Belmont Heights Neighborhood of Long Beach California Resource Guide

BELMONT HEIGHTS REAL ESTATE - LONG BEACH REAL ESTATE

Belmont Heights - Long Beach California

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Belmont Heights is a lovely, ecclectic mix of early century homes, low rise condos, smaller apartment buildings (including some fabulous spanish duplexes), restaurants, coffee shops, funky stores, galleries and a nice mix of neighborhood friendly small business. Just blocks from the bluffs, overlooking the harbor, the beach, and a short walk into Belmont Shore, Belmont Heights is a tree lined Long Beach Community developed in the early 20th Century, and a great place to call home. Many of the neighborhood homes were originally built as summer cottages mostly between 1905 and 1939, later becoming year round residences. More bungalow style homes can be found here than in any other community of Long Beach.

In Belmont Heights you will find a wonderful array of beautifully crafted Long Beach homes in many styles; the Craftsman Bungalow predominating with about 2/3 of the homes in the area. Other home styles found in the Belmont Heights neighborhood are:

• Victorian 1890s - 1910
• Craftsman Bungalow 1905 - 1922
• Mission Revival 1915 - 1925
• Spanish Colonial Revival 1925 - 1939
• Tudor Revival 1920s
• Neo-Traditional 1930 - 1940s
• Streamline Moderne 1930s
• Mediterranean

Belmont Heights boundaries are Ocean Boulevard (and Livingston Drive) to the south, Redondo Avenue on the west, 7th Street to the North, and Cherry Avenue to the east.

Belmont Heights Historic District boundaries are approximately Newport Avenue on the West; 7th Street on the North; Roswell Avenue on the East; and 4th Street on the South. Map of the Belmont Heights Historic District

If you are considering relocating to Long Beach, Belmont Heights would be a great consideration. Affordable and beach close, convenient to all area ammenities and freeway close this would be a smart choice. We are about 20 minutes south of Los Angeles Airport - LAX, about 20 minutes North of John Wayne Airport in Irvine and even have our own airport. Long Beach Airport is a major hub for Jet Blue Airlines (my personal favorite) and is extremely easy to fly in and out of. The City of Long Beach has great employment opportunities; the Port of Long Beach being the largest. We have a little something for just about everybody.

If you are thinking about relocating to Long Beach feel free to contact me for further information.

Other Long Beach Resources

• Relocating to Long Beach-Resource Guide
• Belmont Heights-Long Beach Ca Market Report-2007
• Belmont Heights Condo-For Sale-Location!-Location!-Location!
• Remodeling Your Long Beach Home?
• Belmont Pier - Long Beach California
• History of Long Beach California
• THE MILLS ACT - Historic Homes Tax Incentives

Great Local Restaurants

• Christys Restaurant 3937 East Broadway

• Lashers Restaurant 3441 East Broadway

• Cafe Piccolo 3222 East Broadway

• Belmont Brewing Company 25 39th Place

• La Palapa Del Mar 4020 East Olympic Plaza

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Posted on 2008-01-26 @ 12.29:32 pm by Laurie.Manny

Long Beach City Guide

LONG BEACH REAL ESTATE

Long Beach City Guide

Helpful Links to Just About Everything

Billing & Payment Services
View and pay Utility Bills and Parking Citations, including additional information on Resident Payments.

Billing & Payment Services
View and pay Utility Bills and Parking Citations, including additional information on Resident Payments.

Posted on 2008-01-24 @ 9.06:26 pm by Mary McKnight

History of Long Beach California

Long Beach California History

From the People of the Earth to the City of Long Beach

A Native American tribe known as the Tongva (which means 'the people of the earth) were the citys first known residents.  The Tongva disappeared in the 1800s as settlers began pouring into the area.  Manuel Nieto built a rancho on a huge parcel of land awarded him through the Spanish Land Grant in 1784.  Over time, his property was divided many times for business and personal reasons.  Long Beach grew out of two settlements that came from Nietos tract:  Los Cerritos and Los Alamito.

Settling Long Beach

In 1880, Englishman Erwin Willmore created the first township here by subdividing parts of Los Cerritos.  Even after the township failed, settlers were drawn to the areas easy access to the ocean, wide beaches and business opportunity.  By 1888 the City of Long Beach had a name, 59 buildings and a school.  Long Beach incorporated in 1897. 

Do you like historic homes? 

Today, Willmore City has more Craftsman, Prairie, Victorian, Mission and Spanish Colonial Style homes than any other Long Beach historic homes districts.  Named for Mr. Willmore, it was part of the citys original 1881 plan.

Historic Villa Riviera Condominiums

In 1933 Long Beach was hit by a very large earthquake which caused incredible damage to buildings for miles around the city.  During the 30s and 40s the city slowly rebuilt itself and began to attract the motion picture industry. 

Elizabeth Taylor spent her first honeymoon at the Hilton Hotel on Ocean Boulevard, she married Nicky Hilton, son of Conrad Hilton.  The Breakers Hotel Penthouse has since been converted to the magnificent restaurant The Skyroom (my personal favorite).  

Long Beach was known as the motion picture capital of the world until post World War I when Hollywood developed around the glitz of the era.  With its perfect Southern California climate, Long Beach afforded the perfect setting for the industry.  There were eight film houses, two stock companies, roller-coasters and bath houses at the historic Pike, along the shore of Downtown Long Beach.  This was the home of the Balboa Amusement Production Company, the worlds most prolific silent-film studio.  W. C. Fields and other stars lived in beautiful mansions in the Bluff Park neighborhood along Ocean Boulevard and First Street, many of which remain in the families to this day.

