Pico-Union, Los Angeles, California

Pico-Union is a district in Los Angeles, California. Its name derives from the intersection of Pico Boulevard and Union Avenue.

Geography and Transportation

Pico Union, a sub-district of the community of Westlake, is bordered by South Park on the east, West Adams on the south, Harvard Heights and Koreatown on the west, and the north part of Westlake on the north. Its boundaries are Hoover Street on the west, Olympic Blvd. on the north, the Harbor Freeway on the east, and the Santa Monica Freeway on the south. Principal thoroughfares include Washington, Venice, Pico, and Olympic Boulevards, Union Avenue, and Alvarado and Hoover Streets. The district lies within ZIP codes 90006 and 90015.

The Neighborhood

Pico Union is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Once predominantly white and (prior to World War II) heavily Jewish, it is now primarily populated by first-generation Hispanic immigrants, particularly Mexicans, Guatemalans, Salvadorans, and Hondurans. Nearly 50% of the population is believed to be living in the United States illegally, but as Los Angeles is designated a sanctuary city, many of the undocumented are somewhat protected. In many places, Pico-Union resembles an East Side neighborhood, with busy industrial concerns frequently adjoining residential properties. A number of Korean businesses, priced out of Koreatown, have also established themselves in the district. Most of the district lies within the infamous Rampart Division of the Los Angeles Police Department, and is plagued with high crime. Several transnational gangs, most notably the 18th Street Gang and Mara Salvatrucha ("MS-13"), were started in the neighborhood and maintain a strong presence.

Nevertheless, as of 2008, Pico Union may be in the beginning stages of gentrification. Although the core of the neighborhood is still impoverished and somewhat dilapidated, the area's western and eastern fringes are beginning to see residential development. Near the Harbor Freeway, development in downtown Los Angeles--especially the South Park area around Staples Center--is expanding into Pico-Union, while the areas around Hoover Street are beginning to be incorporated into something of a "Greater Koreatown."

Pico Union became the city's 19th Historic Preservation Overlay Zone on August 10, 2004. It contains two historic districts listed in the National Register of Historic Places: South Bonnie Brae Tract Historic District and Alvarado Terrace Historic District. [http://www.davidon.com/picounion/Pico_Union_SRVY.pdf HPOZ Map]

Demographics

Pico Union occupies U.S. Census tracts 2242, 2243.10, and 2243.20. Per the 2000 census, the district has a population of 8598. Racial breakdown was 2.2% white, 3.8% black or African-American, 1.4% Native American, 1.7% Asian or Pacific Islander, 59.4% some other race, and 5.6% two or more races; 92% of all races were of Latino or Hispanic ethnicity. Per capita income was $9273; 45% of individuals were below the federal poverty line.

Attractions

Loyola Law School, part of Loyola Marymount University, is located on Olympic Boulevard near the northern edge of Pico Union.

The successful [http://www.lacuracao.com/English/storeLA.htm La Curacao Department Store] is located at 1605 W. Olympic Boulevard at Union Ave.

Pico Union is adjacent to the new LA Live development.

Toberman Park

Salvation Army Red Shield Center

Emergency services

Police service

Los Angeles Police Department operates the Rampart Community Police Station at 2710 West Temple Street, 90026, serving the neighborhood [http://www.lapdonline.org/rampart_community_police_station] .

Education

Primary and secondary education

Public schools

Pico-Union is in the Los Angeles Unified School District. [http://www.crala.net/internet-site/Projects/Pico_Union_1/upload/2008PicoUnion1and2Map.pdf] [" [http://search.lausd.k12.ca.us/cgi-bin/fccgi.exe?w3exec=schfinder0 School Finder] ." "Los Angeles Unified School District". Accessed September 20, 2008.]

Elementary schools serving Pico-Union include [http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/10th_St_EL/ 10th Street Elementary School] (in Pico-Union, 1-5), [http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Norwood_EL/ Norwood Elementary School] (K-5, south of Pico-Union), and Olympic Primary Center (K, north of Pico-Union).

[http://www.berendoms.org/ Berendo Middle School] (west of Pico-Union), Liechty Middle School (north of Pico-Union), and [http://www.adamsms.org/ Adams Middle School] (southeast of Pico-Union) serve middle school populations. [" [http://www.laschools.org/employee/mpd/fs-mpd/download/07-08_webmaps/Proj01.pdf 1. Proposed Changes to Liechty Middle School Area Schools] ." "Los Angeles Unified School District". Accessed September 20, 2008.]

West Adams Preparatory High School (west of Pico-Union) and Belmont High School cluster (north of Pico-Union, including Belmont High School, Miguel Contreras Learning Complex, Edward R. Roybal Learning Center, and other schools) serve high school populations in separate attendance zones. [" [http://www.laschools.org/employee/mpd/fs-mpd/download/07-08_webmaps/Proj02.pdf 2. Proposed Changes to West Adams Preparatory High School Area Schools] ." "Los Angeles Unified School District". "Los Angeles Unified School District". Accessed September 20, 2008.]

Private schools

Loyola High School, a private high school operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School, an all-female Catholic high school, are located west of the area.

Public libraries

Los Angeles Public Library operates the Pico-Union Branch.

ee also

* List of districts and neighborhoods of Los Angeles

References

External links

* [http://www.crala.net/internet-site/Projects/Pico_Union_1/index.cfm Redevelopment Project One]
* [http://www.crala.net/internet-site/Projects/Pico_Union_2/index.cfm Redevelopment Project Two]
* [http://www.davidon.com/picounion/ Pico Union murals, street scenes and houses]
* [http://www.preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/la/pico-union LA City Office of Historic Resources]
* [http://cityplanning.lacity.org/CulturalAffairs/PicoUnion/TOC_PicoUnion.htm Historic Preservation Plan]
* [http://picounion.blogspot.com/ Neighborhood Blog]