The Businesses Survey around Silver Lake Area
by: Ranida Jetasanon

Preface It was almost three months that I did my research community analysis project in the Silver Lake Area. My research project was base on the business survey around this area and purposed of all the merchants in the Silver Lake Area. At the beginning, I represented the boundaries of the Silver Lake area and social service in the community. Follow by that, I included the distribution of population. Silver Lake Area is the one of communities that can see clearly which how of difference in the socioeconomic classes. I was found in this area divided population into three socioeconomic classes that was the top of the hill were the richest area, the area around the Silver Lake Reservoir were the middle class is and the flat area for the lower socioeconomic class. The difference of socioeconomic classes was none stop, it's also occurred in the business areas. The businesses spread around in this area were totally difference from North and South location. On the North side that shopping for the people form high and middle classes. For the South that the place was belong to people from lower class. During my personal research, I was found special programs to stimulate economic growth in the local businesses created by the City of Los Angeles such as Special State Revitalization Zone, the Street Fair Festival and the Businesses Improvement District program. I also found the results of restriction businesses growth in Silver Lake Area such as restriction of space, the lack of parting, people who live in this area. After I finished with my research project, I was so glad that I found the purpose of residents and almost merchants in this area were the same idea which keep the Silver Lake Area to be quite and the place for peaceful. Silver Lake Area is a small area in a middle part of Los Angeles. The area has both a sense of history and a sense of peaceful. The lake in Silver Lake area is affection to all the feeling of residents who live in this area. I have been living in Silver Lake for over a year now but it didn't take too long to fall in love with it. Silver lake is so beautiful to remind the neighborhood to think sort of sweet town such as San Francisco or Seattle. I am so wonder how one street can divide range of residences from apart. The populations are diversity from culture, socioeconomic class, and location that take less than five minute from each apart. Silver Lake is the worth beautiful town. If compare with an others area, the Silver Lake is so small. The boundaries of Silver lake are approximately follow from the north there is Rowena Ave and come tour East Side is Hyperion Blvd. And go down to south is Sunset Blvd. And tour back to West Side is Silver Lake Blvd. Silver Lake is very centrally located, three freeways pass through it. That is Golden State freeway (5), The Golden State freeway and Hollywood freeway (101). But only one exit that can exit through the Silver Lake is from the (101) freeway, exit in on Silver Lake Blvd. For both two freeways have exit close near by Silver Lake. Both (5) and (2) freeways exit on Fletcher Blvd, that location belong Glendale City. Silver lake isn't a city. It is belong in Los Angeles. The City that closed by is Hollywood City, Glendale City and Echo Park City. The majority of the population is Caucasian (American) and the minority is Latin, Asians and African- American. The populations are diversity from culture and socioeconomic class. In the Silver Lake area was divided populations into three socioeconomic classes. Those are the location were take less than five minute from apart. A large part of this area is a mountain. The people who lived in the top of the hill were the richest areas. That called Moreno Highlands. This area was consisted of single families houses and villas. Down to the hill, it was the middle class is. In this area cover from Berkeley Street to Sunset Blvd. It has a small house and a nice apartment available in wide price range. I lived in this area. I like its very much because in the location of my apartment, its could see clearly in the lake's view. The one of reasons that all my neighborhoods still live in this area because of the lake. The last class is the flat area for the lower socioeconomic class. The area started from Sunset Blvd. to the Hollywood Freeway. Most people think this area was belonged in the limit of the City of Los Angeles but it was not. It was part of Silver Lake Area. The difference was not stopped in the socioeconomic class, it also occurred in the business areas. During my personal research, I was found the price and quality in the store. It was different as located in different socioeconomic classes same as divide range of resident. In the South of Silver lake, it have 99 cent stores doing down to 97 cent stores for low- economic classes to buy all stuff. Almost the populations in this area are Spanish and Asian. At the north of Silver Lake, it has a good quality of the market that called "Mayfair market." To me, the price is too high if compare with mini markets. Mayfair always has good quality of their products to sell, the customer almost 90 percent are American. The business companies around the lake have different quality of products and different the target marketing. The same of reason, the value rental of apartments and the houses are totally different. The value price in one month at the north side can pay for couple months on the south. All those example, you can imagine how different between both