Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Silver Lake is a district east of Hollywood in the City of Los Angeles, California.
Silver Lake is inhabited by a wide variety of ethnicities and socioeconomic groups, but it is best known as an eclectic gathering of the creative community. Since the 1990s it has become the center of the alternative rock scene in Los Angeles. The Sunset Junction Street Fair, a major event in August, is held there. It also is — or has been — the home of musicians such as Beck, Karen O, Eels, Irving, Autolux, Rooney, Earlimart, Dios Malos, Giant Drag, Midnight Movies, Porno for Pyros, Jane's Addiction, Scarling., Mia Doi Todd, Moving Units, Henry Rollins, Rilo Kiley, Pavement, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Franki Baaz , and the late Elliott Smith. The band Silversun Pickups took its name from the strip mall at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Silverlake Boulevard. Since the indie rock music scene is particularly prominent in this neighborhood, comparisons are often drawn between Silver Lake and New York City's Williamsburg district.
[edit] Geography
Silver Lake is quite large, and has a fair share of businesses but is better known for its peaceful residential areas. It has a wide variation in ethnicities and subcultures, including a sizeable gay population.
While Silver Lake is patched up of different communities, there are generally economically better off parts to the north and lesser off parts to the south. The ever expanding area from the hills around the reservoir boast the most expensive homes south of Los Feliz, and are likewise in character, geared toward upper-middle class residents.
Silver Lake is bordered by Elysian Park to the east, Echo Park to the southeast, Atwater Village to the north, Historic Filipinotown to the south, East Hollywood to the west and Los Feliz to the northwest.
As of the census of 2000, there are 44,351 people in the neighborhood. The racial makeup of the neighborhood is 40.53% White (21.24% non-Hispanic white), 2.74% African American, 1.10% Native American, 16.58% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 33.25% from other races, and 5.65% from two or more races. 57.35% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Silver Lake is divided between the Zip Codes of 90039, and 90026, with part of Sunset Junction in 90029.
[edit] History
Originally named "Ivanhoe" and later "Edendale," the neighborhood was named after the man-made reservoir which lies at its center. The reservoir is actually divided into an upper and lower section, the upper section retains the name Ivanhoe while the lower section alone is properly known as Silver Lake. "Silver Lake" was named not in reference to its color but after Herman Silver, a member of Los Angeles’ first Board of Water Commissioners. The reservoir is operated by the City of Los Angeles' Department of Water and Power. Currently it provides water to communities in South Los Angeles but is in the process of being decommisioned. SIlver Lake's water resources will be replaced by an underground reservoir in Griffith Park, while the existing lake will be converted to recreational use. The transition is already underway with a walking running track being completed around the perimeter and a dog park and a nursery school on the East side of the lake.
Silver Lake also has a long and proud community activist history. The Silver Lake Neighborhood Council was formed in the early 2000s and certified in February, 2003. Its 21-member Governing Board has been elected each September thereafter. The SLNC is widely considered a leader in the burgeoning neighborhood council movement, and often cited as the ideal example of a grassroots/government hybrid. In addition, the SL Residents Association, SL Improvement Association, Committee to Save SL's Reservoirs, the SL Chamber of Commerce and Neighbors for Peace & Justice are all quite active in the area.
Since the early 2000's, the area has undergone extensive gentrification. The part of the neighborhood around the reservoir, and immediately southeast of Los Feliz, is becoming an expanding center of upper-middle-class homes. This has lead many to be "priced-out" of the neighborhood and seek homes in nearby Atwater Village, also undergoing gentrification. Still others have also looked for homes in Montecito Heights, Mt. Washington and nearby Elysian Valley as affordable alternatives to Silver Lake.
[edit] Local Links of Interest
- Silver Lake Neighborhood Council
- Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce
- LA City Council District 13
- Silver Lake Improvement Association
- Committee to Save Silver Lake's Reservoirs
- Silver Lake Residents Association
- Historic Photos of Silver Lake
- Spaceland - rock venue
- Silverlake Lounge
- Friends of Silver Lake - organization devoted to increased development in Silver Lake (NOTE: this is a gag "guerilla art project," NOT a real group)
- Friends of Silver Lake Library
- L.A. Almanac (statistical data)
- Silver Lake Film Festival
- The Silver Lake News
