Brentwood

Brentwood took shape in the early twentieth century on land next to the Old Soldiers’ Home at Sawtelle, and the Brentwood Park and Brentwood Heights subdivisions of the 1920s set the pattern of big lots and curving streets that still defines it. The Brentwood Country Club, the Riviera Country Club on the Palisades side and the Getty Center above the 405 are its landmarks.

The neighborhood splits at Sunset Boulevard. South of Sunset are the flats, including Brentwood Park and the streets around the Country Mart at 26th Street and San Vicente; north of Sunset are the canyons, with Mandeville Canyon, Kenter Canyon and the Crestwood Hills mid-century enclave running into the mountains. The Wilshire and Barrington corridors along the southern edge hold most of the condos.

Brentwood Park, on the flats between Sunset and San Vicente, has the largest lots and the highest prices on the Westside outside the Platinum Triangle, with estates on half-acre and larger parcels. The surrounding flats carry traditional and Spanish homes on generous lots, many rebuilt in recent decades.

North of Sunset, Mandeville Canyon and Kenter Canyon have ranch, mid-century and contemporary homes on hillside and canyon lots, some in gated sections, and Crestwood Hills has protected post-war modern architecture. Condos and townhomes line Wilshire, San Vicente, Barrington and Bundy on the south side, where the neighborhood meets West Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Unified School District serves the neighborhood, with Kenter Canyon and Brentwood Science elementary schools inside Brentwood and Paul Revere Middle School and University High School Charter nearby. The area also has a large number of private schools. Boundaries and charter enrollment have their own rules, so check a specific address with the district.

The 405 runs along the east edge with exits at Sunset, Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevard, and Sunset and San Vicente carry traffic west to the Palisades and Santa Monica. Traffic on the 405 through the Sepulveda Pass and on Sunset is heavy at peak hours. The Brentwood Country Mart and San Vicente Boulevard give the neighborhood a walkable village center, and the Santa Monica Mountains trails start at the top of the canyons.