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Brentwood, Los Angeles

Brentwood, Los Angeles not to be confused with the Brentwood in Northern California is a country town turned upscale.  Growing up there was a bit different than today. Then, there were very few two story homes. Things were laid back and the city had not filled in yet.  There were still many plots of land undeveloped.  Things were so calm that we would leave our house unlocked at night and my father would even leave his car keys on the floor under the seat.

Today Brentwood is one of the most desired places to live in LA and it has been for the past 15 years. Its truly a place for those who can afford the real estate; prices start at $1 million and go up to $20 million and higher.  If you want a little less publicity and a little more of an ocean breeze with access to Beverly Hills, Century City, and Downtown, Brentwood is your place.  There are five niche locations and I will expand upon these in future articles.

Brentwood, like nearby Santa Monica, is kept fairly cool by marine breezes off the Pacific Ocean and frequently wakes to the so-called “marine layer,” a cover of clouds brought in at night and burned off by mid-morning. The topography of the area is generally split into two, broadly divided by Sunset Boulevard. North of Sunset, the area is defined by the ridges and canyons created by the Santa Monica Mountains; south of Sunset (exceptions include Franklin Hill), the area is relatively flat. The southern district (and the neighboring Westgate-Sawtelle areas) features underground springs which bubble up into a small creek along “the Gully” in south Brentwood near the golf course, and in the “Indian Springs” (the springs were formerly the site of a Tongva village) portion of the University High School campus.

San Vicente Boulevard, considered the “Main Street” of Brentwood, is divided by a wide median on which stand many large coral trees. The median and the trees replaced the derelict Pacific Electric track, and the trees have become a Historic-Cultural Monument (#148) for the city of Los Angeles. (Brentwood boosters have adopted the silhouette of a coral tree as a de facto town logo.) Bundy Drive is lined with extremely tall date palms, likely planted by the district’s original developer.

BEL-AIR–BRENTWOOD AND SANTA YNEZ FIRES
WORST FIRE IN THE HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES

OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT
COMPILED BY CAPT. HAROLD W. GREENWOOD, L.A.F.D.

Neighborhoods

There are a number of residential subdistricts; some defined by original developers, some defined by present-day local realtors. Some may be as small as a few blocks, others range over acres of hills:

• Brentwood Circle: Gated community east of Barrington and north of Sunset.
• Brentwood Country Estates
• Brentwood Flats
• Brentwood Glen: Part of Brentwood that is bounded by Sunset, the 405 Freeway and the Veterans Administration
• Brentwood Heights
• Brentwood Highlands
• Brentwood Hills: Home to Mount St. Mary’s College and the Getty Center.
• Brentwood Park: Notable for its layout, having been designed around several large traffic circles, a handful of which remain; the area between Sunset and San Vicente west of Kenter/Bundy.

• Brentwood Sunset: Gated community north of San Vicente Blvd.
• Brentwood Terrace: Southwest edge of Brentwood, bounded by San Vicente Blvd, Montana Ave, the Brentwood Country Club, and Santa Monica’s 26th Street. Walking distance to the Brentwood Country Mart.
• Bundy Canyon
• Crestwood Hills: Includes a cluster of architecturally significant mid-century modern residences; located in the northern part of Kenter Canyon.Crestwood Hills contains several homes designated as architectural landmarks by the State of California. The homes were designed by A. Quincy Jones, and are featured in numerous magazines, articles, and books about mid-century modern housing. The community includes a park, pre-school, and homeowners’ association
• Kenter Canyon
• Mandeville Canyon: Westernmost part of Brentwood.
• Mountaingate
• Museum Heights: Contemporary condominiums, located off Sunset Blvd.
• South Brentwood: Between San Vicente and Wilshire Boulevards and the eastern boundary of Santa Monica.
• Sullivan Canyon: A small equestrian community north of Sunset, west of Mandeville Canyon Rd. and east of Pacific Palisades. Most properties are one-story ranch houses, and most houses have horse stables.
• Westgate: Directly to the east of Brentwood Park
• Westridge Hills
• Westridge Heights: Western portions of Mandeville Canyon