areas. In the north, it is a good area and can see a good view around the lake. All houses and apartments were created by architecture. In the South, it mostly has apartments, available in wide price range. For the Community service, even though Silver Lake is a province of Los Angles City but it is complete everything that should be has in society. For example, there are many educational institutes such as Marshall High School, Belmont High School, King Junior High School and some private schools. There are two police stations on the North and South corners. Hospitals, fire stations and other important health service center are all around the lake. With in the area, it has two parks. The one is Bellevue Park, and the other at the South corner of the lake reservoir. These are the one of my flavor parks. I always met my neighborhood in here. The park is the place that brings people come and gets to know each other's. In the Silver Lake Area, it has the lake stay in a middle of the whole area. The lake was called Silver Lake Reservoir. The lake is too important to these community because of it provides water to residence and has self- reflections back to people who live near by. I'm also falling in love with this lake, Everyday, I have to drive pass through the lake, and I enjoy very much to look around. The lake always reflects to my felling even the day times or night times. At a day times, I felt received more energy to do anything during the day. Sometime, I could discuss many problems when I drove pass though the lake. For the darkness, the lake was turn to romantic sense to me even the late night I still like to drive through around the lake. I'm not afraid with anything. But for my neighborhood, they felt not save and be afraid to look through the darkness. I am seemed like crazy at least one time a day; I have to see my flavor lake. It makes me happy. The Silver Lake Reservoir was the most one of reasons that the residents in this area like to keep their town to be quite and the place where people live. The community development creates the area around the lake turn to be pubic park for people that can communicate each other and enjoy by themselves. It has competed sport courts and very nice park for taking a walk, running around the lake. These situation brings people get to know each other and to share some ideas that make them to help each other. During my physical observation in the Silver Lake, The town was growing number of shopping, dining and nightlife options. These town was famous with an architecturally that diverse range of resident. In Silver Lake, it has 100 coolest people in Los Angeles live in this area. The reasons that keep them to live in these areas because it is so beautiful and very good area and quite. In these town isn't have factory or economic factory to make a noise and destroy envelopment. The businesses survey in the Silver Lake Area California Taxable Sales Years # of permits % change 1994 979,341 5.1 1995 983,574 5.2 1996 1,043,649 5.6 Taxable Sales, By County, Annual 1996 County # of permits % change Los Angeles 268,898 4.5 Contra Costa 24,326 2.8 Fresno 19,175 3.2 The source: Taxable Sales in California 1996 Annual Report Per Capita Personal Income by County County 1995 1994 1993 1992 California $24,090 $22,828 $22,389 $22,128 Los Angeles $23,501 $22,218 $21,984 $22,018 The source: US. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis. Form the data above, In the California State has been growing up every single years in the Number of Taxable Sales Permits. If compared with each of county areas, Los Angeles Sales Tax Permits as of 1996 was the highest score. In the Per Capita Personal Income, Los Angeles was more increase on income every single year. That the reasons were the Los Angeles City is the most popular areas for operated a new business. The Silver Lake area is a small area that, belong to Los Angeles City. It is one of the fifteen districts of Los Angeles counties and Silver Lake is under a council district number 13 that include the neighborhoods of Silver Lake, Atwater Village and sections of Echo Park. Even, the Silver Lake is a small area but in this area has complete of business such as neighborhood- oriented retail service business, the international restaurants, and nightclub. Only two things that exclude are the theater and the shopping mall, but that not ignore the residence at all because we can find both things near by the Silver Lake if we take a drive that should take less than 10 minute to get there. Right now, the Silver Lake area has been booming in the local business especially on Hyperion Avenue and Silver Lake Boulevard. Both streets have been starting more development in the local business. The city of Los Angeles has incentive in the local businesses by created some special programs to stimulate into local businesses. Special State Revitalization Zone (LARZ) is one of special programs. The program's purpose to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and rebuild business within portions of Los Angeles County. The benefits of this program to offering tax incentive, hiring credit for sales, and business expense deduction for the cost of qualified property. The LARZ program has been encouraged into the local businesses to help them to be successful in their businesses. The LARZ program also gives the merchants a change to rebuild their businesses. In the Silver Lake Area has been a membership in the LARZ program. This was one of major reasons to support businesses booming in Silver Lake Area. The Buzz