Harvard Heights, Los Angeles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harvard Heights
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The historic Spanish Colonial Revival style Pacific Bell Building, 2008
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Harvard Heights, as delineated by the Los Angeles Times
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 Harvard Heights
Location in Los Angeles
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Los Angeles |
| City | Los Angeles |
Harvard Heights is a cool neighborhood in Central Los Angeles, California. It's a special place because it's a historic zone. This means the city helps protect its beautiful old homes. Many of these homes are single-family residences with amazing architecture.
You can find the only remaining Greene and Greene house in Los Angeles here. There are also five Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in the neighborhood. One of these is a private library. It is dedicated to the famous singer Ray Charles.
Contents
The Story of Harvard Heights
Harvard Heights was once a very grand neighborhood. Over time, it faced some challenges. Many homes were turned into apartments. The population also changed a lot.
But in the late 1990s, the neighborhood started to get better. People who worked in the city began moving back. This was because their commutes were getting longer. Harvard Heights became a popular place to live again.
A Dream for Preservationists
People who love to save old buildings call Harvard Heights a "preservationist's dream." The area is known for its beautiful Craftsman houses. Most of these homes were built between 1902 and 1910.
Today, Harvard Heights is home to the only Greene and Greene house left in Los Angeles. Other famous architects also built homes here. These include the Heinemann brothers, Hunt and Eager, and Frank M. Tyler.
Homes with Character
In 2005, the Los Angeles Times wrote about Harvard Heights. They said it was a "stately turn-of-the-century neighborhood." It was going through a big restoration. The homes have amazing features. These include beautiful woodwork and high ceilings. They also have formal dining rooms and stained-glass windows.
These large, two-story homes attract many residents. Even though prices were rising, Harvard Heights remained a good choice. You could get a big historic home for a fair price. It was a great deal compared to other neighborhoods.
The neighborhood is also close to downtown Los Angeles. It's easy to get to the Santa Monica Freeway. This makes it a great spot for people who work in the city.
A Favorite for Filming
The unique architecture of Harvard Heights makes it popular. Film and television crews often choose it for their projects. They love the look of the old buildings.
Where is Harvard Heights?
The Los Angeles Times describes where Harvard Heights is located. It's part of the West Adams district.
Neighborhood Borders
- To the north: Pico Boulevard
- To the south: Washington Boulevard
- To the east: Normandie Avenue
- To the west: Western Avenue
Neighboring Areas
- West: Angelus Vista
- South: West Adams Heights
- North: Byzantine-Latino Quarter
Protecting History: The HPOZ
The Harvard Heights Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) was created in 2000. An HPOZ is a special area. It helps protect the unique character of a neighborhood. It makes sure that new changes fit in with the old buildings.
This zone covers 34 blocks. Most of the buildings are single-family homes. There are also some multi-family homes and businesses.
HPOZ Boundaries
The historic zone is located between:
- North: Pico Boulevard
- South: Santa Monica Freeway
- East: Normandie Avenue
- West: Western Avenue
The HPOZ includes both Harvard Heights (north of Washington Boulevard) and West Adams Heights (south).
Who Lives in Harvard Heights?
The Los Angeles Times studied the population of Harvard Heights. In 2000, about 18,587 people lived there. The neighborhood is about 0.79 square miles. This means it's a very crowded area. There are about 23,473 people per square mile. This is one of the highest densities in Los Angeles.
By 2008, the population grew to about 20,194 people. The average age of residents was 30. This is about the same as the rest of the city.
Diversity in the Neighborhood
Harvard Heights is a moderately diverse neighborhood. In 2000, the population included:
Many residents were born outside the United States (57.8%). The most common birthplaces were Mexico (32.9%) and El Salvador (24.8%). This number is high compared to Los Angeles as a whole.
Homes and Families
In 2008, the average household income was $31,173. This was a low number for Los Angeles. Many households earned $20,000 or less. The average household had 3.2 people, which is high for the city.
Most people in Harvard Heights rent their homes (84.3%). The rest own their houses or apartments.
In 2000, many adults had never been married. About 50% of men and 48.2% of women were single. There were also 939 families led by single parents. This was a high rate for the city and county.
Education Levels
In 2000, only 10.3% of residents aged 25 and older had a four-year college degree. This is a low rate for both the city and the county. A high number of residents also did not finish high school.
Learning in Harvard Heights
Here are the schools located within Harvard Heights:
- Los Angeles Elementary School: This is a public school. It's part of the LAUSD district. You can find it at 1211 South Hobart Boulevard.
- Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School: This is a private high school. It's located at 2900 West Pico Boulevard.
- The Jane B. Eisner School: This is a charter middle school. It's also known as New Camino Nuevo Charter. It serves students in grades 6 through 8. The address is 2755 W. 15th Street.
Historic-Cultural Monuments
Harvard Heights has five special places called Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments. These are buildings or sites that are important to the city's history and culture.
- Peet House: Located at 1139 S. Harvard Boulevard. It became Monument #272 in 1983.
- Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery: You can find it at 1831 W. Washington Boulevard. It became Monument #330 in 1987.
- Pacific Bell Building: This building is at 2755 W. 15th Street. It became Monument #331 in 1987. In 2013, this beautiful Spanish Colonial-revival building was updated. It is now the Jane B. Eisner charter middle school.
- Ray Charles's Recording Studio and Office: This important site is at 2107 W. Washington Boulevard. It became Monument #776 in 2004. In 2010, the original studio was renamed the Ray Charles Memorial Library. The library has exhibits, awards, and interactive music displays.
- Julius Bierlich Residence: This home is at 1818 S. Gramercy Place. It became Monument #599 in 1994.
- Lucy E. Wheeler Residence: Located at 2175 Cambridge Street, this is Monument #991. It was designed by Greene and Greene. It's the last example of their work left in Los Angeles.
Shopping and Businesses
The Byzantine-Latino Quarter is right at the northern edge of Harvard Heights. This area has many shops and businesses.
Famous People from Harvard Heights
Some notable people have lived in Harvard Heights:
- William M. Hughes: A Los Angeles City Council member from 1927 to 1929.
- Edward Trinkkeller: A master ironworker. He designed the famous gates at Hearst Castle.
- Frank M. Tyler: A well-known architect.
- Lovie Yancey: The person who started the popular Fatburger hamburger chain.
- Ivy Pochoda: A talented author.
