An Oasis of Safety in One of L.A.'s Toughest Neighborhoods

The neighborhood's resilience is attributed to the high percentage of properties owned by occupants, and the fact that many of the properties are single-family homes. A neighborhood church also plays a part in the area's relative safety.

"[O]ther factors further separate the neighborhood from its more violent surroundings -- advantages that Harris-Dawson and others said cannot be easily repeated elsewhere.

The area is home, he said, to a generally older group of residents. The predominance of single-family homes instead of apartments means a less densely packed population and less turnover. And many in the neighborhood own their homes and have had roots in the area for generations.

The result is a place where people know each other, have an emotional and financial investment and don't take kindly to anything that might disturb the peace."