weekly magazine is the best events and entertainment in Los Angeles wrote about the Silver Lake was growing number of shopping, dining and nightlife options. They divided the Silver Lake by the location of a business. First start from, Rowena Strip, The Buzz magazine wrote with Rowena Strip was a clutch of vintage- furniture, thrift and artsy-artifacts shops make this cozy area noteworthy. The businesses in these areas are: 1. Edna Hart, 2941-45 Rowena Ave. 2. The Coffee Table, 2930 Rowena Ave. 3. Needed Things, 2924 Rowena Ave. 4. Sol e Luna, 2910 Rowena Ave. 5. Blagg's, 2901 Rowena Ave. 6. Rodolpho's,2500 Riverside Dr. 7. Rockaway Records, 2395 Glendale Blvd. The second is Silver Lake "Gulch" down the road apiece, past where Rowena drifts into Glendale Blvd. And go down through Silver Lake Blvd. The businesses in these areas are: 1. Spaceland, 1717 Silver Lake Blvd. 2. Gillyflowers, Silver Lake Blvd. At Effie. 3. Ten 10, 1718 Silver Lake Blvd. 4. Back Door Bakery & Caf, 1710 Silver Lake Blvd. 5. Netty, s, 1700 Silver Lake Blvd. 6. G. Bella, 1638 silver Lake Blvd. 7. Rubbish , 1627 & 1630 Silver Lake Blvd. The third is The Sunset Connection; a stretch of Sunset harbors some of the wittier and more inventive shops in town, starting with; 1. Casita Del Compo, 1920 Hyperion Ave. 2. Say Cheese, 2800 Hyperion Ave. The last section is The Buzz magazine put all the least for nightclubs in Striking Gold in Silver Lake. Start from; 1.Rudolpho's, 2500 Riverside Dr. 2. Spaceland, 1717, Silver Lake. 3. Silver Lake Lounge, 2906 sunset Blvd. The source: Bazz weekly magazine on January 30,1998 In the Silver Lake area also have the business catering to tourists. The travel company advice their tourists if they have only one day to stay in Los Angeles then they should go to a one day trip in Hollywood. In this program, the Silver Lake area gas been including in the program The guide bring their tourists to go to Cafe Tropical, 2900 Sunset Blvd. at Parkman Ave. for having a lunch time. The Caf Tropical was a famous with a Truly wonderful caf con leche and guara cream cheese pastry. After that, the guide will advice their tourists to see a symbolize of the Silver Lake that is the wonderful Silver Lake Reservoir to pass by through the Griffith Park Observatory at Los Feliz Blvd. If, it is a clear day you will be see the whole of Los Angeles's view. This is my favorite place in town. I like to go there around sunset. I never been in the heaven before but I created these place to be my heaven because of every time, I went there. I always received a peaceful. An others of special programs is the Street Affair in Silver Lake Area, the Silver Lake community has a history of a neighborhood to communicate each other. As I mentioned before, the Silver Lake area was mixture of different cultures and people such as Caucasian, Latin, Asians and African-Americans. Since 1970,Michael Mckinley, a man who organized the festival Street Fair. He met many people who share in his point of views and live in his area, Silver Lake . The concept of Steer Fair is a communication between the neighborhood to get to know each other by proposed a Street Fair where all of our different cultures could blend and educate to creating a sense of community The Street fair festival involved local business to increase in their revenue. During, the fair, people from all over come here to enjoy all entertainment in the Street Fair. The stores that located near by the fair like to welcome all people to come in. I was interview Mr. Lee who is the owner of liquor store near by the fair. He said, during the time of the festival a lot of people came by that make increase in his total sale. The next of Street Fair Festival will come up on August. This year has been established at 18 annual. Everyone has a change to get into the Street Fair to show his/ her own identities. Different cultures can come together and create a new culture, which help the people to understand and accept each other. Later 1970, every years in the Silver Lake area has the largest celebration of culture diversity in Los Angeles at section of Sunset Boulevard from 3600 block to the4400 block. The Street Fair collects two dollars donation for admission ticket. In the fair has complete every things for everyone even they have a different of ages. For the children, the fair has more carnival rides, ethic dance, disco, children's entertainment. For the adults, the fair has beer gardens, more than 120 food stands, arts and crafts booths. In the fair also has the performance on the stage. They have the volunteer performance for ethicdance, bands and musicians. I have been a part number of the fair since 1991. I was fun and enjoy very much. The first years, I was volunteer to bring my Thai ethic performance dance to show on the stage. At that time, I was so proud because all the audience liked my performing. Some of the audience, its was a first time to them. They said it was wonderful decoration. I also helped my uncle, Peter, who is the owner of the Thai restaurant at 2903 Rowena Boulevard to sell his Thai food at the foods stands. We sold in a very low price. My uncle said he liked to show what the Thai food is and how wonderful of tasty in the Thai food. He concept was to promote the Thai food and his business. The booming in the business at Silver Lake is not limited only the restaurants and the fashion store. It has so many kinds of the local business have been grand openings on two main street of Silver Lake area were on Hyperion Ave. and Silver Lake Blvd. I found