Eagle Rock
Real Estate Statistics
| Total Listings: | 31 |
| Average Price: | $307,077 |
| Highest Listing Price: | $700,000 |
| Lowest Listing Price: | $2,800 |
Eagle Rock was once a city. The area was eventually annexed into the City of Los Angeles because the need of more sewers and water supply. Major thoroughfares include Eagle Rock Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard. The Glendale and Ventura freeways run along the district's western and northern edges, respectively. A massive boulder at the district's northern edge contains an indentation which casts a bird-shaped shadow on the rock at certain times of day, giving the neighborhood its name.
The neighborhood is inhabited by a wide variety of ethnic and socioeconomic groups. A core of counter-culture writers, artists and filmmakers has existed in the town since the 1920s. The town was well-known during the late '50s, '60s and '70s for its sizable hot rod culture, which is today almost defunct. Eagle Rock is the site of Occidental College, designed by famed architect Myron Hunt and built in 1914. Eagle Rock is home to many historic and architecturally significant homes, many done in the Craftsman, Georgian, Streamline Moderne, Art Deco and Mission Revival style
History
Prior to the arrival of European settlers, the secluded valley below the San Rafael Hills that is roughly congruent to Eagle Rock's present boundaries was inhabited by the Tongva tribe, who hunted the game that watered at its springs. These aboriginal inhabitants were displaced by Spanish settlers in the late 18th century, with the area incorporated into the Rancho San Rafael. Following court battles, the area known as Rancho San Rafael was divided into 31 parcels in 1870. Benjamin Dreyfus was awarded what is now called Eagle Rock. In the 1880s Eagle Rock existed as a farming community. The arrival of American settlers and the growth of Los Angeles resulted in steadily increasing semi-rural development in the region throughout the late 19th century, culminating in Eagle Rock's establishment as an independent city in 1906 and its incorporation in 1911.
In 1909, Hill Avenue, now Hill Drive, was (and still is) one of Eagle Rock's most beautiful streets. Other streets were Royal Drive (now Mt. Royal Drive), Acacia Street (now Laverna Avenue), Kenilworth Avenue (now Hermosa Avenue), Highland Avenue (now Highland View Avenue), and Fairmont Avenue (now Maywood Avenue). In the 1950s, newer streets such as Kincheloe Drive were extended into the hillsides for the building of larger homes with a view of the city. Today these streets are dotted with large homes on wide lots.
The arrival of Owens Valley water via the Los Angeles Aqueduct and the concurrent depletion of the young city's wells ultimately led the city fathers, after considerable pressure and threats from the City of Los Angeles, to agree to annexation by Los Angeles in 1923. Eagle Rock is one of the few cities incorporated by Los Angeles to still have its original pre-annexation City Hall (2035 Colorado Blvd) and Library (2225 Colorado Blvd) still standing. The library, a Carnegie Library built in 1915, has since been listed on the National Register of Historic Places and converted into a community center, the Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center.
Eagle Rock and the motion picture industry
Intersection of Eagle Rock Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard. Eagle Rock has frequently been used as a backdrop for many movies and television showsWith an "Anytown, USA" feel to it, and such a close proximity to Hollywood and the major motion picture studios, this community has often been a favored choice as a film location. Cameos include Top Gun, Hunt for Red October, and a second-season episode of The O.C. Star Trek III was partially filmed on the campus of Occidental College. This campus also served as "California University" in the 1990s television series, Beverly Hills, 90210. Quentin Tarantino filmed parts of Reservoir Dogs here and in neighboring Highland Park. Other movies filmed almost entirely in Eagle Rock include; all of the exterior scenes of The Incredible Shrinking Woman[1] (1981) starring Lily Tomlin, Record City[2] (1978) with Ed Begley, Jr. was filmed in its entirety in a defunct auto paint shop, and The Unwed Father[3] (1974) starring Timothy Bottoms had all of its exterior location shots filmed on the Eagle Rock High School campus.[4] Avril Lavigne's music video Complicated was mostly shot in the Eagle Rock Mall.
Some of the architecture of Eagle Rock has been featured as well; a house on the 5200 block of Shearin Avenue was used during the 1984 filming of Teen Wolf, starring Michael J. Fox, and a house on the 4900 block of College View Avenue was used during the 1975 filming of The Day of the Locust, starring Donald Sutherland.
Ben Affleck, a former Occidental College student, lived on Hill Drive with then-roommate and co-writer Matt Damon while they wrote the script for Good Will Hunting, which would go on to win them a Best Original Screenplay Academy Award.[5]
Many famous motion picture actors and actresses, along with writers and others involved in the industry, have lived in Eagle Rock over the years, see the Notable Residents section below for more details.
