Whether you’re an artist already living in Los Angeles or moving to the Los Angeles district, West Adams is a great place for artists to gather. Los Angeles became a prosperous city after World War II and most of the houses were built afterwards. West Adams is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Los Angeles and most of the houses were built between 1880 and 1925; many are now being renovated.
West Adams is home to a number of historical landmarks such as; the 1932 Summer Olympic Village, St. John’s Cathedral, the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, and the University of Southern California. Their historic homes are often used as locations for TV shows like CSI and Monk. In recent years, many artists have moved into the neighborhoods, many homes in need of repairs, and turned them into active workspaces. They even had an open house weekend recently where local artists opened their studios to the public.
This year marks the third annual tour of West Adams Art in Historic Places. The self-guided event is on March 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and can be done by car or bicycle. The district is not only becoming the hottest spot for established and emerging artists, it is also becoming a popular spot for galleries. On the tour, you’ll see many of West Adams’ historic homes, open studios by working artists, and many famous paintings housed in places like the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library and the California African American Museum.
If owning a historic home is your thing, there are several for sale in West Adams. You should be aware that owning a historic home comes with some benefits as well as some restrictions. For example, you cannot do interior or exterior renovations without first getting approval from the City of Los Angeles Department of Planning, Historic Resources division. One of those benefits is the elimination of certain reconditioning requirements upon resale of the property. You may also be eligible for a tax exemption.
The breakdown of the population of West Adams is as follows; 56% Latino, 37% Black, with about 2% White, 2% Asian, and 2% Other. The median income is around 38k, which is low for the city of Los Angeles and for the county. The median age is 28, which is low for Los Angeles and for residents, the educational attainment of residents over the age of 25 is less than 8% with a four-year college degree.
So if you’re an artist or just a patron of the arts, the West Adams district may be right for you. Do some research on the Internet, then hop in the car or plane and come see what it’s all about. Good luck and happy house hunting.