Jurassic Park dinosaurs, WaterWorld and the Terminator practically inhabit their backyards, and the neon lights of CityWalk beckon tourists year-round. But those who live in Universal City's shadow don't always mind the hubbub, thanks to the studio's good-neighbor policy (free parking passes) and the excitement of residing in the glow of a Hollywood landmark.
Beginnings
In 1915, Carl Laemmle officially opened Universal City, a 230-acre ranch atop a hill he purchased for $165,000 for filmmaking. Today the 391-acre property is owned by General Electric and Vivendi and includes studios, a theme park and CityWalk. The site has a ZIP Code, but no housing. Yet.
Drawing card
Universal City-adjacent residents like the location, just minutes from the 101 and 134 freeways. This enclave of tidy North Hollywood single-family homes and apartments, splashy Hollywood hillside estates and stately Toluca Lake homes attracts entertainment industry employees who like to live close to work. Also, Hollywood Boulevard is a 10-minute car ride or a subway stop away.
Insider's viewpoint
Toluca Lake resident Terry Davis recalled the time she first heard a dinosaur's roar while seated in her living room several years ago. The windows and doors were closed, and she couldn't imagine the source of the rumbling. Then came her eureka moment: "Universal City!"
Davis, president of the Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council, doesn't notice the prehistoric racket much anymore, but the applause of theme-park enthusiasts and the pyrotechnic explosions from park attractions do float down from "the monolith hovering over us" when the wind is blowing just so, she said.
Her home's proximity to Universal City has benefits too. For Davis, it's being close to the Gibson Amphitheatre, for musical and other events.
Good news, bad news
Because Universal City is a major attraction, good restaurants, clothing stores, bookstores and specialty shops have developed along the nearby thoroughfares. The location also is handy when locals' cousins roll in from wherever.
"Living here feels like 'Hollywood,' " said Sue Rubano, 51, who worked at Walt Disney Studios for eight years. She and her husband, actor-musician John Rubano, 49, live just west of Universal City in North Hollywood. "When relatives visit, they have the entertainment and can stay in the park's hotels too."
