Echo Park from Above

The American Planning Association annually lists the top 10 Neighborhoods in America and this year Los Angeles' own Echo Park cracked the list.  Despite referring to Echo Park as a "suburb," which is strange considering the commmunity's location adjacent to the Downtown and Dodger Stadium, the APA gives an overwhelmingly positive picture of Echo Park. 

So why is it a "Top Ten" neighborhood?  The APA lists a series of housing issues as reasons for Echo Park's unique community:

There's been a long history of citizen activism in Echo Park. During the 1990s residents drew attention to safety issues, which has help lower property and personal crime rates in the neighborhood to approximately 20 percent below the city's average.

Residents also keep a close eye on affordable housing. Some of the neighborhood's more affordable homes have been stabilized with the help of the city-supported historic preservation efforts. In 2005, for example, the city approved a small lot subdivision ordinance that encourages the creation of several units on one parcel. To some degree the typical size of an Echo Park home — just three rooms — has helped keep prices from rising significantly compared with other parts of the city.

Another thing that makes Echo Park such a great neighborhood, is it is a community that embraces open space and community festivals.  Events such as the Lotus Festival and the Marti Celebration take full advantage of the open space provided by the vast open space in the community.

Photo: Echo29/Flickr