Curbed Cup 1st Round: (8) North Hollywood vs. (9) San Pedro

North Hollywood

Valley residents tend to be fiercely proud if not defensive of the suburban region. As one commenter put it last week, “Yeah the valley might not be as glamorous as downtown, but it is authentic, diverse, and unique.” For a taste of that suburban lifestyle without sacrificing the perks of city living, like walkability and access to public transit and boutique shops and restaurants, come to NoHo, where, on Lankershim Boulevard, you’ll find a “dense chunk of walkable, urban goodness.” There’s a Laemelle Theatre, a tiki bar, a Pitfire Pizza, just to name a few.

Riders on Metro’s Orange Lines used to have to scurry across the Lankershim to reach a connecting train on the Red Line subway. (NoHo serves as the terminus for both lines). But this year, the transit agency opened an eye-catching underground pedestrian tunnel. Also this year, two developers teamed up to announce plans for hundreds of new housing units, a central plaza for pedestrians, shops, and pop-up galleries on 16 acres surrounding the Metro stop. And, right across the street, Groundwork Coffee is opening in the restored 121-year-old Lankershim train depot.

San Pedro

The laidback, blue collar, Harbor community is bracing for some exiting revitalization efforts, namely a long-awaited, game-changing makeover of the Ports O' Call Village, for which demolition recently started.

The first phase alone will usher in 16 acres of “restaurants, shopping, fresh markets, boutique-style office space and more than a half-mile of waterfront promenade.” Eventually, refurbished Red Car trolleys will roll through the area on light rail tracks.

The port is also now home to a 100-year-old wharf that’s being converted into a "urban marine research center” and to Brouwerij West, which Eater LA has called one of the Los Angeles’ most important breweries. It’s also worth noting that Cabrillo Beach isn't gross anymore.