A Castle In Suburbia

Until recently, the Los Angeles suburb of Alhambra was distinct for having nothing unique. Until Phil Spector's castle was discovered.

1 minute read

February 8, 2003, 11:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen

"Take the 10 Freeway east from downtown L.A., drive about eight miles in heavy traffic under increasingly sooty skies and you'll think you're nowhere special at all. Exit into Alhambra and you'll realize you're right -- and wrong. Alhambra, which is touted on signs as "the gateway to the San Gabriel Valley," is special in its aura of small-town simplicity. It is a community in slow motion, a mostly flat land with a few main thoroughfares that are lined with fast-food and auto repair stores, surrounded by miles of soothingly broad and quiet streets on which there are thousands of aging, neatly kept private homes.It is a city chosen by its residents precisely because so little happens there -- and there is less opportunity for trouble."

Thanks to Laura Kranz

FULL STORY: Beyond the gates

Saturday, February 8, 2003 in The Los Angeles Times

Housing California

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.