His association sponsors home tours, evening walks and special events designed to help people care for their historic homes. Recently, neighbors got together to paint the house of a longtime resident on a fixed income.
"When we lived on the Westside, I didn't know any of my neighbors," Bronson's wife, Darby Bayliss, said. "Here we know everybody, and we really watch out for each other. I'm thrilled to raise my children in this community."
Housing stock
Although prices are rising steadily, Harvard Heights remains an affordable choice for people interested in large historic homes. Two-story homes here are a relative bargain when the square footage and features are compared with similarly priced structures in other neighborhoods.
"I'm seeing a lot of young, creative couples who want more space than a downtown loft and who appreciate the unique architecture," said David Raposa, owner of City Living Realty, a real estate firm that has specialized in the historic homes of West Adams for the last 22 years.
"People are attracted to the interesting, diverse mix of people in Harvard Heights. The new residents care deeply about preserving the historic beauty of their homes."
Report card
In the 2004 Academic Performance Index, 24th Street Elementary scored 649 out of 1,000, Los Angeles Elementary scored 667, and Magnolia and Pio Pico Elementary Schools both scored 631. Berendo Middle School had an API score of 548, and Mt. Vernon Middle School scored 557. Los Angeles Senior High School scored 516.
The Los Angeles Unified School District is building four new schools in or adjacent to West Adams, two new elementary schools and two new high schools.
Historical values
Residential resales:
Year...Median Price
1990...$171,250
1995...$126,000
2000...$173,000
2004...$509,000
2005...$610,000*
\o7*Year to date
\f7
Sources: DataQuick Information Systems; Laura Meyers, West Adams Heritage Assn., www.westadams heritage.com.
