The Wilshire Vista neighborhood began in the early 1920's during a decade of major population growth in Los Angeles. Several factors contributed to this
growth, one of which was the recent availability of water brought to the city by Mullholland's aqueduct system from the Owens River Valley. A second was the construction of an inter-urban
transportation system that eventually stretched from Riverside to Santa Monica. The line, which ran along tracks from Downtown to points west along San Vicente Boulevard, helped facilitate residential
development on the west side of the city.The area between Pico and Wilshire Boulevards, west of La Brea Avenue, was plotted and subdivided during that time. The name "Wilshire", which originally
referred to a previously developed area immediately east of La Brea, had become synonymous with "exclusive and prosperous".
In October of 1921, newspaper ads appeared in the Los Angeles Times
promoting a new subdivision named "Wilshire Vista". Located on high ground above the old Wilshire district, the original boundaries were Cahuenga Road (now Cochran Ave.) on the East, Spaulding Avenue
on the West, Wilshire Boulevard on the North and Pico Boulevard on the South.
Wilshire Vista was touted as the "Cream of Wilshire" – incomparable for its "sightliness, general desirability and ready
accessibility!" Lots were offered by the McCarty & Vaughan Corporation for $1,650 and up. The site included paved streets and boulevards, curbs, sidewalks, ornamental streetlights, and piping
for natural gas and water.
Probably the most unique feature of the neighborhood is its housing stock, the majority of which was built between the mid 20's through the mid 30's. Styles range from
Spanish, Spanish Mission, and Mediterranean to English Tudor and storybook European.
Many of the area's commercial buildings from this period also feature a variety of design elements. Some were
modeled after the new Art Deco style that had been introduced at the Paris Exhibition of 1925. Others incorporated a Spanish motif romanticizing the Spanish Rancho era, which preceded the California
Gold Rush of 1849 and became very popular in Southern California during the 1920's. Spanish Mission also was a popular style during that period.
Today, Wilshire Vista is a prosperous community with
residents as diverse as its architectural styles. With residents from all walks of life and a variety of small businesses, it has become a true neighborhood with its own special character and charm.
