Silver Lake California's Sunset Junction
Silver Lake Calfornia's Sunset Junction is the place to be. When people talk about buying real estate in SilverlLake, it used to mean "prime Silver Lake"- the area nearest the reservoir and the hills known as the Moreno Highlands. That area is still plenty popular but the price of homes there can be pretty high. Over the past few years, another part of Silverlake known as Sunset Junction has become the hot topic.
Sunset Junction is literally the place where Santa Monica Blvd. intersects with Sunset Blvd. The name is a carryover from the days of the old Los Angeles "red car line", Pacific Electric Railway Company's passenger service. Rail service was discontinued in the mid 1950's but the Sunset Junction name stuck. Silver Lake visitors and residents alike enjoy the variety of shops and eateries for several blocks of Sunset Blvd in this area. Demand for homes within walking distance of Sunset Junction has increased dramatically in recent years, prompting the development of the popular live/work Lofts at 4111 Sunset Blvd.
Less gritty than in past years, Sunset Junction boasts a large selection of cafes, shops and restaurants. The building that once housed a carniceria is now home to the Silverlake Conservatory of Music- a non-profit organization that offers reasonably priced music lessons and grants scholarships to children in need. In the same building you'll find the hip coffee bar, Intelligentsia with its outdoor tables and umbrellas, The Cheese Store of Silver Lake, and Café Stella, a lively French Bistro. Right at the corner is a shoe store called Kicks. This isn't your grandfather's Silver Lake!
Housing south of Sunset Blvd and within a short jaunt to Sunset Junction has become increasing popular, no doubt due to the plethora of things to do and see in the area. Recently a storybook cottage at 970 Maltman garnered a lot of attention and received multiple offers within days of going on the market and last week a 3 bedroom, 2 bath craftsman at 1401 Edgecliff Dr. also collected multiple offers in just 4 days. It looks like Sunset Junction has finally come into its own.
For more information on Sunset Junction, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Echo Park and surrounding areas, contact me directly at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com
Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, Los Feliz
213-215-4758
http://www.LApropertySolutions.com
Copyright © 2010 By Jenny Durling *All Rights Reserved * Sunset Junction - Silverlake Ca
Jenny....this is a TRUE trip down memory lane for me! I grew up in Los Angeles....near Belmont High School and spent many hours swimming and going to the library at Echo Park. My Aunt lived in Silver Lake....which I remember (45+ years later) as a hugh (2 bedroom mind you) glam Hollywoodish home. Only wish I could remember the address as I would love to take a road trip and view it!! I do hear that Silver Lake and Echo Park have "come back".....they do carry alot of nostalgia for me!!! Hope to do that road trip anyway....this year with my daughter!!!
THANK YOU for this post!!!!!!
Hi Kathy, I'm glad you enjoyed the post. I would love to get your reaction to how much the area has changed when you do manage to take that road trip. Is there anything else you remember from the area growing up? That might spark a topic for another local post :-)
I really have more memories about Echo Park....since it was walking distance from our house (mind you a 1 bedroom bungalow with a "party of 6" living there...mom/dad and 3 sisters!!). Being the oldest I would walk the other girls to the library, swimming pool area at Echo Park. Remember the park from my mother taking us there to the boat house and a walk around the lake.
The electric car in your post above.....I think those same or something similar ran in a "tunnel" close to Beverly Blvd and 1st (may have that cross street wrong). We lived at 1510 Beverly Blvd and would take the street car....as we called it...to downtown to go "window shopping" and if we were very lucky have lunch at Clifton's Cafeteria.
We were dirt poor just didn't realize it at the time! So my Aunt's place in Silver Lake was like going "up town" to see how some with a little money lived!! Seemed so glamorous to me at the time!!
One of my sisters were just up for a visit this week and we reminisced about our time on Beverly Blvd....about 6-7 years....1953-1960. LONG time ago!!
Give me a call if you need any details about the area "way back then"!!!!!
So Sunset Junction is the new Silver Lake? Love the historical background! Great for people considering a move there.
Kathy- Boy you DO have some memories about this area! Echo Park lake is still really pretty though the paddle boats are no longer there. You have to go to Mc Arthur Park for that now. The annual Lotus Festival was cancelled last year- they don't know why but none of the Lotus plants in the lake bloomed. Sad!
Barb- Sunset Junction is really "new" - it's just gotten much more popular. All of the shops and restaurants just make the area that much more attractive which helps boost property values as well.
My sister just came for a visit and we talked about the Lotus plants at Echo Park...remember doing a May Poll dance there as a kid!! Long ago and far away!! Between your Blog and my sister's visit I feel the road trip is a must for 2010!!
Let me know when you're coming to town. It would be great to meet you in person! Did you see my blog about the Lago Vista condo complex in Echo Park? It has some great view of Echo Park Lake and downtown Los Angeles.