Silver Lake Luxury Real Estate

The hilly neighborhood of Silver Lake lies five miles northeast of downtown LA and east of Hollywood. It gets its name from the local Silver Lake Reservoir, which is managed by the Department of Water and Power. The reservoir was named after Herman Silver, a founder member of the original LA Water Board Commission. Previously, the area was known as Ivanhoe, apparently named after a Scottish novel by Scotsman Hugo Reid, who was reminded of his hilly homeland. In a similar vein, many of the streets of Silver Lake have Scottish names such as Ben Lomond, Kenilworth and St George.

In the 1930s, Walt Disney built his studio on the corner of Griffin Park Blvd in Silver Lake close to the historic Tom Mix Studio, now the site of the Mixville Shopping Center. Rumor has it that Mix buried his beloved“Tony the Wonder Horse” on the land. Another filmmaking landmark is the staircase connecting Descanso Drive and Vendome Street which was immortalized in the Laurel and Hardy film The Music Box.

Silver Lakes is a quirky individual neighborhood, famous for its reputable music scene. Ethnically diverse, with 57% of its residents being of Hispanic or Latino background, the area has a wealth of character for those looking to visit or live in a truly diverse community. Many Modernist architects designed homes in this neighborhood, including R.M.Schindler and Frank Lloyd Wright. Thanks to them, Silver Lake has many standout homes from the avant-garde 1930s to more modern offerings by Barbara Bestor, Gustavo Gubel, and Ana Henton. Silver Lake has been home to many famous artists, writers and musicians over the decades including singer-songwriter Beck, the late Elliot Smith and their contemporaries. The area particularly appeals to the younger generation looking to live in an eclectic neighborhood, and to families who appreciate the community atmosphere and good schools. Gay couples are also drawn to the charm of this characterful neighborhood with its stylish boutiques and café culture.