Is Leimert Park L.A.’s Most Significant Neighborhood?
Is Leimert Park the most significant neighborhood in Los Angeles? Katie Horak thinks it might be. “I don’t think there’s any neighborhood in the city that tells so many different important stories about our history as a city, and that really has the integrity to still tell that story,” she says in this episode of Save As. A USC alum, principal at Architectural Resources Group, and adjunct professor, Katie took her students out of the classroom and into the neighborhood to document Leimert Park’s remarkable architectural and cultural heritage.
We also talk with three of Katie’s students—Zongqi Li, Emily Varley, and Kira Williams—about what they found on their adventure. They unraveled a mystery about how Leimert Park developed, saw how persistent racism affected African American and Japanese American residents, and traced the evolution of schools and churches. You’ll hear why Katie considers Leimert Park so important—and you might even agree.
Last chance for the season! Take our 3-minute survey and enter to win a Save As mug!
From collection of T. Sandmeier.
 |
Kira Williams is a dual Master’s student in Heritage Conservation and Urban Planning at the University of Southern California. She has a background in sociology and interest in community planning and organizing. |
 |
Zongqi Li is originally from Hebei, China. I am a Spring 2022 graduate of USC’s Master of Heritage Conservation program. My Undergraduate major is in Environmental Design. |
|
Emily Varley is a Master of Urban Planning & Master of Heritage Conservation graduate student with a background in Archaeology. Emily is originally from St. Louis, Missouri and enjoys studying place-based heritage and traditional ecological knowledge. |
 |
Katie Horak is a Principal at Architectural Resources Group and manages the firm’s Los Angeles office. Katie teaches graduate-level courses in historic resource documentation at USC’s School of Architecture. She has pursued her interest in postwar built heritage as Founding President of Docomomo’s Southern California chapter and President-Elect of Docomomo US. |
 |
Trudi Sandmeier is the Director of Heritage Conservation Programs at the USC School of Architecture and co-host of the podcast. |
Want to know more about some of the ideas and places mentioned in this episode? Check out:
Arch 554 – Leimert Park Study (recording of May 7 presentation)
Day of the Ancestors – Festival of Masks, in partnership with LA Commons – workshops May-June, celebration Sunday, June 26
Crenshaw Walks around Leimert Park with Dr. Randal Henry – every Saturday, May 14 – June 25, 8:30 am
LA Commons – amazing nonprofit that builds community through art, health, healing, and other programs connecting people to place
Can these Black business owners save the heart of Leimert Park from gentrification? Erika D. Smith, Los Angeles Times, 2/17/22
The Shining Light Foundation brings Black History Mural Project to Leimert Park, Simone Grant, LA Sentinel, 4/21/22
Project Pit brings “The Den” back to Leimert Park, Simone Grant, LA Sentinel, 3/31/22
Sole Folks partners with Black co-op to bring farmers market to Leimert Park, Simone Grant, LA Sentinel, 3/30/22
We Love Leimert — website, Instagram
Leimert Park Village Vendors — Instagram
Leimert Park / LA Vendors – Facebook
Insecure filming locations, mapped, Curbed
KAOS Network: Leimert Park, KCET Departures
How to spend a day in Leimert Park village exploring Black culture, Thrillist, 2/25/22
Edith Northman, Preserve Oakhurst!
Edith Northman, Stripeycity
USC Heritage Conservation Programs