In 1967 the Queen Mary (built in 1936) was withdrawn from service to the Cunard line and brought to rest in Long Beach Harbor.  She was to become a floating hotel, open to the public.  She was outfitted with restaurants, shops and tours -  open to the public.  Did you know that the Queen Mary transported troops during World War II and served as Winston Churchills headquarters at sea?  She was painted gray and nicknamed 'The Gray Ghost.  The Queen transported over 800,000 troops and traveled 660,000 miles.  The Queen Mary is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places. 

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Posted on 2008-01-24 @ 4.36:19 am by Mary McKnight

Long Beach Short Sale-A Tale of Betrayal & Greed

Once upon a time there was a nice young couple who wanted a 2 bedroom Downtown Long Beach Condo to call home and to begin a future in.  About 2 years ago this sweet young couple met a nice real estate agent while visiting open houses beyond their financial reach.  

 Knowing little about the Long Beach communities, nothing about real estate and very little about managing their finances; they wisely sought out professional assistance.  They developed a working relationship with that agent, who helped them find the Downtown Long Beach Condo they were dreaming about and live in today.

The agent, not content with this sale, explained to this nice young couple that they could purchase a second condo in Downtown Long Beach, as an investment, and rent it out.  While they would be upside down to the tune of about $1,000 per month, they should not worry about it because they could afford it and in two years she would sell it for them at a huge profit.  Nice agent also assured this young couple that she would find them a tenant and check their credit etc¦ for the 2nd condo.  She didnt. 

Relying on the professional they went ahead with the 2nd condo purchase anticipating a large profit with which they could purchase a nice home with a yard in a couple of years. This nice agent also arranged for financing on both units, both loans were 2 year fixed, both of which are now adjusting massively.  It was a financial plan-of sorts which is now a disaster. 

2 years ago the hot sellers market was winding down, most agents knew what was developing in the Long Beach Real Estate market and were hoping for a mild downturn.  This was not a new agent, she had to know the position she put this couple into.

Nice young couple had a hard time finding a tenant and the $1,000 a month became a bit more.  They eventually found the tenant from hell, who wrecked their rental condo, annoyed the living crap out of all of the neighbors and took over 8 months to evict.  Naturally the tenant did not pay rent for those 8 months and broke the bank.

Nice young couple is watching the market crashing around them while going through the eviction process and are beginning to freak out.  They immediately arranged for a nice large heloc so they could cover the unexpected expenses.  Nice lender must have been feeling very generous, gave them a very large line to draw freely from, and they did - they maxed it out trying to keep their heads above water.  
 

Both units are now short sales.

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Posted on 2008-01-09 @ 10.45:35 am by Laurie.Manny

2008 Tournament of Roses

LONG BEACH REAL ESTATE

2008 Tournament of Roses

Pasadena California

THE HISTORY, THE FLOATS, THE PARADE, THE GAME

THE PASSPORT TO THE PACIFIC-LONG BEACH FLOAT

HISTORY

The Tournament of Roses was founded in 1890 by the Pasadena Valley Hunt Club. Thrilled with the mild weather and blooming flowers they decided to hold a festival to tell the world about their paradise.

Over time the festival expanded to include:

• marching bands
• motorized floats
• ostrich races
• bronco busting
• a camel and an elephant race

The Tournament of Roses Association was formed in 1895 when the festival had become too large for the Valley Hunt Club to handle. The Tournament of Roses Associations executive offices are located at Tournament House, an Italian Renaissance-style mansion once owned by chewing-gum magnate William Wrigley Jr.

After Mrs. Wrigleys death in 1958 the house and surrounding land were donated by the Wrigley family to the City of Pasadena with the stipulation that they be used for the Tournaments Headquarters. Built between 1906 & 1914 this majestic home is located among the grand houses along South Orange Grove Boulevard in Pasadena.

The football game was first added in 1902; Stanford University took on and lost to the University of Michigan 49-0; it was such a bust Roman style chariot races were held instead for the next 14 years. Football didnt return until 1916, the crowds grew and ‘The Rose Bowl’ was constructed to host the games. The first game was held at The Rose Bowl in 1923.

THE FLOATS

Todays motorized floats are elaboratly constructed all year long, feature high-tech computerized animation and are mostly built by professionals. Many of the floats are built by the Phoenix Decorating Company. This years floats can be viewed here.

The City of Long Beach 2008 themed float ‘Passport to the Pacific’, designed by Michelle Lofthouse is #68 of the 91 entries this year.

The float specs: Height: 25ft.; Width: 18 ft.; Length: 53 ft.

The Tournament of Roses website describes the float theme:

The City of Long Beach and its Convention and Visitors Bureau offer a Passport to the Pacific that is equal to any Pacific metropolis.  As a gateway to the entire Pacific Rim, Long Beach offers a celebrated passport for tourism as well as world-wide trade and commerce.

From Jules Verne and Captain Nemo to a Beatles song and movie, submarines have provided a passport to fantastic adventure. Long Beach and its fanciful underwater craft offer parade viewers an adventuresome ‘Passport to the Pacific,’ complete with menacing octopus and colorful piscatory creatures worthy of the citys Aquarium of the Pacific, the 10th anniversary of which the float celebrates. Long Beach, which is a gateway to the Pacific Rim, is also home to the Queen Mary, an annual Sea Festival, and the Long Beach Grand Prix car race which links downtown streets with the citys unsurpassed shoreline.

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Posted on 2007-12-29 @ 5.24:37 am by Laurie.Manny