The town of Garvanza was originally part of the
Rancho San Rafael, owned by
Jose Maria Verdugo. Its name comes from the fields of
garbanzo beans that once flourished in the area.[1]Andrew Glassell and
Alfred Beck Chapman bought the land in 1869. Glassell and Chapman sold the land to Ralph and Edward Rogers, real estate developers and brothers. In 1886 the Rogers brothers subdivided the land and began to sell lots in what they called the "Town of Garvanza".[2]: 7 The town was annexed by the city of
Los Angeles in 1899.[3]
Two bridges connect Los Angeles and South Pasadena through Garvanza. One, the
Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad railroad bridge spanning the
Arroyo Seco, was first built at grade in wood in 1885,[2]: 16 and has been rebuilt twice at the current location since then, first in wood in 1889 and then in steel in 1896. The current steel bridege, which is listed as Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument No. 339, was modified for dual tracks a century later for use in the current light rail system. The York Boulevard bridge over the
Arroyo Seco Parkway was built to replace a small wooden toll bridge which was inadequate to support the growing traffic between South Pasadena and Los Angeles. The old toll house still exists on the South Pasadena side.[citation needed]
The
Judson Studios, which created much of the stained glass that graced Craftsman and Mission structures in
Southern California, have been located in Garvanza since 1911.[5]
In 1997, the city of Los Angeles officially redesignated the area "Garvanza."
[2]: 7 Garvanza is incorporated into the City of Los Angeles "Highland Park-Garvanza HPOZ (Historic Preservation Overlay Zone) Preservation Plan" area adopted by the
Los Angeles City Council December 9, 2010.[7]
On July 25, 2019, the Garvanza Improvement Association was awarded a preservation award by the
Los Angeles Conservancy.[8]
Geography
Garvanza is bordered by Figueroa Street on the west,
Pasadena city limits on the north, San Pascual Avenue/110 Freeway on the east and York Boulevard on the south.
Highland Park is west,
South Pasadena and
Hermon are east.[1] Official city signage was installed in 1997.[9][10]
^"A.V. Walberg Residence & Adjoining Properties | Los Angeles Conservancy". Thankfully, the Garvanza Improvement Association helped find a preservation-minded buyer for the properties. Congratulations to the owner, residents, and the entire project team for earning a 2019 Conservancy Preservation Award!
^Fischer, Charles (2010).
Garvanza. Arcadia Publishing. p. 109.
ISBN9780738581200. Retrieved 1 December 2022. ...The City of Los Angeles put up official community signs at Garvanza's borders. This was accomplished in 1997.