South Carthay Neighborhood Association

South Carthay Neighborhood Association

Welcome to South Carthay

The South Carthay Neighborhood Association welcomes you to one of Los Angeles' best-kept secrets: a centrally-located slice of community life right in middle of the large city. We hope you will enjoy your new home and would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to some of the features that make South Carthay a unique place.

The Neighborhood: Location Location Location
South Carthay is the area bounded by Olympic and Pico Boulevards and the alleys just east of Crescent Heights and just east of La Cienega. South Carthay is convenient to the 10 Freeway, adjacent to Beverly Hills, a fifteen minute drive to Hollywood or Century City, and offers easy access to the San Fernando Valley via Laurel Canyon (Crescent Heights).

The South Carthay Neighborhood Association (SCNA)
Our 800-household community is a great place to live. By joining the SCNA you can help keep it that way. Membership dues are only $20 per year, and help cover expenses associated with maintaining the unique quality of the neighborhood. These include: newsletter printing, emergency response team supplies, costs associated with filing appeals to the City, Association insurance, support of community social events, etc.

The SCNA is an association of and for the people of South Carthay that functions to protect and maintain its unique residential character. The governing body is the SCNA Board, which holds public meetings once every other month (see newsletter and website for schedule). Made up of elected members from the neighborhood, the Board consists of a president and officers who cover such areas as events, membership, safety, traffic, urban planning, and community relations. All South Carthay residents are encouraged to join the association, attend the SCNA Board meetings, participate on SCNA committees and hold office.

The Look of the Neighborhood
In 1984 South Carthay became a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ). This designation protects the neighborhood from the over-development seen elsewhere. Our HPOZ permits us to preserve the wonderful character of our neighborhood, resulting in higher property values and a more beautiful place to live.

The HPOZ ordinance requires that any exterior change to a property be approved by the HPOZ Design Committee or the City Planning Department before work is begun. The HPOZ Committee serves as a source of information and support for this effort. Should you want to change or remodel the outside of your home, contact the HPOZ Committee before you begin.

Schools
Over the past few years South Carthay has seen an influx of families with young children. A walk through the neighborhood will invariably reveal the presence of strollers and bikes. If you are considering public schools, Carthay Center Elementary has been re-invigorated from the inside out. Progressive changes are being instituted in the curriculum, and the building and grounds are being restored. As a LEARN school, parental involvement is encouraged.

Other excellent educational opportunities are also available locally. Several well-respected religious schools are adjacent to South Carthay, among them the Pressman Academy at Temple Beth Am. Many neighbors also participate in a variety of programs offered at the Westside Jewish Community Center, MY GYM and the classes held by Beverly Hills Recreation and Parks Department at nearby La Cienega Park.

Crime & Safety
We are in the middle of a big city, so of course we have crime. But our crime rate is generally very low, thanks to our close-knit neighborhood and our good working relationship with the Wilshire Division of the Los Angeles Police Department. The neighborhood also has a security service (voluntary participation, for a fee; call Security Systems at 310-477-2095 for more information or see their website via ours). But the most important deterrent to crime and assurance of safety is knowing your neighbors and watching out for one another.

Neighborhood Activism
The neighborhood has a history of activism. We work hard and we work together to help maintain and enhance the area. We work with commercial landowners on our border streets to assure they maintain their properties. We work with government offices to optimize the livability of our neighborhood. We are particularly involved in city planning & zoning issues, from traffic mitigation and parking restrictions to street lights and alley maintenance.

Social Events
A great way for neighbors to develop and maintain a sense of community is by socializing together. We regularly schedule events, including an annual block party, that allow us to meet our neighbors and spend time with friends.

Communications & Information
The Neighborhood Association publishes and distributes the South Carthay News, a bi-monthly newsletter. We also maintain a website with neighborhood information, links to members of the SCNA Board, the HPOZ Board and relevant government agencies/services. SCNA members can also elect to receive neighborhood notices by email.

All in all, if you've been looking for a place to put down roots, welcome home.

Sincerely,
The South Carthay Neighborhood Association