Its most famous section, known as the Melrose District, is the West End through West Hollywood and the Fairfax District. At the corner of Fairfax and Melrose is Fairfax High School, home of the Melrose Trading Post swap meet. One of the most famous landmarks located on Melrose Avenue is Paramount Pictures. Metro Localline 10 operates on Melrose Avenue. Cosmo Lombino, a New York-born designer known as the "Queen of Melrose", owns three boutiques located on Melrose Avenue. Actress Julie Newmar, as a real estate investor in the 1970s, is considered to have been a significant contributor to the areas development.[2]
History
Early History
A petition signed by voters in the Melrose addition was presented to the city council of Los Angeles in February 1922, requesting annexation to the city. The Melrose Annexation was effective June 16, 1922. The area was 0.67 square miles, generally along Melrose Avenue, from Sweetzer Avenue to the west, east to June Street.[3][4]
The name "Melrose" avenue comes from Elmanson Avery McCarthy, a real estate developer, naming the street after their parent's birthplace in Melrose, Massachusetts[5]. There are other claims that Melrose avenue is named after another person, Richard Melrose - attorney - that had major relations to the city of Los Angeles.
1980 - 2000's
Melrose avenue gained traction and became a fashion mecca for punk rock influenced clothing and lifestyle[6]. Ranging from different shops such as Koala Blue (Olivia Newton John's boutique) to the iconic "The Burger That Ate L.A." Burgershop located where the current Starbucks is located. Other retailers such as Retail Slut, Neo80, LA Eyeworks, Off the Wall, Caffé Luna, and many more increased on Melrose[7].
Culturally, this period was the height of Melrose with increasing boutiques, restaurants, retail, fashion influence, and the prominence of fashion and art within the district.
2000 - 2020
In the 2010's, Melrose avenue sees a decline in foot traffic with empty retail buildings and less foot traffic[8]. During this time, stores such as Aaardvarks, other boutiques and long standing restaurants closed due to the struggle of the changing retail environment.
2020 - Today
Melrose District is still one of the prominent retail districts in Los Angeles along with Rodeo Drive, La Brea Shopping District, and Santa Monica. Melrose currently hosts a variety of trendy cafe's including Urth Cafe, Lalaland Kind Cafe, Olive and James Cafe Tea, and many more. Different thrift stores such as Wasteland, 2nd Street Melrose, Melrose Trading Post, Crossroads, American Vintage, American Rebel, and Buffalo Exchange hold a majority stake in the Melrose Avenue atmosphere today.
Many stores and businesses have made their homes in the district, including Retail Slut and a large outdoor flea market called the Melrose Trading Post.[9] At the corner of Highland and Melrose is what has been described by the Los Angeles Times as the "boss of LA's Italian dining scene", Osteria Mozza,[10][11] which marks the eastern end of the Fairfax District. Much of the area is managed by the Melrose Avenue Business Improvement District.[12]
Near its intersection with La Cienega Boulevard is Melrose Place, a branch of the main avenue made famous thanks to the soap opera of the same name. In reality, Melrose Place features no residences and has, historically, been home to antique shops, smaller boutiques, and hair and nail salons. Melrose Place runs entirely within the Los Angeles city limits, just outside of the West Hollywood city limits and is the venue of a popular Farmers Market on Sundays.
La Cienega design quarter
The area of Melrose Avenue that intersects La Cienega Boulevard and its satellite streets is part of the La Cienega Design Quarter. Its businesses feature many antique and furniture stores, rug sellers, accessories and artisans. The popular Vito Pizza restaurant and the Belmont is also situated here.
Cultural impact
Film
Melrose Avenue has been commonly filmed at as it depicts a young vibrant mood and is conveniently located in Los Angeles, the city of Hollywood. Some films featuring Melrose Avenue include: Her (2013) - exterior shots filmed in Fairfax/Melrose area, Mullholland Drive (2001) - exterior shots of Melrose store fronts, Clueless (1995) - Cher and Dionne shop in the Melrose boutique district.
Music
The romanticization of Melrose Avenue continues in song lyrics in top charting songs. Promise by Laufey "Standing out on Melrose Avenue," The Most Beautiful Thing by Bruno Major "Or find ourselves on Melrose Avenue," She Pretty by YG "Rodeo Drive or Melrose Avenue".
There is a four man band called Melrose Avenue that produces pop-metalcore genre.
Art
Melrose Arts District is a district managed by the Melrose Avenue Business Improvement District. There are different retailers on Melrose Avenue that promote smaller, growing artists, such as 7811 Gallery, Fabian Perez Gallery, Gladstone Gallery, HVW8 Gallery[13].
There are many theater related groups including Greenway Court Theatre, Groundlings, Matrix Theatre, and Zephyr Theatre that train and produce theater professionals in LA.
Melrose Avenue also hosts a variety of street murals throughout the district[14]. There are a total of 19 locations with street art throughout the main Melrose Avenue from Fairfax to Highland. These murals include athletes (Kobe Bryant), Pink Panther, Dragons, Eyes, and many other designs.
Zoning and permitting
Zoning from La Cienega Boulevard to La Brea Avenue. Source: Zimas
The main shopping district of Melrose Avenue is zoned[15] as C4 (heavy commercial zone) zoning from La Cienega Boulevard to Fairfax Avenue. C4 zoning provides heavy commercial zoning for higher density buildings for more commercial space such as retail.
Beginning from Fairfax Avenue to La Brea Avenue is zoned as C2 (general commercial zone) zoning. C2 zoning allows for less than 4,500 square feet per business to be operated.
Both up to two blocks north and south of Melrose Avenue, land is mainly zoned as R1 (single family residential) or R2 (two-dwelling units per lot residential), which are both residential zoning codes for both single family homes and duplexes.
For further recommended actions from the Department of City Planning, check Recommendation Report[16] in references.
All un-suffixed roads are streets unless otherwise noted.
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