Geography and Population
Westwood is the name given to the area of Los Angeles surrounding the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). Santa Monica Boulevard roughly bound the community to the south and Sunset Boulevard to the north. The Los Angeles Country Club forms Westwood’s eastern border and the 405 freeway is on the west. Wilshire Boulevard runs east-west through Westwood, and includes the Wilshire Corridor, a half-mile long stretch of luxury high-rise condominiums.
Westwood Boulevard is the main access to the UCLA campus, while Beverly Glen Boulevard runs north from Santa Monica, Wilshire and Sunset Boulevards, over the hills through Bel Air to Studio City in the San Fernando Valley. Westwood is profoundly influenced by its close proximity to UCLA. Westwood Village offers a wide variety of retail shops, specialty boutiques and restaurants. These businesses run the gamut – from student-oriented bookstores, artsy coffeeshops and typical college bars to upscale boutiques, quiet al fresco cafes and fine restaurants.
UCLA sporting events are popular destinations for students and native Angelenos alike, and the school’s athletic facilities are often the site of regional and national sporting events, including the Pac 10 college basketball playoffs. Many movie premieres are held at Westwood Village’s historic movie theatre – a wonderful example of Art Deco Architecture from Hollywood’s Golden Age -- and the Geffen Theatre and UCLA Royce Hall play host to a variety of lectures and cultural events throughout the year.
Westwood Homes
Westwood includes many smaller neighborhood areas most of which are predominantly single-family residences. The two exceptions are the rental properties and apartment buildings immediately adjacent to UCLA, and the Wilshire Corridor. A stretch of Wilshire Boulevard between Westwood and Beverly Glen, the Corridor is lined with high-rise luxury condominiums– most are full-service buildings with such amenities as 24-hour valet, pools, tennis courts and spas. The price of these units is equal to or greater than the price of a detached dwelling.
Little Holmby and Westwood Hills are North of Sunset. These upscale areas feature tree-lined streets and hard-to-find ambiance. Older Spanish, Tudor and English-style homes reflect tremendous pride of ownership. Little Holmby surrounds Armand Hammer Park, which features a large playground and 18-hole Par 3 public golf course. Westwood Hills is just to the west, between the 405 and UCLA. Many faculty members live in this area, which is named for the rolling hills that signal the start of the Santa Monica foothills.
Although technically a part of one of the world’s biggest cities, housing density in Brentwood remains low – affording residents the luxury of large yards, privacy, and a peaceful setting.
Community and Culture
The Getty Center Museum -- one of the world’s largest and best-known museums -- makes its home high in the hills above Brentwood. The Richard Meier-designed campus opened in 1997, and quickly became the cultural and artistic center of the Westside. The home of vast collections of Architecture, Furniture and Decorative Objects, Paintings, Photographs and Manuscripts; the museum plays host to international touring exhibitions, outdoor concerts and lecture series.
