Introduction
A city neighborhood often possesses unique qualities reflected in its geographical location, architecture, and social demographical attributes. The districts of Los Angeles are significantly diverse, including luxurious residential areas, film-making locations, and ethnicity-dedicated regions. The neighborhood of Silver Lake, placed in the East-Central part of Los Angeles, is a prominent sector of the city, situated close to famous landmarks and public areas of interest. Silver Lake combines the features of a popular “hipster”-designed neighborhood, a natural retreat, an estate hub, and a shopping and restaurant area, becoming a perfect spot for leisure and recreational activities. This work focuses on the geographical, architectural, and social environment of Silver Lake, discussing the social tension regarding the homeless and the benefits of the neighborhood, which create an excellent recreational area for the community.
Geographical Environment: The Appearance of Silver Lake
The physical position of Silver Lake is incredibly beneficial, as it incorporates both natural and entertainment locations. Located in the East-Central part of Los Angeles, Silver Lake borders Echo Park, Los Feliz, and East Hollywood, making these attractions highly accessible for residents and tourists. A significant geographical landmark is Silver Lake, an old water reservoir, which is currently offline and is used as a park for recreation (Romolini and Strauss 5). The presence of a natural area that can be used for walks and other residential activities is a considerable benefit for the community (Figure A). Many community residents positively evaluate the reservoir, considering it an advantageous space that improves the level of welfare for numerous people (Romolini and Strauss 5). Furthermore, the transportation system in Silver Lake is highly developed, allowing for easy traversal either by public transport or on foot.
The most notable feature of the Silver Lake is the presence of a considerable number of restaurants, cafes, bars, and other food points, making the neighborhood a prime location for dining. The accessibility of farmers’ markets, multicultural cuisines, and the interest of the young population towards a unique dining experience prompted the development of numerous coffee shops, trendy restaurants, and vegan cafes (Compton). The Sunset Boulevard is one of the prominent locations housing various dining options, which are exceptionally diverse in nature. Given the current trends toward international cuisines, vegan eating, and healthy dieting, the businesses of Silver Lake tend to cater to popular needs. A variety of foods accessible at Silver Lake can satiate the needs of many individuals, providing interesting options for everyday eating and special occasions.
Another significant factor contributing to the range of food businesses in Silver Lake is the dedication of numerous artists to this community. The Silver Lake neighborhood is well known for being a shelter to the individuals of creative occupations, from food chefs and musicians to popular designers, who enjoy the dynamic life in this location. Therefore, aside from usual cafes, there are unique enterprises offering author dishes and modern eating experiences. After that, architecture and art enthusiasts are also well-recognized in this community, and a variety of design and indie stores demonstrate the popularity of creative professions (Seo). Another major institute supporting this tendency is the VDL House, a prominent opportunity for artists to display their works.
The abundance of shopping opportunities is another attribute of Silver Lake, which presents a considerable tendency towards luxury, contemporary fashion. Sunset Boulevard, considered to be the primary location for purchasing goods, incorporates a tremendous variety of trendy clothing stores, houseware shops, and other tangible products (Seo). Overall, the majority of enterprises is presented in Silver Lake are upholding modern trends and innovations, creating an excellent location for young adults and their families.
The architecture of this neighborhood supports the interest in contemporary designs. A number of modernist buildings are located in Silver Lake, for instance, the VDL research house by Richard Neutra, which is considered a National Historic Landmark (Figure B). In the present day, this location continues to uphold the values of education, art, and diversity, hosting numerous events and exhibitions (NeutraVDL). Another perfect example is the Silvertop by John Lautner, a modernist creation representing the future (Possenti). As a community close to Hollywood, Silver Lake was tremendously affected by the film industry during its growth. Therefore, a tremendous amount of houses built in this location incorporates novel architectural styles designated to impress creative individuals and represent famous avant-garde designs (Lin 214). For example, the works of Gregory Ain, Raphael Soriano, and Eric Lloyd Wright can be found in Silver Lake (Lin 216). Furthermore, as the neighborhood entered the 21st century, it continued to maintain its modernistic appearance, becoming the location for the designs of Gustavo Gumbel, Space International, and John Southern.
Considering the characteristics of Silver Lake, it becomes evident that the community structure is devised according to the influences from contemporary culture and the film industry, determining the architectural design and the businesses present. From an economic perspective, living in Silver Lake can be substantially expensive, requiring additional expenses for food and real estate in comparison with other neighborhoods. Nevertheless, this sector is a prominent representation of modern-day arts and designs, avant-garde architecture, popular cuisines, and influential fashion trends. Although Silver Lake could be considered a simple demonstration of contemporary tendencies, in reality, this community perfectly depicts the progression of social needs and how they become accommodated by the businesses in the area. The residents of the area and the geographical location remarkably impact the development of the region, moving towards the inclusion of trends suggested by the fashion and film industries.
