Between S. Barrington Ave. and Bundy Drive, north of Olympic.


On a few blocks between S. Barrington Avenue and Bundy Drive, north of Olympic Blvd. the streets are dotted with “light industrial” buildings that most likely manufacture digital media.

It’s a flat place, with the oldest buildings dating back to WWII, many parking structures, and a generous amount of architecture, in the Eccentric Faddish style which encompasses everything from steel to wood to concrete and whose only commonality is expensiveness in land, material, rents and value to landowners and tax assessors.

Despite the liberal feeling of the district, everything is guarded, policed, and patrolled. We walked past a building, on the public sidewalk, and a robotic voice ominously announced: “You are being video recorded!”

There are still a few RVs housing unhoused people.

And everywhere there are asphalt parking lots.

You will look in vain for any park, organic garden, or affordable housing. Is this the best we can do? As long as the streets are clean it seems so.

Memorial Day: Sawtelle Veterans Home


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Soldiers’ Home, Views of Los Angeles, California, courtesy, California Historical Society, CHS2013.1297.

Courtesy: California Historical Society

1938 Butler Avenue, Los Angeles, CA


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This is a house in the Sawtelle neighborhood in West Los Angeles.

I had dinner in this area tonight.

Walking around here, I’m amazed at the old homes that are not fancy, but simple, well kept and humble. This area is home to many older Japanese-Americans, and one sees their influence in the gardens, the topiary and the well tended rose bushes.

There are more and more expensive houses, but they tend to be modernistic and experimental looking. The onslaught of super-slick architecture will eventually change this district from its present old time feel.