Neighborhood Spotlight: Cheviot Hills, already pricey, continues on a steep incline

"The groundwork for the upscale Westside neighborhood of Cheviot Hills was laid in 1923 when a single subdivision began sales of lots on a previously undeveloped patch of rolling hills 10 miles west of downtown Los Angeles. It was prime real estate. In a newspaper advertisement for that first tract, which its developers dubbed Country Club Highlands, its marketers laid out its charms: a 'combination of low prices, high elevation, beautiful view' that was near 'the airline to the beaches, with the Wm. Fox Studios right across the street, and three country clubs nearby!'"

"They also made a selling point of the developer's adoption of advanced brick home construction techniques, which included the use of steel beams for stability during earthquakes. The price for these homes? $750."

"Monte Mar Vista, with its curvilinear streets and underground utilities, offered homes for discerning buyers starting at $3,900. Contemporary photographs show large homes representing styles as varied as Spanish Colonial and Tudor springing up from the nearly treeless landscape seemingly at random, some of them a stone's throw from the nearby oil fields."

Cheviot Hills began development in 1923 when Country Club Highlands, the first subdivision, launched sales of lots on previously undeveloped rolling hills ten miles west of downtown Los Angeles. The initial homes featured advanced brick construction with steel beams for earthquake stability and sold for $750. Subsequent subdivisions, Monte Mar Vista and Cheviot Hills proper, commanded higher prices and attracted discerning buyers seeking luxury homes. These neighborhoods showcased diverse architectural styles including Spanish Colonial and Tudor designs. Developer Frans Nelson created Cheviot Hills, named after Scotland's Cheviot range, establishing it as the area's most prestigious tract with lots selling for over $1,700.

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