Education
Eagle Rock residents are zoned to schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Public elementary schools:
- Eagle Rock Elementary School
- Dahlia Heights Elementary
- Rockdale Elementary School
- Toland Way Elementary School
Public middle & high schools: There are two middle/high schools; the LAUSD public school Eagle Rock High School, which also serves as a middle school, and public charter school Renaissance Arts Academy.
Colleges and universities:
Occidental College
Private schools:
St. Dominic School
Libraries
Los Angeles Public Library operates the Eagle Rock Branch Library at 5027 Caspar Avenue.[6]
References
1. Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981)
2. Record City (1978)
3. The Unwed Father (1974)
4. Eagle Rock High School
5. "Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society." Retrieved on February 23, 2009.
6."Eagle Rock Branch Library." Los Angeles Public Library. Retrieved on December 9, 2008.
External links
- Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council
- Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council. "Eagle Rock - Then And Now". http://www.eaglerockcouncil.org/?view=then_and_now. Retrieved December 18, 2005.
- TERA (The Eagle Rock Association)
- Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society
- Eagle Rock Talk Podcast
- History of Eagle Rock
- York Boulevard
- Internet Movie Database Location Search (36 Eagle Rock Locations Retrieved 2/17/2008)
Magnificant Gated Estate With New Construction. Breathtaking...
- Price:
- $3,858,000
- City:
- Los Angeles (city)
- Beds:
- 4
- Baths:
- 4
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- W12043220
Magnificant Gated Estate With New Construction. Breathtaking Panoramic Views Hallmark This Stunning Hilltop...
Commanding A Majestic Presence Amid Scenic Rolling...
- Price:
- $3,725,000
- City:
- Los Angeles (city)
- Beds:
- 9
- Baths:
- 12
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 11538899
Commanding A Majestic Presence Amid Scenic Rolling Hills Lies This Grand, Historic Estate In A Quiet...
Stunning Custom Built 2006 Mediterranean Style Home...
- Price:
- $1,100,000
- City:
- Los Angeles (city)
- Beds:
- 4
- Baths:
- 3½
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 12578745
Stunning Custom Built 2006 Mediterranean Style Home Nestled In A Secluded Cul-de-sac Neighborhood In...
3415-3421 Drew St. Apartment Is A Single Story 10-unit...
- Price:
- $890,000
- City:
- Los Angeles (city)
- Beds:
- 0
- Baths:
- 0
- Type:
- Residential Income
- MLS® #:
- A11160261
3415-3421 Drew St. Apartment Is A Single Story 10-unit Apartment Complex Consisting Of A Single Family...
Custom Built Home Tucked Away At The Top Of The Hill....
- Price:
- $888,888
- City:
- Los Angeles (city)
- Beds:
- 4
- Baths:
- 5
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 12572559
Custom Built Home Tucked Away At The Top Of The Hill. Very Private. Views From All 5 Floors! 4 Spacious...
Breathtaking Panoramic Views! Drop Dead Gorgeous! A...
- Price:
- $855,000
- City:
- Los Angeles (city)
- Beds:
- 4
- Baths:
- 3
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- F12044926
Breathtaking Panoramic Views! Drop Dead Gorgeous! A Beautiful Home Nestled In The Hills Of Eagle Rock...
This Stunning And Well Preserved Single Level Craftsman...
- Price:
- $729,000
- City:
- Los Angeles (city)
- Beds:
- 2
- Baths:
- 2
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 22164289
This Stunning And Well Preserved Single Level Craftsman Is Registered As #738 Los Angeles Cultural-historical...
Standard Sale! Located In The Heart Of Eagle Rock....
- Price:
- $699,000
- City:
- Los Angeles (city)
- Beds:
- 2
- Baths:
- 2
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 12164488
Standard Sale! Located In The Heart Of Eagle Rock. Great Starter Home. Well Maintained Home With Nice...
Step Into This Lovingly Restored Spanish Four Bedroom,...
- Price:
- $699,000
- City:
- Los Angeles (city)
- Beds:
- 4
- Baths:
- 3
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 12594103
Step Into This Lovingly Restored Spanish Four Bedroom, Three Bath Home In Eagle Rock. This Residence...
This Single Level, 3br+3ba Contemporary Residence Is...
- Price:
- $689,000
- City:
- Los Angeles (city)
- Beds:
- 3
- Baths:
- 3
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 12581385
This Single Level, 3br+3ba Contemporary Residence Is Situated On A Huge Corner Lot And Surrounded By...