the businesses and stores are specialty such as mechanical, body, and parts shop for almost any car you can practically think of. An others that, I also found was the neighborhood grocery stores. The store was catering to Mexican immigrant. It was different from the big super market in Los Angeles because the merchandise was related to Mexican culture. I was interviewed Mr. Robin who working in the supermarket as a manager. He said his market was successful because it has so many kinds of import Goods that import from Mexico. He also tries to control the price to be lower than the big supermarket such as Hughes and Mayfair market. The target was point to people that have low income. Silver Lake area has so many people in the lower socioeconomic Class. The last but not the least is the pet stores supplies. This business has booming in Silver Lake area. For example, Catts & Doggs, at 2833 Hyperion Ave. This store was grand opening on 1995 at corner of Rowena and Hyperion Ave. I was interview with Ann who working in the store as a manager. She said the business was running good. Almost of her customers were been resident in the Silver Lake area. Atwater Village and silver Lake area more upscale single family-home and almost every families owns a dog. Almost the apartments allow to having a pet. At the South of corner of the Silver Lake reservoir, its has a park just for dogs to meet. I never see some kinds like this park before. At the evening time, especially, on the weekend. In the park have so many kinds of the dogs. I could not tell who was more happiness between the owners or the dogs. This is a reasonable to support pet stores supplies to be a successful in their businesses. During my personal observations, I also found under ground of local businesses that were illegal. What I mean by that? The reason was the locations of the businesses were occurred on the sidewalk. The first business that I was found is a food stands. This was a one owner of a business and serves foods for take out only. The nationality of an owner always is Latino. The location was spread around Silver Lake area especially on lower class of economic. This business has a limit time for sell; it's always open at evening time. The one location that I always found was on Silver Lake Blvd. At the corner of Silver Lake and Bellevue Ave. the owner was name "Carlos". The first time, I went there. I was afraid because everyone just looked at me by no reason. The only one way that I did just smile and tried to make conversation to the owner. Carlos was a nice gay. He recommends me to eat his foods. The one that I like is B.B.Q chicken. It was taste good. I asked him one time about the license but he was not gave an answer my question. He just smiled to me. Then, I changed my question to his business hours. At this time, he could speak loud. His business hours start from 7.00 PM. To 12.00 PM. I always pass by on weekend after I got out from the workplace around 10.00 PM. I always saw Carlos was busy with his customers. An others under ground of a business that I found were garage sale. In my personal idea, I am very like the concept of a business to recycle the things that not used to trade back for a little money. The garage sale was popular in the middle and lower socioeconomic class. Every weekend, you can find garage sale that spread around Silver Lake area especially on South of Silver Lake Blvd. As we know the garage sale is a temporary business, it's usually open on weekend. But I was found some group in the lower socioeconomic Class; they adapted the garage sale to become their opportunities. The results of restriction businesses booming at Silver Lake After, I finished my personal observations, I could say about 99 percentage of the businesses spread around the Silver Lake area were established by proprietorship and partner ship such as restaurants, pet shops and all kinds of neighbored serving stores. All kinds of businesses tried to provide in the people's needs but, the businesses in Silver Lake were not success enough if we compared with the an others areas. The resources of Silver Lake was still quite area because of a large part of the area are not support in businesses activity since it is a mountain and the area has a lake in the middle of this area. If, compare which the whole areas about a quarter of this area was a lake is. For the rest of areas were divided in two zones that were resident area zone and the business area zone. Lake is the one of major reasons to control the Silver Lake area to be quite town. People who live in Silver Lake area rely to keep this area to always be a beautiful town and peaceful. They did not want to turn this town to be boomtowns like Melrose or South Pasadena. I have been interviewed some residents who live in Silver Lake area. They always said, they have enough rush time and bad pollution in their workplace at the big city. They liked to save their small town to be the place for peaceful and good pollution. As we known, Silver Lake is a small area and this was a one of major reasons that restrain Silver Lake area to be quite town. If, this town turn to be booming then all of merchants should due with the most popularly problems in the booming town that is not enough parting space. The last but not the least is the transportation that restriction businesses in Silver Lake. The two mains of transportation that connect to the others area are Silver Lake Blvd. and Hyperion Blvd. In the Silver Lake area, it does not have the Freeways pass directly through inside in this