A changing neighborhood

20 years ago a section of North Hollywood along Lankershim Blvd was going to be the new hip area. Not much happened. Yes, the Redline of subway ends here, but it all takes time. The changes in the neighborhood are much more visible now.I’m pretty sure this was one of the first apartment complexes to be built at the time. The paint fob and decoration is new and fun. I used to park in that garage, they built a supermarket right across the alley. Well the supermarket failed and now that space is all kinds of smaller shops, restaurants, coffee shops, a yoga studio. One has to drive a mile or two to get to a supermarket.Very large apartment development is happening all over.  This is a huge plot of land. I was very concerned that an old house would be torn down. I kept on meaning to take a picture of it, but forgot.So you can imagine my delight when I saw that it was being saved and refurbished. You can see that large complex on the left. Someone is fixing this up beautifully.I don’t know if it will be a private home or something else. But I love it when some of the old is maintained alongside the new.It’s unusual to get this image, no cars on Lankershim?? Well, fewer cars, I managed to capture this between cars.  El Portal was saved years ago and is an active theater.Walking along the side I spotted this. I wonder if there used to be more and this is all that remains. As I walked along this street there was a guy leaning against the wall. Usually,  I’d just walk by, but he smiled, so I smiled back and wished him a Merry Christmas, at that point, he smiled back broadly and wished me the same. One of the things I love about the season.Another old building that isn’t going anywhere. It was a bank, with tile work made by the famous Gladding McBean company. Today it is the Federal Bar, a really nice bar and restaurant that also has a performing space upstairs.Lankershim is one of those diagonal streets, so although it’s a little hard to see, the buildings were built accordingly.  I met a cat, she rushed over for scritches, which I gave her of course. But that meant not a great picture.I’ve already blogged about this station that is now a coffee shop. In the background is one of the tallest and oldest apartment buildings in the area. With all the building going on, I’m still hoping that most won’t be this tall.Another example of old and new. I don’t think this building is that old, it just looks it. but behind it is a brand new building I had not seen before.Its’ a three-star hotel! I’m not sure it’s open yet, the lobby area looked like they were still working on it. I notice it is advertised as being near Universal Studio. It is near the subway station, one station away is Universal Studios.  A few blocks away there is a new Holiday Inn Express. So I guess the area is really becoming hip and desirable.Right behind the hotel is the adorable coffee shop, one of the oldest buildings around, hopefully, it remains. Next door is a beautiful church, across the street is a large park, with a community center, a pool, and a library. All the things needed for a vibrant neighborhood.

It looks like Noho is really becoming what was hoped for 20 years ago, and the best thing is, the old and new are side by side.