Playa Vista

Known as Silicon Beach for its bevy of local tech offices, Playa Vista is a unique, planned community in western Los Angeles County. Originally the neighborhood housed the headquarters of the Hughes Aircraft Company, where Howard Hughes constructed the infamous Spruce Goose — its enormous hangar is now a Google office. Today major tech firms lease office space in the development, including Microsoft and Imax, making the neighborhood a popular landing spot for their employees.

Realtor Tami Humphrey of Team Tami, Palm Realty Boutique, notes that Playa Vista, which was initially developed in 2002, is a neighborhood that stands apart from others because of its community feel, amenities, beautiful parks and walkability. “There’s really nowhere else like it in LA,” she says.

Most new homes in the area are three-level, bright and airy condos that range in price from $1.2 million for two-bedroom units built in 2003, to around $2.7 million for four-bedroom luxury units built in 2016. You’ll also find a few blocks of closely spaced, modern three-story homes, many of which are going for about $4 million. “All of the homes here are maintained extremely well,” Humphrey says.

Living in Playa Vista means paying a community wide homeowner’s association fee, along with building-specific associations for condo owners. These fees go to maintaining the neighborhood’s beautiful parks and trails, as well as the 26,000 square foot CenterPointe Club, which features gathering areas, a pool and a fitness center. Playa Vista is also right next to Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, which residents can stroll through on their way to Playa Del Rey Beach, one of the prettiest — and quietest — beaches in LA.

Playa Vista is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District, with schools in the area performing consistently above California state averages. Playa Vista Elementary, rated B+ by Niche, has partnered with Loyola Marymount to provide an innovative STEM-focused education for its students. Continuing on that track, area students can attend Katherine Johnson STEM Academy, where the integrated curriculum includes project-based learning and community panels. Venice High School, which boasts an A Niche rating, offers students a full range of academic options including magnet programs, AP courses and a media arts academy.

As for dining, while Playa Vista lacks the old-school taco and burger joints you’ll find in just about every other LA neighborhood, it does offer a variety of modern takes on traditional California favorites. You can sample the sushi at Sweet Fish, enjoy burgers and hand-cut fries at Hopdaddy and select from a menu of pastas and wood-grilled meats at Superfine Playa. “There are so many great restaurant options here,” Humphrey says. Home cooks can find organic items at the local Whole Foods, located in the heart of the neighborhood.

The modern Cinemark Playa Vista shows all the latest movies, and the Runway Playa Vista shopping center hosts frequent neighborhood events, ranging from weekly farmers markets to annual holiday celebrations. More contemplative Playa Vista residents can walk across Bluff Creek to neighboring Loyola Marymount University and enjoy one of their regular public lectures or symposiums, while sports fans can catch a basketball game — the LMU Lions consistently make the NCAA tournament.

Designed to be a community in which residents can live, work and play, Playa Vista continues to live up to that vision. “You’ll see a lot of people walking to their tech jobs,” Humphrey says. Locals can also access much of Playa Vista’s shopping and recreation on foot and can easily travel outside of the community via the 405.

Playa Vista may be new, but it has quickly established itself as one of the premier neighborhoods in western LA. Perhaps you should come check it out for yourself.

Written By

Andrew Moreno

Photography Contributed By

Joseph Palacios

Video By

Tyler Hall