El Sereno, Los Angeles, California

El Sereno (pronEng|ˌɛl səˈriːnoʊ in English, from the Spanish IPA2|el seˈɾeno "the tranquil one") is a district in Northeastern Los Angeles, California.

El Sereno sits atop the Monterey Hills that separate the Los Angeles Basin from the San Gabriel Valley, and is the easternmost district in the city of Los Angeles. It is bordered by Monterey Hills and South Pasadena on the north, Alhambra on the east, University Hills on the southeast, City Terrace on the south, Boyle Heights on the southwest, Lincoln Heights on the west, and Montecito Heights on the northwest. Principal thoroughfares include Huntington Drive; Valley Boulevard; Eastern and Alhambra Avenues; and Soto Street. The district lies within ZIP code 90032.

History

El Sereno was founded in 1905 as a working-class suburb of Los Angeles along the former Pacific Electric Railway line that ran in the median of Huntington Drive. Like most of East Los Angeles, it was extremely ethnically diverse until World War II and shortly thereafter, when most of its non-Mexican-descended population moved to newer suburbs in other parts of Greater Los Angeles. Gangs became a serious problem in the late 1970s. The gentrification that has occurred in many of the districts east of the Los Angeles River has yet to occur to any significant degree in El Sereno, despite its proximity to affluent South Pasadena. El Sereno was once called Farmington. It is rumored that the TV Show "The Shield" was based in this area, but the show is primarily filmed in Echo Park.

The northernmost segment of the Long Beach Freeway (I-710) was intended by Caltrans to go through El Sereno, as well as South Pasadena. The popular association of the 710 controversy with South Pasadena is largely a result of that city's demographics (wealthy and white), even though construction of the freeway would result in nearly as many historic homes being demolished in El Sereno. Community activists filed suit against Caltrans requesting the same treatment be given to El Sereno as it would South Pasadena. Thus, any future undergrounding of the roadway would include El Sereno.

Fire service

Los Angeles Fire Department [http://www.lafd.org/fs16.htm Station 16] (South El Sereno) and [http://www.lafd.org/fs47.htm Station 47] (El Sereno) are in the area.

Education

Residents are zoned to schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
* Farmdale Elementary School
* Huntington Drive Elementary School
* Sierra Park Elementary School
* Sierra Vista Elementary School
* Multnomah Elementary School
* [http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/El_Sereno_EL/Welcome.html El Sereno Elementary School]
* [http://elserenoms.org/ El Sereno Middle School]
* Woodrow Wilson High School has been a mainstay of the community since its opening in 1937. The former location was on Eastern Avenue, which is presently El Sereno Middle School. The new facility was opened in 1970 atop one of the many rolling hills which encompasses the El Sereno community.

Non-LAUSD Schools:
*All Saints Catholic School

Local Newspaper

The Voice Newspaper reports on local news that affects this community. 40-60% of all articles are submitted by the community.

External links

* [http://www.laforum.org/issues/more.php?id=61_0_12_0_C LA Forum article on the 710 controversy]