| Elysian Valley | |
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| — Neighborhood of Los Angeles — | |
| Along Riverside Drive in Elysian Valley | |
| Nickname(s): Frogtown | |
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Elysian Valley
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Los Angeles County |
| City | Los Angeles |
| Named | 1920s |
| Zip code | 90031, 90039 |
| Streets | Glendale Boulevard, Riverside Drive |
Elysian Valley is a small bedroom community of the City of Los Angeles, California.
It is part of the Elysian Park-Silver Lake area.
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Originally called Gopher Flats at the turn of the century, with housing for railroad workers, Elysian Valley today is sometimes referred to as "Frogtown" based on events related to the area's proximity to the Los Angeles River. Accounts from long-time local residents ascribe the name to annual exoduses of frogs from the nearby Los Angeles River into Elysian Valley. The most recent peak in this phenomenon was in the 1960s and 1970s when frogs literally covered the streets and lawns of the neighborhood. The frog exodus may have also occurred after several major floods in the 1930s, back when the river basin remained wild, prior to flood control channeling constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Many residents are eager to reclaim the name "Frogtown" from its gang association because its generational use predates the gang and is based on this historical and naturally occurring event. The local gang, Frogtown, has disappeared, due in part to long-term incarcerations, successful rehabilitations, marriage, and familial responsibilities, and as they've entered middle age, many ex-gang-members have diverted their attentions from illegal activities to managing inherited properties left to them by their parents. Gentrification has also been a factor. Crime rates today in Elysian Valley are on par with such neighborhoods as Brentwood, and this may reflect the lack of a retail district in Elysian Valley, thus an absence of bars or liquor stores that might attract undesirable elements. Today one commonly finds whole families, elderly couples and young lovers walking along the Los Angeles River path at night.
Developed as a working-class community of small bungalow and cottage homes, Elysian Valley thrived through the 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s because of its proximity to downtown Los Angeles and the growing communities of Eagle Rock, Glassell Park, and Cypress Park. Riverside Drive was a center of commerce and business, anchored by the neighborhood's public library at the corner of Riverside Drive and Allesandro Street.
In the 1950s, Elysian Valley was effected by the construction of the Golden State Freeway (Interstate 5), which displaced both residents and businesses. The commercial corridor along Riverside Drive ceased to exist, and the freeway served to effectively isolate Elysian Valley from other local communities, such as Echo Park and Silver Lake. The public library was razed, never to be replaced. In the 1960s, additional residents were displaced by the construction of the Glendale Freeway (State Route 2).
The only library available to residents is independently operated by the Elysian Valley United Community Services Center (CSC), a local non-profit group organized in the 1990s by three area teachers. There is a new city library just outside of Elysian Valley in Silver Lake. Millions of dollars are slated to be invested in the Elysian Valley basin of the Los Angeles River--and today, the isolation of the valley may be considered an asset. Without the vehicle traffic that a retail strip would bring, Elysian Valley is a artist and bedroom community--a mile from Downtown, and with Great Blue Herons, Canadian Geese, coyotes, possums and raccoons. Elysian Valley is also surrounded by landmark parks, including adjacent Elysian Park (with a terrific arboretum) and Griffith Park a mile to the north. Across the Los Angeles River is the new Taylor Yards, and the Ernest E. Debs Regional Park. Along with the large Forest Lawn facility, the four parks count thousands of acres, with resulting fresh air for Elysian Valley.
The neighborhood is served by one recreation center, Elysian Valley Recreation Center, on 1811 Ripple Street. The facility is one of the finest in the area, and features an auditorium, lighted baseball and softball diamonds, lighted indoor basketball courts, children's play area, three community rooms, handball courts, a lighted soccer field, an indoor gym, lighted volleyball courts, a kitchen, and a stage. The facility runs basketball, soccer, baseball, fastpitch, flag football and volleyball programs, as well as arts & crafts, Karate, drums, guitar, piano, boxing, ballet, hip-hop, L.A. Kids pre-school, women's programs and Youth Plus. The center is also an LAPD drop-in center, and runs a free lunch program in the summer. The center has also garnered the highest rating a recreation center can achieve, the "CLASS PARK" status.
