(sub) Del Rey is a neighborhood in search of an identity
By Melody Hanatani
Daily Press Staff Writer
DEL REY — Don’t call us the Marina, or even Playa.
That’s the message of more than 40,000 residents of this relatively unknown neighborhood, a small West Los Angeles community that for decades has been trying to carve its identity out of the mold known as Marina del Rey and Culver City adjacent.
Their wishes came true last month when LA City Councilman Bill Rosendahl unveiled the new “Del Rey” community designation signs, located at six different spots within the neighborhood.
The sign, though insignificant in terms of the chunk it took out of the Los Angeles city budget, holds a strong significance to the people that have fought for more attention from their elected officials for generations, seeing the signs as a badge of honor.
“Del Rey is a community that doesn’t have the most distinct identity,” said Chris Nevil, the president of the Del Rey Homeowners and Neighbors Association. “Every time I say I live in Del Rey, people (think) Marina del Rey or Playa del Rey.”
The community is bounded by Lincoln Boulevard to the west, Sawtelle Boulevard to the east, Washington Boulevard to the north and Jefferson Boulevard to the south.
To the homeowners association, the distinction allows the community to have their voices heard louder with their city government, and also gives them a better edge in marketing the homes in the neighborhood, selling them as properties in “Del Rey” rather than “Marina del Rey” adjacent.
“We’re really trying to create our own real estate identity too,” Nevil said. “When you know (someone) bought a house in Del Rey, you know it’s a good start.”
The community is often mistaken for Marina del Rey, Mar Vista and even Venice because of its proximity to all three better known communities. Splashes of the three communities can be seen in Del Rey — in a small working-class enclave in the heart of the Del Rey neighborhood is the Marina del Rey Middle School and its next-door neighbor, the Venice Japanese Community Center. A stone’s throw away is the Mar Vista Gardens, a residential community.
‘A gold nugget’
At 104 years old, the community actually predates both Marina del Rey and Playa del Rey. Part of the reason why the community is obscured behind the shadow of some of the more well-known West LA districts is because it covers three different zip codes — one shared with Culver City and two with Marina del Rey, according to Mark Redick, the president of the neighborhood council.
Redick believes the new community designation signs will help enhance civic pride.
“In a sense, when you have civic pride, then people have a sense of civic ownership,” Redick said.
Approximately 40 percent of the Del Rey population is Hispanic while 33 percent is Caucasian. About 14 percent is Asian, the majority of which are Japanese-American.
In fact, the Japanese-American community is what makes Del Rey unique among its West LA neighbors.
The community is mainly residential with splashes of businesses here and there.
Rosendahl, who lives in Mar Vista, didn’t discover the Del Rey neighborhood until a few years ago when he met a member of the neighborhood council.
When Rosendahl was elected into office, he hired a field deputy to represent the Del Rey neighborhood, acting as a liaison for the neighborhood council. Along with the installation of the signs, Rosendahl said he is looking into more projects for Del Rey, including adding more green space developed in the neighborhood.
“It’s really a gold nugget,” he said. “It’s just a fantastic hidden jewel on the Westside.”
Jump hedline: Community gets recognition it wants
Suggested pullquote: “Del Rey is a community that doesn’t have the most distinct identity.”
Chris Nevil
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 6, 2007. Read the original PDF.