West Hollywood, a city in Los Angeles County, California, was incorporated on November 29, 1984. The latest residential population estimate was 34,675. The city is well-known for its nightlife, celebrity culture, and diverse atmosphere. The city has large gay, Jewish and eastern European populations. The area is informally referred to as "WeHo".

The general plan describes the city as an urban village, interpreted by city residents as a neighborly, safe environment with a diversity of residents and businesses and streets that are green and walkable. West Hollywood is "urban" in the sense of traffic, nightlife, and general activity level, but the "village" component distinguishes the City from adjacent cities. This city is known as one of the largest gay villages in the United States.

Although just 1.9 square miles in size, West Hollywood is one of the highest profile communities in the Los Angeles area, full of celebrities and nightlife, and due to its central location among the generally wealthy communities west of downtown Los Angeles. Goings-on in the city and surrounding areas are broadcast daily in media around the world, including on TMZ on TV from Sunset Boulevard and Crescent Heights Avenue.

Geography

West Hollywood is bordered on the north by the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, on the east by the Hollywood District of Los Angeles, on the west by the city of Beverly Hills, and on the south by the Fairfax District of Los Angeles.

The unique, irregular border of the city, which is highlighted in the city logo, was largely formed from the unincorporated Los Angeles County area that had not become part of the surrounding cities.

West Hollywood benefits from a relatively dense, compact urban form with small lots, a mix of land uses, and a walkable street grid. Commercial corridors include the nightlife and dining focused Sunset Strip, a largely gay area along Santa Monica Boulevard, and the Avenues of Art & Design along Robertson, Melrose and Beverly near the Pacific Design Center.

Major residential neighborhoods include Norma Triangle, West Hollywood North, West Hollywood West, and West Hollywood East. The city breaks down eleven preferential parking zones which further define residential areas. Major intersecting streets provide amenities within walking distance of adjacent neighborhoods.

Current issues

Affordable housing is a hot topic in the city. The rent-control issue has remained in the foreground since the city was founded in large part to protect tenant rights. West Hollywood also has inclusionary zoning laws governing development. The city established the Affordable Housing Trust Fund in 1986 requiring developers to either provide affordable housing in new projects or pay a fee in in-lieu to the city which it directs towards other affordable housing projects.

In recent years, residential development has resulted in the replacement of existing housing with fewer, much larger and less affordable luxury units. This is counter to the city goal of increasing the housing stock. On June 4, 2007, the city council unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 07-759U, an interim urgency ordinance (IZO) which imposed new temporary development standards in an effort to curtail this trend while developing a long term solution.

Gentrification and the scale and type of building developments in West Hollywood present ongoing issues for the city. Most recently, a proposed Walgreens drug store at Crescent Heights and Santa Monica Blvd. has been among the most contentious projects in recent years. The West Hollywood Gateway project brought big box retailers Target and Best Buy to the eastern border of the city, although in a more urban footprint. The city adopted a historic preservation ordinance in 1989.

With a socially minded population, West Hollywood adopted one of the nation's first mandatory green building ordinance on October 1, 2007. The ordinance ensures that new buildings will be healthier for residents, and use energy and resources more efficiently.

Traffic congestion and public transport are critical issues in the city due to its location between access to areas such as greater Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley to the east and the Los Angeles West Side area, with the Hollywood Hills creating a natural impediment to the north. Santa Monica Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard are critical east-west arteries in the metropolitan area, and Laurel Canyon Boulevard is a popular shortcut through the hills. Nearly 600 employees and 260 buses in the District 7 fleet of the LACMTA are based in a large facility on prime real estate near San Vicente Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard. The development of a "pink line" subway through the city, providing a connection between the Metro Red Line (LACMTA) and a proposed Metro Purple Line (LACMTA) along Wilshire Boulevard is currently under study.

Residents of West Hollywood vote overwhelmingly for the Democratic Party. They also regularly pass ordinances geared toward reducing perceived discrimination and protecting the public health and dignity of all living things. West Hollywood is nationally known as a frontrunner in social justice legislation.

In 1985, West Hollywood was the first city to create a same gender domestic partnership registration for its residents, as well as to offer same gender domestic partner benefits for city employees. West Hollywood's comprehensive Domestic Partnership Ordinance allows those couples that are prohibited from marrying (same-sex), and those that can marry but choose not to (heterosexual), to register their union with the city. These unions are treated on an equal basis with legal marriages in regards to city-level benefits and services. In California as a whole, same-sex couples may enter domestic partnerships which offer them all of the state rights of marriage.

Legislation prohibiting discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation is widely recognized as the toughest in the nation. The city is also one of 92 jurisdictions in the country where it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of gender identity or expression.

City legislation also bans the sale of handguns, prohibits smoking in public places, and restricts the city from doing business directly or indirectly (via vendors) with any country known to violate human rights. Also, the city is one of 19 in California that has banned the use of gas-powered leaf-blowers.

West Hollywood is extremely pet friendly and is home to 1,000 dogs per square mile. The city designed a law that pets are to be called “companions” and their owners “guardians” and was the first city in the country to outlaw the de-clawing of cats.

