Photos: Mitch Glaser
It’s likely that North Hollywood will become a more desirable place to live with the ongoing urbanization around the Red Line. There will be more restaurants, apartments, urban amenities, high schools….. and walking.
But let’s not forget that the destructive policies of the last 50 years have ruined much of what once made this a pleasant area.
The construction of the 170 Freeway tore through parklands and destroyed the beauty and peacefulness with an ever-present roar of traffic and the accompanying air pollution.
Local businesses left after giant malls were constructed in other areas of the Valley, draining customers away from mom and pop stores. Some of these malls, such as Valley Plaza at Victory and Laurel Canyon, are now themselves decayed and obsolete.
Small homes and bungalows were turned into rooming houses or torn down to put up dingbat apartments. The destruction of viable historic neighborhoods continues to this day. Crime is ever present with daily auto theft and vandalism. Domestic violence, illegal immigration, failing schools, poor health care, environmental degradation, murder…these are regular items on the menu of life here.
There is a clear contrast between the well-run city of Burbank and the poorly maintained sections of Los Angeles that can be seen along Magnolia Blvd. as one drives east of Cahuenga. The pavement in North Hollywood is full of potholes. These are only surface differences.
On Oxnard (“The Ugliest Street in America”) east of Lankershim, is a hideous collection of auto repair shops, a cacophonous collection of billboards, signs, and poisonous paint fumes. Yet behind these auto shops, are old neighborhoods, some with quaint homes and gardens, where middle class families are struggling to make a new life in a very inhospitable place.
Here in Van Nuys 
I think you should report this neglect to Mayor Sam and the LA City Nerd. They are the Batman and Robin of the Bloggers on LA political issues.
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As someone who, for the last 4 years, has worked closely with the NoHo Arts District and in the past year or so, with the developers for the “New” North Hollywood, it is a time of revitalization for the area. What I am concerned with is the lack of attention the Mayor has given to this amazing rebirth.
Since the election, no representative from the Mayor’s office has attended any government affairs meeting at the NoHo Chamber of Commerce – not even a response to the monthly email invite notices.
After more than a year of neglect since the election, the President of the NoHo Chamber of Commerce attempted to find out the name of the individual who represented the district – the neighborhood representative. The exercise was futile and in fact, the 2 female employees at the Regional East Valley Office could not have been more uncooperative and indifferent.
If anyone knows who we should talk to in a higher capacity, please let me know.
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Great post Andrew. Good things are happening in many parts of North Hollywood.
One other that really killed the area years ago was that, prior to the 170, they kept widening Lankershim and allowing big trucks to use it as a highway. This destroyed the downtown area, along with the building of Valley Plaza and Laurel Plaza and the desire of folks to shop in malls, which now of course is changing again.
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I grew up in North Hollywood a block from a park split by the 170 – yes, the area is changing, I think for the good. I used to go to Valley Plaza often, especially to Ice Skate – that is a sad loss I think – at some point that whole area is ripe for renewal. I think the most striking point you make is the difference between Burbank and North Hollywood – you can literally feel the pavement change on ANY street when you hit the border.
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