Old Town

In the early 1900s, La Verne was an epicenter of the citrus industry. More than 1,000 cartloads of oranges, grapefruit and lemons were packed up by the local workforce and shipped out of town, year after year.

Fruit trees started to get tainted in the 1940s, sending the city down a path locals referred to as “the quick decline.” But thanks to housing developments and the private University of La Verne, the city’s Old Town neighborhood has remained a booming and vibrant cultural center even after Big Citrus packed its bags.

With its shady palm trees and gated condo communities, Old Town La Verne is an alluring, homey neighborhood. But it also has some urban touches, like a walkable downtown district with street parking and small businesses like breakfast restaurants, jewelry studios and real estate offices. It’s a small city, about 30 miles east of the much larger Los Angeles, with a more relaxed feel.

“It’s a cute downtown area. I’ve been selling real estate for 45 years, and in every city people love to live close to downtown,” says Marty Rodriguez, owner and Realtor at Century 21 Marty Rodriguez in nearby Glendora. “It’s cute, quaint, and people can walk to the shops and restaurants.”

The houses in Old Town La Verne are a mixture of single- and multifamily properties in various common west coast styles. You will see 4,300-square-foot quadruplexes for $1.4 million, Craftsman-style homes built in 2003 for $950,000, traditional houses from the 1960s for $868,000, partial brick condominiums for $444,000, multifamily houses from the early 1900s for $880,000 and manufactured homes in senior-only communities for $200,000.

LA traffic is notoriously bad, but starting in late 2024, La Verne commuters will have a different way of reaching the big city. The Foothill Gold Line railway is extending itself to La Verne, meaning that commuters will be able to reach Pasadena via train in about 31 minutes, and Los Angeles in about 60 minutes. It will be a potential game changer for people who are sick of sitting in traffic everyday on I-10.

Old Town also has a vibrant dining scene. Neighbors love the relaxed vibe at Warehouse Pizza, where they can get a cold mug of beer, a basket of garlic bread and a doughy pizza pie. They sit outside next to the bushes and flowers at Italian restaurant Allegro or enjoy linguine vongole and sip chardonnay in its rustic dining room. Further up the street at La Paloma Mexican Restaurant, people eat freshly made tortillas, taquitas and fajitas from the comfort of the restaurant’s big, cozy booths. And then there’s Chase’s restaurant, a gathering spot for the community.

“It’s like Cheers here, everybody knows everybody,” says Rodriguez.

La Verne is a close-knit, active community. In Old Town, you’ll see that firsthand at Las Flores Park, an open field and gazebo with an Olympic-sized swimming pool. At La Verne Sports Park, which is right next to Las Flores, you’ll see a 21-acre outdoor area with football and soccer fields, a basketball court, a track and a skateboard park. It’s everything you could ever want to do athletically, all in one place.

The La Verne Heritage Foundation, which is responsible for preserving the city, is the driving force behind many of the community’s major events. Every summer there are concerts in La Verne Heritage Park, and throughout the year there are vendor fairs with tractor rides and local food purveyors. Orange picking season starts near the beginning of every year; people come and pay $6 per bag for oranges and grapefruits. There’s also an annual pumpkin patch, which is open throughout the fall for the community to enjoy.

The city is part of the highly regarded Bonita Unified School District, which has an A from Niche. Depending on where they live, kids in Old Town will be assigned to either Roynon Elementary School, La Verne Heights Elementary School or Grace Miller Elementary School, and all children in the neighborhood will attend both Ramona Middle School and Bonita High School. The high school was named to a list of the most challenging high schools in America by the Washington Post in 2017. It has an A from Niche for its teachers, diversity, college preparation and academics.

La Verne is close to the Foothill Freeway and Route 66. In addition to Los Angeles, cities like Anaheim (23 miles away) and Irvine (39 miles away) are also in commuting distance. Old Town La Verne is a charming neighborhood with great restaurants, tons of activities and cute houses. Come catch a breeze of its California cool.

Written By

Laura Finaldi

Photography Contributed By

Karl Le

Video By

Jacob McAllister