Landmarks and distinctive places

West Hollywood has a distinctive street design scheme, with postmodern street signs featuring a blue map of the city. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department vehicles that patrol st Hollywood feature the same map of the city, but in the rainbow colors of the gay community.

Because of the large gay population and the large numbers of gay-oriented businesses, West Hollywood became prominently known as a gay village. The section of Santa Monica Boulevard from La Cienega Boulevard to Robertson Boulevard, known as "boys' town," is among the most popular gay neighborhoods in the world, with numerous well-known spots such as the nightclubs Rage and Mickys and newer bars/restaurants such as Eleven and East|West Lounge.

Alta Loma Road is also home to the exclusive hotel "The Sunset" with its famous 45-person Whisky Bar and a recording studio that has been the home to many hits. Alta Loma Road was one of the main locations for the film Perfect. Actor Sal Mineo lived on this street in the 1970s; he was murdered in his carport just around the corner from Alta Loma Road on Holloway Drive.

The western stretch of Melrose Avenue, between Fairfax Avenue and Doheny Drive, is notable for its trendy clothing boutiques, interior design shops, restaurants and antique stores. The west end of Melrose, near the Pacific Design Center, is especially known for its exclusive furniture.

The area around Fountain Avenue, Harper Avenue and Havenhurst Drive contains a high concentration of landmark 1920s Spanish Revival and Art Deco apartment buildings by such noted architects as Leland Bryant. This historic district has been home to many celebrities and at one time the Sunset Tower at 8358 Sunset Boulevard was home to Frank Sinatra, Errol Flynn, the Gabor Sisters, John Wayne and Howard Hughes.

Notable business and attractions in West Hollywood include:

• The famous Sunset Strip
• Hotels such as Chateau Marmont, Andaz West Hollywood, Mondrian and the Standard.
• The Pacific Design Center and La Cienega Design Quarter
• Elegant architecture such as The Schindler House by mid-century architect Rudolf Schindler
• Book Soup and the Bodhi Tree Book Store
• Famous retailers such as Fred Segal, Plush Home, Paul Smith, Marc Jacobs
• Legendary music venues such as House of Blues, Whisky a Go Go, The Troubadour, The Roxy Theatre and Viper Room
• Westlake Recording Studios, where Michael Jackson recorded his 1987 album "Bad".
• Celebrity hangouts such as Formosa Cafe, Whisky Bar, Rainbow Bar and Grill, The Abbey Food & Bar and Villa Nightclub.
• Film, television and music production including Samuel Goldwyn Studios, Smashbox Studios and TMZ on TV
• Numerous parks including Runyon Canyon Park and Plummer Park
• Comedy Store
• Tail o' the Pup
• Barney's Beanery

Events

The West Hollywood Halloween Carneval is an event that takes place annually on October 31. The largest Halloween street party in the United States (spanning over one mile (1.6 km) of Santa Monica Boulevard from La Cienega Boulevard on the East to Doheny and the Beverly Hills border on the West), the 2007 Carneval was reported to have more than 350,000 people in attendance, with some traveling from other countries specifically for the event.

Christopher Street West is a gay pride parade and festival that was first held in June 1970 in Hollywood to commemorate the first anniversary of Stonewall Riots in New York. After incorporation, the event moved to West Hollywood and is typically held the second weekend in June so as not to conflict with the celebrations in New York City and San Francisco, and with Father's Day (because many deputies request that day off and do not want to work overtime on that day).

The Oscars is a major event in the city with a majority of the large Academy Award party venues being located in the city. Many streets are closed and traffic swells on this day each year.

Frontrunners LGBT Pride Run is a 5 km/10 km run/walk held on the Sunday morning of LGBT Pride.

The City of West Hollywood sponsors an animal walk and pet appreciation days throughout the year, which have in the past featured pet psychics and dog activities. During Halloween the week prior to October 31, animals can participate in a costume contest in West Hollywood Park. West Hollywood is in close proximity to Runyon Canyon hiking trail and dog park in Hollywood.

Celebrities

Situated between Beverly Hills to the west, Hollywood to the east, and the Hollywood Hills to the north, West Hollywood is sometimes referred to as the playground of the stars. Quite a few celebrities live in the city and adjacent areas. West Hollywood is thought of as more hip than Hollywood, and more accommodating to nightlife than Beverly Hills. It seems to be the natural place for stars to socialize, work, or simply do their day-to-day shopping and errands. The heart of the action and many celebrities can be seen on the Sunset Strip, especially on its western end. Stars also frequent the northern end of Robertson Boulevard, above Third Street.

There is no better time to see celebrities than during awards season, when they pour into West Hollywood from around the globe for parties. The Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Party has traditionally been held at the Pacific Design Center and is best known of these events and is a multi-million dollar fundraiser for the foundation.

Paparazzi chasing celebrities around the city are a frequent sight, and some consider this a nuisance and threat to public safety. Arrests often result from frequent altercations. The issue is raised regularly and the city participates in meetings with other nearby municipalities such as Beverly Hills and Los Angeles to discuss the problem and possible actions to better control the activity. The epicenter of the Thirty Mile Zone lies just blocks to the south of the city, and is the basis for the name of TMZ on TV, a paparazzi footage based program produced in West Hollywood at Sunset and Crescent Heights Boulevards.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Hollywood,_California