Santa Monica neighborhoods
The South of San Vicente, North of Montana streets provide an understated conventional walkable play-in-street feel.
Farther west, and just a few blocks from the beach, lies Adelaide Drive with its historic homes and ocean views, where the Santa Monica Stairs can be found at 4th Street, which are a popular set of 189 very steep steps that lead down into the canyon.
In addition to being used as a convenient direct route from Adelaide Drive to Santa Monica Canyon, the steps are often used for intense workouts and are an excellent place for spotting sweating celebrities.
North of Montana (Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.) is also the title of the first book in the FBI Special Agent Ana Grey mystery series, written by Santa Monica resident, April Smith.
Continuously in print since 1994, North of Montana became notorious for being a fast-paced thriller that also examines complex relationships between upper-class white women and the Hispanic caretakers of their children.
Montana Avenue is home to two elementary schools, a public library, and a mile of about 150 upscale stores, banks, real estate offices and restaurants.
On its westernmost end this neighborhood includes a number of well-preserved Victorian duplex houses otherwise unique in the city.
Planned on a regular grid, Midtown Santa Monica was once home to a number of picturesque Craftsman houses and brightly painted Victorians, though only occasional examples of these can still be found.
In the early 1940s the first wave of suburbanization overtook this part of the city and many preexisting structures were razed and replaced with tiny square California Bungalows with green lawns and small, private backyards.
In the 1960s a large number of these increasingly dilapidated structures were demolished in favor of four and five unit condominium complexes and apartments.
The easternmost edge of Midtown Santa Monica, often referred to as the "college streets" where Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Berkeley intersect with Wilshire Boulevard, represents one of the city's primary gateways.
Commemorating the spot where the cities of Santa Monica and Los Angeles (Brentwood neighborhood) share a border is the "Wave" a sculpture by Tony De Lap arching over Wilshire Boulevard near Franklin.
Before the 1960s, the neighborhood was much larger and was an important African-American enclave on the Westside, but when the Santa Monica Freeway opened in the 1960s, it resulted in the destruction of many residences and the relocation of a large number of families.
Pico Blvd in Santa Monica has traffic lights at nearly every block, as well as local and middle class businesses.
During the era of segregation, Pico was one of the only neighborhoods in Santa Monica where nonwhite residents were permitted to live and own property.
However, due to Santa Monica's unusually strong rent control laws, many long-term renters have been able to stay despite rising market prices.
The City of Santa Monica has been accused of ignoring the Pico District in the past, particularly when it came to issues regarding crime and gang activity.
Ocean Park was originally founded as an independent city with the involvement of Abbot Kinney, and was developed along similar lines.
In the 1950s through the 1970s the entire pier, boardwalk area, and all of the densely developed residential blocks between Neilson Way and the beach were demolished as part of an urban renewal program.
Two high-rise apartment towers, along with a few low-rise condominium complexes and a public park, were built in their place.
Most north/south streets in Santa Monica end relatively quickly or fail to yield traffic lights at intersections, making travel difficult during rush hour.
In particular, Lincoln Blvd becomes congested since it is a main route that leads to the Santa Monica Freeway, Venice, Marina del Rey, and the Los Angeles International Airport.
