It is north of Ventura Boulevard where you will find more middle-class homes lining the side streets and a respectable choice of apartments along main thoroughfares. Residential architecture varies from ranch homes to boxy stuccos. Many have hired gardeners who mow and trim their way form one house to the next. Hosing prices tend to be up a little here, but still less than what it costs in Encino; apartments are also not too difficult to find. 
When the Northridge earthquake of 1994 hit (Northwest of Sherman Oaks), scattered parts of Sherman Oaks were hit hard, especially along Hazeltine Avenue; but with the rebuilding of apartments and homes, the area looks sharper than ever. Typical of many neighborhoods in the Valley, the majority of area businesses line Ventura Boulevard, including a pleasant mall called the Sherman Oaks Fashion Square, chain grocery stores, banks, restaurants and a variety of other retailers serving the needs of the local community. On weekend evenings, the sidewalks of Ventura Boulevard find the locals, their children and the family dog out just west of Van Nuys Boulevard for dinner, ice cream and window gazing. Public school education is run by the LA Unified School District, 333 South Beaudry Avenue, LA, CA 90017, 213-241-1000; www.lausd.k12.ca.us
Community resources and information include: Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, 405 Freeway and Victory Blvd., 818-241-1000; www.laparks.org; Los Encino’s State Historic Park, 16756 Moorpark St., 818-784-4849, www.parks.ca.gov; Encino Community Center, Balboa and Ventura Boulevards, 818-995-1690, www.laparks.org; Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Park, Huston St.
For more information: www.cityofla.org, www.valleyglen.org, www.encinochamber.org, http://lacounty.info |
