is also a Farmers Market at Broxton Avenue, open every Thursday. Vendors set up shop to sell local handmade goods and food. For the latter, that stalls that sell Afghan bolani and Elote often attract long lines.
Schools in Westwood
The Los Angeles Unified School District operates public schools in Westwood, including Emerson Community Charter and Warner Avenue Elementary School. Of course, the crowning glory of educational pursuit in Westwood is the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
There are also private schools in Westwood, such as St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School along Selby Avenue and Sinai Akiba Academy, a Jewish day school.
Live in Westwood
Connect with me today at 310.927.2777 or estates(at)FlorenceMattar(dotted)com to explore or learn more about homes for sale in Westwood, Los Angeles.