The City of Los Angeles in California has different districts and neighborhoods. It consists of Downtown Los Angeles, Harbor Area, Greater Hollywood, Mid-Wilshire, Rampart, Silver Lake and Elysian Park, Eastern Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, South Los Angeles and West Los Angeles. West Los Angeles is divided into two areas; the South of Santa Monica Freeway and the North of Santa Monica Freeway, where Bel-Air can be found.

Bel-Air, known for its gated estates and heavy foliages, is a residential neighborhood located in Western Los Angeles California, USA

History
Alphonzo Edward Bell Sr. (September 29, 1875-December 27, 1947), a successful farmer who was a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, founded Bel-Air. He came from a family with social and financial affiliations in the area. By 1895, Bell graduated from Occidental College. His father, James George Bell who founded Bell Station Ranch, influenced him to enter oil industry through his farmland in Santa Fe Springs. By early 1920’s, Bell Petroleum Company was established. He purchased a large ranch having his main house on top of it which is now referred to as the Bel-Air Road. He became a real estate developer through the initial profits from his oil company. He developed communities in West Los Angeles which include Pacific Palisades, Westwood and Beverly Hills.

Alphonzo Bell was impressed by the natural habitat of the land. His appreciation pushed him to develop the ranch into a community. Bell then founded Bel-Air Estates by 1923, a splendid area with utilities, new roads and abundant foliage. He made it an elite and secure neighborhood. One of the large suites of Hotel Bel-Air was Alphonzo’s sales and development office in Stone Canyon.

The following shows the address of Hotel Bel-Air:
701 Stone Canyon Rd.
Los Angeles, California 90077

By 1924, Bell also developed the land with Bel-Air Country Club which displays the natural beauty of the area. It has an 18-hole golf course and tennis courts. The Spanish-style clubhouse remains popular nowadays. Bell-Air Beach Club was also developed which can be seen in Santa Monica.

As part of the area’s leisure spots, Bell built an equestrian track near his office. He decided to construct tunnels under the road to provide a peaceable atmosphere for the riders and horses, away from the automobile traffic. As Bel-Air continues to develop by 1931, Bel-Air Garden Club was launched by Mrs. Bell to maintain the natural beauty as well as the orderliness of the garden in Bel-Air’s community. The club set high standards for landscaping which also include providing a clean and green community. (By 1993, the Bel-Air Association created “Keep Bel-Air Beautiful”, a program which was funded by voluntary contributors that was created to make improvements on public areas such as planting of flowers and trees, improvements of guardrails, further landscaping and cleaning the area). It was by 1937 when the westward expansion of Bel-Air occurred. It was extended to Sepulveda Boulevard. It was also Mrs. Bell who chose Italian names for the streets of Bel-Air.

People living in Bel-Air composed of different races. There are 86.24% White, 6.84% Asian, 1.93% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.30% from other races and 3.59% from two or more races. The total population is 7,928. This was according to the census of 2000.

Homes in Bel-Air usually measures 6 feet from the street and generally out of sight behind safety gates. It is a community with peaceful ambiance and wide sceneries. The Belair Country Club and the rest of Los Angeles can directly be seen from the entrances of the country club and main entrance of Bel-Air. The Los Angeles basin as well as Catalina Island can be viewed from the houses along Stradella Road. On the other hand, houses in lower Bel-Air have the residences near Sunset Boulevard.

Hotel Bel-Air offers great accommodations for visitors. Its broad gardens and pond provide relaxation and peaceful environment. It was a great place for wedding and other special occasions. Bel-Air was also a perfect option for filming movies and television events.

By the week of November 6, 1961, a devastating brush area conflagration took place in the City of Los Angeles. The speed of the flames reached the south and westward areas of the city. Six thousand and ninety (6,090) acres of watershed had been used before the fire was finally controlled. The fire also burned 484 residences and 21 buildings.

Bel-Air provides comprehensive educational needs through different schools such as Marymount High School, Community Magnet School and John Thomas Dye School.

Schools
The following shows the addresses of the said schools:
Marymount High School
10643 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90077

Community Magnet School
11301 Bellaggio Road
Los Angeles, California

John Thomas Dye School
11414 Chalon Road
Los Angeles, California 90049

The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Japanese Garden is located about a mile away from the UCLA campus in Bel-Air. Most of the modern structures found in the UCLA Japanese Garden were transported from Japan. The exact location of UCLA Japanese Garden is 10619 Bellagio Road Los Angeles, CA 90077.

Fire Stations in Bel-Air include Fire Station 37 on Sepulveda Boulevard which serves the western portions of Bel-Air. Fire Station 71 provides protection of homes in Bell Air, which is located at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Beverly Glen Drive. Fire Station 19 on Sunset Boulevard in Brentwood also responds to calls in Bel-Air area. They serve over 3,000 homes in Bel-Air, Hombly-Westwood, Benedict Canyon and Beverly Gen areas.

Bel-Air’s attractions include several museums such as Armand Hammer Museum of Art which can be found in 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Fowler Museum of Cultural History in University of California and J. Paul Getty Museum located in 1200 Getty Center Drive.

Bel-Air is indeed a great place to live. The community brings you close to nature. A peaceful paradise where one can feel there’s no place like home. It was one of Alphonzo Bell’s visions for Bel Aire and the residents continue what he had started -- a community of nature and a favorite hideaway of stars.

DR. JOHN CHAVES
5312 Comercio Lane, Suite A
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Phone 818-999-2707
Fax 818-703-1998
appointment@cosmeticdentalservices.com