The Bungalow Courts Of Hollywood, California

In the first three decades of the twentieth century, the population of Hollywood grew from 700 to over 150,000. During this period of rapid urbanization, the need for affordable housing was met in part by the construction of hundreds of bungalow courts. These groupings of one- and two-story units in a range of historical styles clustered around landscaped common space married the ideals of single-family living – privacy, outdoor space - with the benefits multi-family living – affordability, community. However, since the 1950s over 30% of bungalow courts have been demolished and replaced with parking lots, higher density residential and commercial uses, and this trend will continue. While the general form and evolution of bungalow courts has been well researched, the preservation climate surrounding these resources has not. Existing literature affirms the heritage values associated with bungalow courts, but these values have to date been translated into preservation efforts in only limited ways. What proportion of bungalow courts are local landmarks or contained within a historic district? How are bungalow courts assessed for eligibility for historic protection? The majority of Hollywood is zoned for multi-family residential and commercial, and the allowable floor area ratio is often 3:1 or higher, and bungalow courts are generally one to two stories. If development is imminent, what are tools that can be used to proactively plan for the preservation of bungalow courts? This project explores these questions through a comprehensive GIS survey of past and present bungalow courts in Hollywood, and an analysis of the existing development and regulatory context, recent preservation efforts and potential preservation tools.