Carthay Square, South Carthay and Carthay Circle were all once a unified neighborhood called Carthay Center, developed in the 1920's and 1930's by J. Harvey McCarthy. Mr. McCarthy had a vision for his development--a self-contained oasis complete with grade school, church, theater, hotel and shopping district. The Carthay Circle Theater (torn down in 1969)was one of the most famous "picture palaces" of the Golden Age of cinema hosting premiers of "Gone With the Wind" in 1937 and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" in 1939. Now three distinct neighborhoods, they are linked by their uncommonly beautiful European revival architecture and friendly, small-town feel. Many celebrities resided in these neighborhoods in the 30's and 40's for good reason. Unless you know they are there, you might miss these gorgeous neighborhoods while driving through town--exactly what makes them such a treasure. Block parties and children's carnivals abound throughout the year as this is an area where people actually know their neighbors!

CARTHAY SQUARE
Nestled between Olympic Boulevard to the North, Crescent Heights Boulevard to the west, Fairfax Avenue to the east and Pico Boulevard to the south, Carthay Square is home to a mix of one-story Art Deco Spanish, Country English and French styled single-family homes boasting exquisite details and adorning Sycamore-lined streets. Mr. McCarthy also included lavish two-story duplexes throughout, but they reside predominately on Hayworth Avenue and Hi Point Street. He made sure that each duplex resembled a single family home, so the entire neighborhood has beautiful balance and aesthetic appeal. The best thing about living in Carthay Square is the diversity and vivacity of its residents. Many young couples with children and singles have moved into this neighborhood in the past several years, blending with residents who have lived there for 50 years, creating a wonderful meshing of old and new generations. Pride of ownership is prevalent in this area--many residents have rennovated their homes and maintain them with love.

SOUTH CARTHAY
Bordered by La Cienega Boulevard to the west, Crescent Heights Boulevard to the east, Pico Boulevard to the south and Olympic Boulevard to the north, you will find the crown jewel of the three Carthay neighborhoods. Designed mostly by Spiros Ponti and Steinkamp, South Carthay was designated a Historical Preservation Overlay Zone (or HPOZ) in the early 1980's which means that no changes can be made to the neighborhood or homes that do not adhere to a specific set of rules managed by a board of consultants. More architecturally uniform than the other two Carthays, Spanish Colonial Revival 3 bedroom, 1.75 bath single-family homes dominate this area, although they are punctuated by the same type of duplexes located on corners and running along Cresecent Heights Blvd. that you will find in Carthay Square. The 1200 block of Alfred also hosts a bevy of elegant multi-unit apartment buildings. What stands out most about this neighborhood is the incredible architecture and unparalleled details both within and outside the spacious homes. Gracious hacienda style loggias, intricate wrought iron gates, archways, stained glass windows and dome-shaped stained glass skylights, beautifully colorful Art Deco tiled bathrooms, huge picture windows, unusual crown mouldings and Deco details make these homes a top pick with buyers looking to invest in a little piece of history, and with an appreciation for a by-gone era. Beautifully maintained landscaping, wide friendly streets lined with towering palm trees and a strong neighborhood association are the icing on the cake for this very special area of Los Angeles.

CARTHAY CIRCLE
A truly unique collection of homes comprised of Spanish Colonial, Traditional, Cape Cod, English Tudor and French architecture makes up this hidden gem in the city known as Carthay Circle. Carthay Circle is located in the area south of Wilshire Boulevard, north of Olympic Boulevard, east of La Cienega Boulevard and west of Fairfax Avenue. One of the first neighborhoods to be constructed with below-ground utilities, when looking down the lovely tree-lined streets of the Circle, nothing but beauty greets the eye. Carthay Circle features both single-family homes on average of 2000 square feet as well as one story duplexes strictly designed to resemble single-family homes. Each home is distinct in its style and appearance and the whole neighborhood is laced with wonderful walk streets such as Santa Ynez Way and San Gabriel Way. Designed to link the neighors by foot and to keep the main boulevards on the outskirts of the area, the walkstreets are hidden reminders of a quieter, more leisurely time. The Carthay Center Theater with its beautiful multi-colored dome and circular auditorium inspired the name change from Carthay Center to Carthay Circle though the development is shaped nothing like a circle. Also an HPOZ as of 1998, Carthay Circle has a very active neighborhood association as well with members comprised of home owners and renters alike.