Geography and Population
One of the most low-key, yet affluent areas of Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades is located along the Pacific Coast north of Santa Monica, south of Malibu and east of Brentwood. It is an area roughly delineated by the 90272 ZIP code. Along the ocean, the Pacific Coast Highway (Route 1) runs north-south. Sunset Boulevard Chautauqua Boulevard, Temescal Canyon Road and Palisades Drive are the main thoroughfares away from the coast.
The population of Pacific Palisades is just over 25,000, and the community is a town within the City of Los Angeles. Pacific Palisades is a quiet, family-oriented community with over 80% of the residential units being single-family homes. These properties range from modest mid-century ranches and bungalows to grander, more recent construction. Local zoning laws and neighborhood committees have maintained the restful ambiance of the side streets, and large lawns, wide sidewalks and streetlights make this an ideal area for family living.
The heart of Pacific Palisades is a Main Street-like area known as The Village – a cluster of upscale boutiques, coffeehouses and specialty shops. The streets around The Village are called "The Alphabet Streets", based on their name order. Other areas of note are The Huntington Palisades and The Palisades Riviera. These areas are known for grander residences, and many have ocean or golf course views. The Palisades Riviera is adjacent to the Riviera Country Club.
Pacific Palisades Homes
The unique topography of Pacific Palisades delineates various neighborhoods – each with their own typical style of homes. The palisades and mesas along the shoreline find a mix of old and newer homes, many with views of the ravines or the ocean.
Palisades Road runs up from the coast into Palisades Highlands. Construction in this planned community began after 1970. The properties are a mix of townhouses, executive homes and mansions, most of which have views of the Pacific or Temescal Canyon. The Huntington Palisades and Palisades Riviera are very affluent neighborhoods, with impressive homes and manicured lawns. The Rivera Country Club and Golf Course are nearby.
The Alphabet Streets, adjacent to The Village are smaller family homes, typically built between the 1930s to 1970s. Usually of a traditional or bungalow style, these houses enjoy a small-town ambiance and close proximity to the Village.
Community and Culture
One of the Pacific Palisades best-known attractions is Will Rogers State Park. Technically outside the town limits on Sunset Boulevard, it is nonetheless the outdoor recreation area of choice for Palisadeans. The property was originally the ranch home of America’s Cowboy Humorist, and his home has been turned into a museum. Horses are boarded on the property, and weekend hikers populate the many trails leading up into the Santa Monica Mountains.
Picnickers and family gatherings dot the expansive green lawns of the former working ranch, and the full-size polo field plays host to many weekend matches in season. Temescal Canyon Park is another favorite destination of hikers and mountain bikers, while golf and tennis enthusiasts enjoy the Riviera Country Club and Pacific Athletic Club.
The Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine is a ten-acre site on Sunset Boulevard, devoted to followers of Paramahansa Yogananda. It is the only site in the Western United States where one can visit the ashes (a portion) of Mahatma Gandhi. They are housed in a spectacular 1,000-year-old sarcophagus on the western side of the lake. The grounds of the shrine are more like a variety of scenic paths and meditation sites, than a traditional temple. It is open to the public and people of all faiths, and there is no preaching or conversion – it is simply a peaceful park, surrounded by breathtaking natural vistas.
The village of Pacific Palisades hosts several community events throughout the year, none more nationally-known than the Nissan Open Golf Tournament, which is held at the Riviera Country Club in February.
Pacific Palisades Areas
Palisades Village
Pacific Palisades, lies between Santa Monica and Malibu. The Palisades (as locals refer to their town) has a population of approximately 24,000. Pacific Palisades postal zip code is 90272, is home to the J.Paul Getty Villa (The Getty Web site refers to the Villa as Malibu, but the postal zip is Pacific Palisades), Self Realization Lake Shrine, Temescal Canyon Mountain Gateway Park, Will Rogers State Historical Park. On the east, Pacific Palisades borders Mandeville Canyon (Brentwood), and on the west, Malibu. Set above the beach on bluffs or palisades (hence its name), much of the area commands breathtaking ocean views.
The Village of Pacific Palisades was founded in 1922 as a residential community, Pacific Palisades is located on the "westside" of Los Angeles. For the original properties, the planning and choice of street names had come under the aegis of the Pacific Palisades Association and the Methodist Church.
Huntington Palisades
In the 1920’s a large piece of land belonging to the heirs of one Collis Huntington became available, and the Palisades Association purchased the entire 226-acre plot for $1,625,000 on February 6, 1926. Palisades residents apparently discovered that the Catholic Church was looking for a college and was seriously considering the Huntington property but after The Association arranged the purchase Mount St. Mary's College was established in Brentwood instead.
The Association agreed that Huntington Palisades would be an exclusive development for a discriminating clientele. Broad Streets in graceful curves outlined the periphery of the mesa and formed concentric semi-circles around El Cerco Place. W.W. Williams, who developed the plan, was responsible for the engineering and construction while Mark Daniels directed the landscaping and beautification phase of the development. Underground utilities were installed and ornamental light fixtures were provided.
Palisades Rivera
In 1923, Alphonzo Bell purchased 22,000 acres of choice land from the Santa Monica Mountain Park Company and Santa Monica Land and Water Company, giving Bell a princely expanse of scenically beautiful mountain property that extended from Bel-Air to the sea and included most of the acreage that surrounded the community of Pacific Palisades.
Bell's influence on these tracts was strong, both in their restrictive character and in the choice of street names which were drawn from the family's travels in Italy, France, and Spain, Most of the names are Italian in origin, many being inspired by the beauty of the Amalfi Coast, south of Naples, where, just as in Pacific Palisades, "the mountains meet the sea."
Palisades Highlands
"The Highlands" are an island of residences in upper Santa Ynez Canyon, and the most recent large-scale development in Pacific Palisades.
Roads and tracts of Palisades Highlands have reached the top of the eastern ridge, and the final phase is now complete. Extending northeastward to the highest point in the development, "The Summit" is a 313-unit planned community, with a clubhouse, tennis courts and other recreational facilities. In seeking an overall theme for a large, up-scale development, the developers have uniformly chosen Spanish names, some of them memorializing persons affiliated with the enterprise.
Residents of the Palisades Highlands continue to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding parklands and numerous hiking trails that divide Santa Ynez Canyon.