area. An others that related to the problems of transportation is limit time of Metro Bus. The last service of the Metro Bus is 10.00 PM. If compare to an others areas such as Hollywood City. It has 24 hours for Metro Bus service. What should be happen in the future. By 2020, the city of Los Angeles will have 4.89 million residents about 34 percentages rise from today. This data record from Analysts Southern California Assn. of Governments. That meaning in the future, Los Angeles area will have more population. Silver Lake area is near by Los Angeles City will involve in a same situation. If, Silver Lake area have increase in their population that will effect in all businesses around Silver Lake. Maybe, the time to turn Silver Lake area to be boomtowns like Melrose or South Pasadena where shops congregate around one long walking street. The City of Los Angeles has prepares program advance for businesses that called Business Improvement District (BID). This program has been establishing in some Los Angeles areas such as Hollywood Blvd., and Los Feliz Blvd and the program has been used and success in their improvement on an others county such as Old town Pasadena, and Third Street Promenade at Santa Monica. This program is an organizing and financing mechanism based on state and local law which permits property owners and merchants to band together to use the City tax collection powers to assess themselves. BID also charge membership fee by automatically levy on all businesses based on their size and number of employees. The minimum annual fee is $200 until $500. During my research, I was found almost the merchants that run businesses in silver Lake area, they did not want to involve with BID. These are some of merchant's interview with BID program. The owner of antiques store, Sole Lana on Rowena Ave. said, "He did not like the way of BID handle with member ship fee. His company paid enough taxes as it is, and he though the membership should be voluntary." The manager of Coffee Table said," The reasons that brought him to opened his business in Silver Lake area was the low rate of rents. If, compares to Melrose place, the rats was less than half price what the merchants paid on Melrose." The manager of Back Door Bakery & Caf on Silver Lake Blvd said," He believed BID can turn this area to be a boomtown but he did not want its. As we known, this area was a small town then the lack of parting has become number 1 problem if the BID bring more and more people in this area." Summary After, I finished my research project. I am so glad that purpose of the residents and the merchants were in the same idea. That was they all liked to keep this area to be quite town. They did not want to turn this area to be boomtown even, the merchants have a chance to be. For example, they agree with Businesses Improvement district (BLD). Then will have too much chance to turn this town to be one of a boomtown in a City of Los Angeles. All the merchants know when they opened the businesses in the small community, they know that their goal is not to become a bigger company. They just want to earn the economic profit to cover their costs and they can keep their businesses run in the long term. In currently, Silver Lake area has so many kinds of businesses opened around this area such as restaurants, pet shops, supermarkets and all kinds of neighbored serving stores. The one of reasons that all businesses have been success in their businesses because the merchants provided what the resident's needs in this area and the resident tried to support in their local businesses. They tried to encourage each other. An others two things that supported in the local businesses were the City of Los Angeles have incentive in the local businesses by created a Special State Revitalization Zone and Street Affair. The LARZ program purposes to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and rebuild businesses. For the Street Affair, where all of our difference cultures could blend and educate to creating a sense of community. The fair also tried to support in local businesses by promotion and tried to bring more and more people come in this area during The Street Affair. Silver Lake is the worth beautiful town if compare area the silver Lake is so small but, it has complete with everything that people's need. It has a beautiful lake in the middle of this area. I believed, the lake was the most one of the reasons that people like to keep this area to be quite and peaceful. It controlling the mood of people at least that was appeal to me. People like to keep this town to be a quite town. A town where people live, work, shop, and play together. Reference: The guide tour in a City of Los Angeles The Buzz weekly entertainment magazine on January30,1998 Analysts Southern California Assn. of Governments. Http://www.Los Angeles Revitalization Zone Http://www. Businesses Improvement District. Http://www.Silver Lake 2000 Http://www. Street Affair Silver Lake Community. Http://www.Ca.Trade and commerce agency Http://www.Ci.la.ca.us/dept/council Http://.www.calmis.cahw net.gov Table of contents Preface 1 Social Organization 3 Location Transportation Social Classes Community service The Businesses survey in the Silver Lake Area 7 Special State Revitalization Zone 9 The businesses Survey by The Buzz magazine 10 Street Affair 12 Under ground of local businesses 15 The results of restriction businesses booming 17 Area Lake Transportation What should be happen in the future 18 Businesses Improvement District Summary 21 Reference 23