What is the Silicon Beach in Los Angeles and what is the history behind this term?

Silicon Beach refers to the westside region of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, home to over 500 tech startup companies. The area includes Santa Monica, Venice, Marina Del Rey, Playa Del Rey, Playa Vista, and El Segundo. The name 'Silicon Beach' was adopted due to the concentration of tech and digital media companies, mirroring the tech ecosystem of Silicon Valley. The growth of Silicon Beach began in the late 2000s and early 2010s, notably with Google leasing a 100,000 square foot property in Venice in 2011, which attracted more tech companies like Snapchat, Hulu, Riot Games, and Tinder. Silicon Beach has now a vibrant tech ecosystem with venture capital firms, digital media companies, gaming companies, and incubators and accelerators, fostering tech entrepreneurship in the region.

What is Howard Hughes' private airport, Playa Vista?

Howard Hughes' private airport, also known as the Spruce Goose Hangar or Playa Vista Airport, is located in Los Angeles, California. Built by Howard Hughes during World War II, it housed the H-4 Hercules, also known as the 'Spruce Goose,' an experimental aircraft with the largest wingspan of any aircraft ever flown. The hangar, now known as the Hercules Campus, has been transformed into a mixed-use development with office space, retail outlets, and sound stages, serving as a hub for creative businesses and technology companies while preserving its historical and architectural significance.

What has been the real estate development in Playa Vista?

Playa Vista is a master-planned community in Los Angeles, covering 1,087 acres, designed to integrate residential, commercial, retail, and recreational spaces. It offers a variety of housing options alongside a significant presence of tech and creative industry companies, due to its proximity to 'Silicon Beach.' The area includes commercial and retail spaces, parks, and emphasizes sustainability with many buildings meeting green building standards. The development promotes community engagement through various amenities and events, and its strategic location provides easy access to major transportation routes, making it a vibrant and sought-after community.

Living and Buying in Bel Air

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30 May 2023

To the north of the UCLA campus lies a prestigious neighborhood of Bel Air. This area was developed in the 1920s by Alphonzo Bell, who owned a few ranches around Los Angeles and made his fortune on oil. The area has carried Bell’s legacy in Italian names of the streets and large land lots it was broken into for development. 2021 Census showed that currently this 637 square mile neighborhood’s population is only about 11,000 people, making it one of the areas with the lowest population density per square mile in the city and the nation.

Bel Air is renowned for palatial mansions, exclusive estates, unparalleled privacy and is nothing less than what you’ve seen in the movies. It is also a symbol of extreme luxury and magnificence. Its winding streets reveal little to nothing to a naked eye of passers by. But don’t be fooled, there is pure grandeur hidden behind high fences. The estates here lay on huge land lots and carry stunning architectural masterpieces on its soils. Matching the pretentious tastes of its residents, Bel Air invites enthusiasts and professionals to join a world-class golfing experience at the iconic Bel Air Country Club. The property includes an 18-hole golf course and tennis courts and is the home course for the UCLA Bruins men’s and women’s golf teams. Sitting at 479 feet above sea level, this place offers breathtaking views and unparalleled experience. Anyone ready to pay about $163K of annual membership fees is welcome to join the club. Another must visit attraction of the area is the internationally recognized and scandalous Getty Center. Resting on a hillside overlooking the I-405, it offers stunning panoramic views of Los Angeles as well.

On a good day you will be able to see the Pacific Ocean from this vantage point. The museum’s contemporary architecture and beautiful gardens aligned with open outdoor dining policy and world-class art collection makes it a top destination to visit for residents and tourists alike. When it comes to housing, Bel Air is roughly divided into its Upper and Lower part with Lower Bel Air covering properties north of Sunset towards the Stone Canyon Reservoir and Upper Bel Air homes lying south of Mulholland Drive. Bel Air is the largest sub neighborhood in Los Angeles, offering enormous land lots, therefore, endless possibilities for your wildest architectural dreams. Today, with all the development happening, the Upper section is quickly catching up with the initially considered higher end Lower part of the area. As mentioned before, Bel Air is a place with unprecedented privacy, and the higher you go, the less walkable its streets become. Some staples of luxury known in the neighborhood are Bruce Makowsky’s
38,000 square foot showplace priced at $95M and the legendary Chartwell Estate recently sold for $150M.

A home that’s been the hottest piece of property in the entire world simply called "The One" is also located in Bel Air. It took 10 years to build this architectural gem which was originally listed at $500M. The One is a 10,5000 square foot home with 21 bedrooms and 49 bathrooms, three pools, a private nightclub and 360 degree views from the highest point of Bel Air. Fashion Nova CEO, Richard Saghian, swept this property off the market for an unprecedented low of $141M due to Crestlloyd LLC bankruptcy.

To encapsulate the main points about the neighborhood of Bel Air, we must mention that this is a place for families and professionals who seek privacy and the highest standards of opulence. The neighborhood is among the safest in the nation, offering breathtaking views and some of the highest valued properties in Los Angeles. Its residents are appreciating long driveways and secluded locations.

The winding streets take you up and down the Santa Monica mountains right into the busy UCLA/Westwood area lying just below. Whether you chose to reside in upscale Bel Air or well developed and more active Westwood you get nice advantages on both sides. One being the best proximity, counted in minutes away from the most needed places in Los Angeles, like Downtown, LAX, West Hollywood and the beach. Bel Air and Westwood are also offering their residents higher upscale life standards, reflected in specific rules of development in these areas. Despite the known luxurious flair, you will find a home that fits your budget in either neighborhood due to the extreme range of prices on properties here. Great schools, lower traffic and a bright cultural life are at your fingertips if you live here. Of course, Westwood is a little more lively and welcoming, compared to Bel Air, but both carry a deep historic legacy in its streets and outstanding life quality ratings.

Living and Buying in Santa Monica

16 Apr 2023

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