A street hockey team from the Elysian Valley, the Oros Goldbricks, played in the FSHL (the Federal Street Hockey League) , which in 1975 advanced to the Los Angeles Street Hockey Championship finals, losing 4 games to 3 to the Preston Avenue Sharks of the MSHL, (Metropolitan Street Hockey League). In 1979 the Goldbricks did win the city championship, defeating the Melrose Phantoms, 4 games to 2. In 1978 and 1979, the Goldbricks also won the Atwater Open, but lost in the 1980 finals to the Duvall Alphas, another Elysian Valley team. The 1979 Atwater Open victory was significant because they defeated a team from Glendale, the Glendale Bruins, most of whose members were experienced ice-hockey players. The FSHL, based mostly in Silverlake, Atwater , Eagle Rock and Elysian Valley, and which started play in 1973, disbanded around 1982.
More recently, Elysian Valley is home to United Cycling Club, the 2006 Southern California/Nevada Juniors competitive road cycling champions, and overall points leaders, with eight members earning state champion jerseys. The club competes throughout Southern California in various cycling disciplines including criterium, track, time trial and road recing. One United Cycling Club member won third place in the 2006 Juniors National criterium championships in Seven Springs, Pennsylvania. The club is currently in first place in the Southern California/Nevada "So Cal Cup."
United Cycling Club is a program of the aforementioned Elysian Valley United, which provides the club, equipment, bicycles, fees and training at no cost to local families in need.
Elysian Valley is also home to the world famous Knightsbridge Theater, located on Riverside Drive.
Roughly, Elysian Valley borders Atwater Village on the north-west, Elysian Park on the southeast and south, Silver Lake on the southwest and Cypress Park on the north-east. Its boundaries are considered Fletcher Drive on the northwest, Riverside Drive on the west, the Figueroa Street Bridge on the south, and the Los Angeles River on the north-north-east boundary; in fact, the river runs the entire length of Elysian Valley's northern edge.
The area is well connected to Los Angeles freeways, with the Interstate 5 and 110 Freeways having entry and exits on Riverside Drive, and connections to the 101, 10, and 2 Freeways within the neighborhood.
Elysian Valley is divided between the ZIP codes of 90039 and 90031. Demographic information regarding the latter zipcode area does not necessarily reflect Elysian Valley residents, due to it mostly encompassing neighborhoods south of the Figueroa Street Bridge, with markedly different demographics.
While concrete data for the neighborhood is lacking, estimates indicate that Elysian Valley is primarily composed of Asian and Latino residents with some Whites (non-Hispanic). In 2000, the per capita income was estimated at approximately $20,000, putting in the same category as Canoga Park or Glendale.
In addition to the growing artist loft district, Elysian Valley is primarily residential and composed largely of single-family homes. Retail business are located outside of the community and found in Silver Lake proper or Cypress Park. As Elysian Valley has good housing stock, and is near downtown, Glendale, Burbank, and is adjacent to Silver Lake, Echo Park and Atwater, it has become one of Los Angeles' most dynamic communities. "Flippers" are active in the neighborhood, buying old housing stock and rehabilitating.
Dorris Place Elementary, in the heart of the Elysian Valley on Riverside Drive, is one the higher rated public schools in the area, and is located in one of the most picturesque and historic brick buildings owned by the LAUSD. The school building has appeared in several movies, television shows, and commercials.
The community is included as part of the Silver Lake General Plan. In 2002, Elysian Valley was approved by the City of Los Angeles to have its own neighborhood council (Elysian Valley Riverside Neighborhood Council) which oversaw its affairs. The EVRNC has been known to proactively oppose zoning changes in an attempt to protect a stock for lower income rental units. This stance developed through local concern for the displacement of current residents arising from increased property rental values citywide.