Social Tensions in the Community: Accommodating the Homeless
The prevalence of luxurious tendencies and extravagant occupations has a considerable disadvantage for the residents of Silver Lake. Considering the aforementioned attributes of the neighborhood, it is evident that it barely covers the needs of individuals with lower social classes, only catering to well-endowed people (Walker 52). Although, in comparison with a bordering Westside community, the overall welfare of the Silver Lake population is higher, the issue of homelessness has recently originated tremendous tension among the residents (Uko). For instance, the recent events at Echo Park, with thousands of homeless from the areas neighboring Silver Lake searching for shelter, demonstrate how unbalanced the financial status of the community members actually is (Abramovitch). Reporters state that the lack of facilities supporting homeless residents, the officials’ interest in economic profits, and the elevation of real estate prices lead towards numerous negative ramifications.
The lack of appropriate housing and support from the authorities generates a substantial social injustice that negatively impacts the welfare of numerous individuals. Given the absence of resources that could help underprivileged individuals, the overall number of social issues and confrontations is increasing dramatically. For example, a correlated complication is the amount of garbage that often increases as the homeless people try to establish shelters and maintain a living (Uko). The trash can be a devastating disadvantage for the organizations in the area, which suffer from parking space difficulties and roach infestations (Uko). Although the government and the public works department were petitioned multiple times, the problem of insufficient housing and the lack of cleaning activities remains exceptionally pertinent for Silver Lake residents.
The significance of this confrontation becomes more pertinent every year as housing costs continue to rise. Many underprivileged individuals in search of accommodation are also seeking assistance from the officials and other authorities that could aid them. Moreover, mentally ill and disabled persons are also often reported to have lost their property. In this regard, as the numbers of homeless people tend to rise, the conflicts between the underprivileged and the other members of the community, from business owners to ordinary people, continue to extend. Although there are promises from the government that the issue is to be resolved in the near future, there is no certainty that the propositions will be fulfilled.
The Importance of Geographical and Social Factors for the Community Environment
The location of Silver Lake and its surrounding environment can have a substantial impact on its members. The prevalence of famous restaurants, cuisines, and well recognized luxurious shopping areas significantly affect the residents’ economic and social status, providing an excellent development opportunity for individuals interested in contemporary fashion and architecture. The majority of the population in Silver Lake is reported to possess an average income of $69,000, which is slightly higher than the median income of Los Angeles County residents, who obtain $68,000 per year (Figure C). In general, although there are other regions that perform better in consideration of medium-income rates, Silver Lake residents demonstrate exceptional working performance that allows them to sustain a high-quality level of well-being.
Furthermore, educational attainment in Silver Lake is also relatively high, with 36.1% of the population having received a bachelor’s degree or higher. Unfortunately, it is possible that the community views Silver Lake as a temporary location rather than a stable place for living. Given the tremendous value of housing, which is 1.5 times higher than in California and even two times the amount in the US, the majority of residents prefer to rent available units (Census Reporter). In addition, with the real estate costs remaining at that level, the poverty percentages tend to increase dramatically, leaving numerous people below the poverty line. With 21.2% of individuals representing underprivileged households, Silver Lake accounts for nearly double the rate of poverty in California and more than 1.5 in the United States. Overall, it is possible that the availability of quality entertainment and working possibilities positively influences the residents, prompting them to achieve higher social statuses and uphold the way of living established in the community.
Another effect of the Silver Lake characteristics on its population is the specific cultural experience received in this neighborhood. As Silver Lake is especially close to Hollywood, experiencing the impact of the film-making industry and the contemporary trends, the communities culture represents the current social attitudes. Apart from food and shopping venues, there is multiple evidence of modern practices shaping this neighborhood, for example, indie stores and graffiti art prevalent among the younger generation (Lin 221). The elements of openness and acceptance are quite prominent in Silver Lake, contributing to the creation of a community upholding various minorities, for instance, the representatives of LGBTQ plus (Lin 280). The Santa Monica Boulevard is a well-recognized location in the history of gay rights, which, undoubtedly, has left a tremendous impact on the residents of Silver Lake.
Conclusion
To conclude, a psychogeographical profile of the Silver Lake neighborhood, with the consideration of its landmarks and social attributes, was thoroughly analyzed in the paper. The location of the community and its history of development have shaped a unique atmosphere influenced by the film-making industry and the most prominent trends of the last decades. Famous for its modernistic architecture and shopping destinations, Silver Lake is an excellent representation of the interests of the current younger generation. Such accommodations as international food restaurants, vegan cafes, indie stores, and shopping outlets are highly prevalent in Silver Lake, shaping a distinct overview of the population. Inspired by numerous movie genres and hipster values, the majority of the residents aspire to maintain a level of income that allows them to remain involved in the available activities. Nevertheless, the tension between the homeless individuals, local businesses, and neighborhood officials is a devastating complication arising from the influence of a luxurious lifestyle. The lack of balance in the welfare of the population is a pertinent issue that should be resolved in the near future, creating a beneficial environment for all Silver Lake residents.
Works Cited
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