Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
Echo Park

APA Names Echo Park One of Top 10 Neighborhoods

11:03 AM PDT on October 8, 2008

10_8_08_echo.jpg
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. Duringthe 1990s residents drew attention to safety issues, which has helplower property and personal crime rates in the neighborhood toapproximately 20 percent below the city's average.

Residents alsokeep a close eye on affordable housing. Some of the neighborhood's moreaffordable homes have been stabilized with the help of thecity-supported historic preservation efforts. In 2005, for example, thecity approved a small lot subdivision ordinance that encourages thecreation of several units on one parcel. To some degree the typicalsize of an Echo Park home — just three rooms — has helped keep pricesfrom 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

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Metro September 2023 Board Committee Round-Up: C Line, 91 Freeway Widening, and More

Transit ridership and freeway funding are up. $14 million for MicroTransit was postponed. South Bay C Line extension draws both controversy and support. Law enforcement, Taylor Swift, bus lanes, and more!

September 23, 2023

Input Meetings Starting This Weekend for Ballona Creek “Finish the Creek” Extension Study

Learn more and give your ideas for extending the Ballona Creek bike/walk path upstream through Culver City and into Mid-City Los Angeles

September 21, 2023

Guest Opinion: Metro Should Treat Walk and Bike Projects with the Respect They Deserve

Prioritizing true first mile/last mile infrastructure isn’t somehow optional; it’s how your customers get to and from the transit stations.

September 21, 2023
See all posts