Mixed with the residences is a commercial/ industrial zone, directly adjacent to the Los Angeles River. Many of these building were built by demolition of residences in the 1950 and 1960's prior to zone regulations in the City. Dating back as far as 40 years, commercial buildings in the area have been converted to artist and creative use by a vibrant group of artists, woodworkers, metal craftsman, architects and designers. The area still supports many small businesses, including "Krugermann," run by a pickle-making family who fled East Germany just as the wall was closed in 1958 and MBS (Metal Building Specialties) a family owned maker of food-manufacturing equipment. These buildings have recently been re-zoned "C," meaning the city is encouraging development into housing or lofts. Housing in the region sells for $300 per square foot to $400 or more per square foot, meaning the riverside commercial buildings will double or more their value when converted to housing stock. The escalating values have made some uneasy, as one of the last "close-in" artist refuges is discovered.
Currently, Elysian Valley is host to the annual Frogtown Artwalk, a free, self-guided tour of the artists' and artisans' studios primarily located along Blake Avenue. The artwalk, which started in 2006, has featured river tours, hula-hoop contests, environmental installations, outdoor movie screenings, and drum parades in addition to open studio visits. The 2011 Frogtown Walk exploded in size, and studio artists felt nearly overwhelmed by attendees. The Elysian Valley Arts Collective sponsors the walk. Bill LaGuttuta, former well-recognized newscaster and present day artist, has created the "Made in Frogtown" website, covering some of the artists of the area, especially those in 1859 and 1875 Blake Ave.
Despite an urban location, Elysian Valley is near Griffith Park, Elysian Park, Ernest Debs Park, Taylor Yards Park, and Forest Lawn, as well as the Los Angeles River, and near to many neighborhoods heavily planted with trees, such as Silver Lake and Echo Park. The numerous "greenbelts" act to make the air much fresher in Elysian Valley than other urban enclaves, especially downtown. A large community garden is slated for Blake Ave. and the land, almost one acre, has already been obtained by the city.
For a close-in urban neighborhood, Elysian Valley is remarkably free of crime--the Los Angeles Times rates it as one of the city's least crime-prone neighborhoods. Out of 209 neighborhoods in Los Angeles, Elysian Valley has less violent crime than all but 32 in a recent rating. The annual "Frogtown Art Walk," held in Elysian Valley, has become increasing popular, as more factory space is converted into artist residences. Increasingly, investors have been buying Elysian Valley homes, performing restorations, and then reselling. The lack of commercial development in the neighborhood, once considered perhaps a drawback, has now become a marketing point. There is not the heavy traffic or crowds found in neighboring Echo Park, Silver Lake or Atwater Village. From Frogtown one can enjoy urban pleasures or work, and be home in five minutes from Downtown, returning to trees, yards or artist lofts.
Elysian Valley runs parallel with one of the few portions of the Los Angeles River with a natural river bed. In this area, great blue herons, white egrets, mallards, cormorants and other fowl are abundant. One Peregrine falcon has a favorite roost. Carp are present (cormorants can be seen dive-bombing for carp) in the river as well as the Western Toad from which the neighborhood gets its name. There is a walkway and bikeway on the western side of the river, heavily used by residents for walking, biking and especially dog-walking. In years past, crawfish have been abundant. Friends of the Los Angeles River and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, environmental groups who work county wide to protect the city's natural resources, take great interest in the portions of the L.A. River which still have a natural river bed like Elysian Valley. In July 2010 the L.A.River was designated "traditional navigable waters" making it eligible for protection under the Clean Water Act.
People walking or biking along the river have views to the Sam Gabriel Mountains, especially pleasant in the afternoons, with shadows in the setting suns.
The future of Elysian Valley is considered especially bright, for many reasons. In large metropolitan regions all over the world, it is the center of the city that becomes most dense, sought-after and the most valuable. In Los Angeles, this process was temporarily disrupted by freeway building and upper middle-class flight from the city, a process now reversed. Commuting to the core of the city has become less palatable to many--and they can chose to live in Elysian Valley. The valley is on the cusp of downtown Los Angeles, and close to Glendale, Hollywood, Burbank, Pasadena. Secondly, according to The Boston Consulting Group, the advantage of offshore manufacturing is rapidly disappearing, meaning that industrial space in the United States, especially along the coasts, will become increasing sought after.
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