Crestwood Hills, Los Angeles facts for kids

Crestwood Hills is a special neighborhood in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California. It sits on hills north and east of Kenter Canyon, within the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains. This area is famous for its unique mid-century modern architecture. Many homes here are even considered important landmarks by the State of California!

These cool homes were designed by an architect named A. Quincy Jones. You can often see them featured in magazines and books about modern housing styles from the middle of the last century. Crestwood Hills is more than just houses; it also has a park, a preschool, and a group that helps manage the community.

Crestwood Hills started as an interesting idea in the late 1940s. A group of thinkers wanted to create a special community. It grew into a cooperative group with about 400 members. At first, it was called the Mutual Housing Tract. The goal was to create a neighborhood for people from many different backgrounds. However, there were challenges from existing residents in Brentwood. This was a time when some rules made it hard for certain groups to buy homes. Because of this, some original members had to leave the group for the land sale to happen.

A big fire in 1961 sadly destroyed 49 homes in the area. Over the years, many homes were rebuilt. This meant that some of the original modern designs changed. By the year 2000, Crestwood Hills had become a very wealthy neighborhood. Today, homes often sell for millions of dollars. This is a big change from 1949, when a typical house cost around twenty thousand dollars ($20,000).

Learning in Crestwood Hills

Students living in Crestwood Hills attend schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The community also has its own special cooperative preschool. Parents who send their children there help out by volunteering a few times each month. Families who are members of the Crestwood Hills Homeowners Association get first choice for their children to attend the school.

Fun at Crestwood Hills Park

Crestwood Hills Park is a great place for outdoor activities. It has areas for barbecues and basketball courts. There's also a fun play area just for kids. The park has a community room that can hold up to 90 people, perfect for gatherings. You can also explore hiking trails and enjoy picnics at the park's tables.

Famous People from Crestwood Hills

Several well-known people have lived in Crestwood Hills:

• Marvin Braude (1920–2005) was a member of the Los Angeles City Council for many years, from 1965 to 1997. He helped make important decisions for the city.
• David Baerwald (1960–) is a talented songwriter and composer. He has won awards for his music.
• Hank Worden (1902–1991) was a versatile movie actor. He often appeared in films with John Wayne. He is well-remembered for his role as Mose Harper in the movie "The Searchers."