Hancock Park is a lovely, historical neighborhood known for rolling front lawns and magnificent homes built primarily in the pre-WW II era.
Originally Hancock Park was developed in the 1920?s by the Hancock family who garnered their fortune from oil drilling in the Rancho Park area. With 440 acres in the area, G. Allan Hancock allowed much of this to be subdivided into the neighborhood that exists today, and the La Brea Tar Pits occupy the land on which the original family home was situated.
With its close proximity to the studios, Hancock Park soon became Hancock Park soon became the neighborhood of choice for Hollywood?s power elite, and some of the pre-eminent architects of the time such as Paul Williams, A.C. Chisholm and John Austin were hired to build the stately Mediterranean manors that stand today.
Hancock Park today greatly benefits from the foresight of these original developers and is one of the few neighborhoods in LA that retains such a strong sense of history. Many of the homes are set far back from the streets, something you don?t see in most of Los Angeles, and most of the power lines were buried. In addition, most of these sprawling homes do not fence themselves off from the homes next door, creating a stronger sense of community. Though many homes here have been updated since they were built, quite a few residents have striven to maintain the charm of the original details of these magnificent homes, such as the hardwood flooring and built-in cabinetry.
The technical boundaries of Hancock Park are Rossmore Avenue to the East, Melrose Avenue to the North, Highland Avenue to the West, and Wilshire Boulevard to the South, though many of the surrounding neighborhoods consider themselves a part of Hancock Park.
Larchmont Village is a stone?s throw from Hancock Park and often confused with the neighborhood. Larchmont boasts several great neighborhood restaurants, shops, yoga studios, coffee shops and hosts a farmer?s market on Sundays.
Other amenities of the immediate area include the Los Angeles Tennis Club and the Wilshire Country Club, the Wiltern Theater and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The business district along the ?Miracle Mile? of Wilshire Blvd. and Beverly Hills are both just a quick drive away.
The Public Schools in Hancock Park are a part of the LA Unified School District. Though the following schools serve the area, LA Unified should always be contacted to ensure that a property falls within the desired school boundaries as well as to gain any further knowledge of the school district. LAUSD 333 South Beaudry Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90017, 213-241-1000; www.lausd.k12.ca.us
High schools:
* Los Angeles High School
* Fairfax High School
Middle schools:
* John Burroughs Middle School
* Bancroft Middle School
Elementary schools:
* 3rd Street Elementary School
* Melrose Elementary School
For more information on Hancock Park and its environs, check out www.hancockparkhomeownersassociation.org and www.cityofla.org.
