angeleno

The neighborhood is a hidden gem and I almost don't want to write the review so people learn about it. Situated in northeast Los Angeles, the "hill" is a residential hillside neighborhood. The views of DTLA, the San Gabriels, and for a few along Seaview Dr., a sliver of ocean, are great. There are no stores, businesses, restaurants in Mt. Washington because it is purely residential. Highland Park, the somewhat flatter neighborhood near Mt. Washington is gentrifying, and residents just drive down the hill to York Blvd. or Figueroa to "hipster" bars like Footsies and the York or to eat at Good Girl Dinette, Maximilliano, Cafe De Leche. The schools are very good, at least elementary. Mt. Washington Elementary is one of the best in the district, county and state, consistenly scoring very high on the APIs - and the kids have great views from their playground at the top of the hill. While singles live here, it is also welcoming of families with young children and many live here because of the school - and the spectacular Hollywood Hills like views. Residents on the hill are activists, and are involved in local, city, state, and national politics - many elected officials live here as do lesser known actors, actresses, and some well-known musicians. Ease of access to downtown LA, Highland Park, central L.A., Pasadena, Silver Lake, Glendale/Burbank, Hollywood are nice pluses for commuting.

The downsides are that hillside living is not for everyone. Maintenance of those houses on very steep edges of the hill can be more frequent than the homes in flatter areas. While the nicest side of Mt. Washington is the top and the east sides, there is less in terms of nightlife and businesses on the south part of Figueroa (which is not in Mt. Washington but is close). The area has seen a remarkable transformation in the last few decades with many professionals and upper-income residents moving in, while the older residents tend to be more middle class.