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The Curbed Cup, our annual award for the neighborhood of the year, is kicking off with 16 neighborhoods vying for the prestigious (fake) trophy. We’ll reveal each of the neighborhoods this week, and polls will be open for 24 hours so you can cast your vote as to which ones should advance. Let the eliminations commence!
North Hollywood
A perennial Curbed Cup contender, but not yet a winner, North Hollywood is cherished for its slower pace that doesn’t sacrifice the advantages of urban living. It’s walkable, it’s super transit-friendly, and it boasts boutique shops and restaurants.
The neighborhood is steadfastly holding onto its quirky character (its giant neon clown sign, public art, and independent outposts ,such as Idle Hour), but it’s also changing. It’s landing—again—in this year’s competition, because of some big developments.
The Lankershim train depot, which is more than 120 years old!, was beautifully restored at the start of the year. Construction got underway on a giant mixed use project set to transform the Laurel Plaza shopping center into a miniature neighborhood. Transportation officials are plotting upgrades to the popular Orange Line. Plans are chugging along for hundreds of new housing units, and whaddyaknow, a Whole Foods is even slated to open in NoHo.
Chinatown
Chinatown’s big year included numerous proposed developments and one that’s already materialized: the reopening of the Los Angeles State Historic Park. Long anticipated (it was a couple of years later than initially expected), the gorgeous, drought-friendly park includes new seating, a little public orchard, permanent restrooms, and a bridge with stunning views of the Downtown skyline.
The neighborhood’s also seen a significant uptick in planned projects—including the long skinny project just north of the park that would bring over 900 units of housing to Chinatown and new park-adjacent mixed-users. Oh, and David Chang of Momofuku fame is opening his first LA restaurant here. No big deal.
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