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.
Comments
Chinatown.
Its not the valley.
By smartalex on 12.11.17 5:35pm
Noho. Because anywhere that a dufus like Alex lives doesn’t deserve to win.
By Archetype1 on 12.11.17 8:08pm
I can agree with that if you’re referring to the person I think you are.
By John.Connor on 12.13.17 9:03pm
chinatown hands down, noho’s grubby as fuck and not in a good way.
By jahpskat on 12.11.17 11:10pm
Fuck…fuck…and fucky-fuck-fuck!
NoHo.
By BingoWest on 12.16.17 1:48pm
Sorry, Jake, it’s CHINATOWN !
By Whitman Lam on 12.12.17 7:40am
NoHo just because no one else will admit that the area has cleaned up a lot and isn’t as crummy as a lot of people make it out to be. Noho isn’t just Noho. It’s Valley Village, Valley Glen, Toluca Lake/Woods/Terrace. ChinaTown is just ChinaTown.
By subaruwrx on 12.12.17 11:32am
What kind of logic is that? That’s like saying Chinatown isn’t just Chinatown, it’s also Elysian Valley, Echo Park, Lincoln Height, and Cypress Park.
By dudeimstarving on 12.12.17 1:58pm
Say what?? So does Chinatown mean Little Tokyo, Financial District, Westlake, South Park, Arts District, and Elysian Park? By your logic, yes….which is fucking mental.
By John.Connor on 12.13.17 9:02pm
Is it just me… or do you kinda throw up in your mouth anytime you read or hear "NoHo", "WeHo", "DTLA", etc. I love New York, but let’s keep the goofy neighborhood acronyms and abbreviations on the other side of the Hudson where they belong.
By corner soul on 12.12.17 6:39pm
It’s easier to type. That’s why every time you see those abbreviations it’s always in text. No one actually SAYS NoHo, WeHo, DTLA, etc. C’mon man….you’re not that old are you?
By John.Connor on 12.13.17 9:06pm