HISTORY OF BURBANK

A Dentist from New Hampshire, Dr. David Burbank, founded what is known today as the City of Burbank. He purchased  the real estate which encompasses the City as part of a partition transaction of several large ranches. Dr. Burbank raised some sheep,  planted some orange trees and then subsequently sold the land in the late 1880s to a group of speculators who divided the real estate into a commercial district and then sub-divided it into farms and residential home parcels which they put on the sales block a few years later.

Lockheed purchased the Union Air Terminal which is now the Bob Hope Airport in the 1940s, for testing Lockheed built aircraft.  When WWII broke out, Lockheed was pumping out huge numbers of war planes, so there were a lot of new jobs and a lot of new people moving into the area.  When the war ended, the boom did not come to a stop as the real estate boom just continued the growth.

The majority of the homes in Burbank were originally built in the 1940s and 1950s.  The architecture was solid, but the floor plans were small.  Many of these homes are being remodeled and expanded to suit the tastes of today“s home buyers.

Burbank became the Valley“s first independent city when voters approved incorporation in 1911.  At that time, the population was 500.  Today, Burbank“s population is over 100,000.   Burbank has its own police department, fire department and utility company.

In the 1920s the movie industry started becoming big business in Burbank.  By mid 1950s, one-fifth of all feature films made in the US came out of Burbank.  As a result of this, the studios and related industries comprise a large portion of Burbank“s industry.  Burbank is known as the Media Capital of the World and is home to Disney, ABC, NBC, Warner Brothers Studios, Warner Music and Nickelodeon.

The Rancho

So, not only is Burbank a central hub in the city of Los Angeles, there is an additional perk, The Burbank Equestrian District, known to locals as the "Burbank Rancho".  This area is home to many parks, tree lined streets and the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.  The interesting thing about this area is that you can keep horses, Pygmy goats and chickens in your backyard (but there is a crowing restriction on the roosters). ALSO this area is adjacent to Griffith Park which offers miles of riding trails. The Pickwick fun center is located in the Rancho area and has banquet facilities for weddings and special events,  bowling and even an ice skating rink. 

                 
rancho monuments                      hotel amarano      orchard street

Accomodations

Now, you ask yourself, with all of the equestrians, celebrities and entertainment folk, where will they stay while visiting and where are the higher end restaurants in which they will dine. The Amarano is Burbank's luxury hotel.  It is a 99-room European flair boutique hotel where the bellmen know your name and the service is top notch.

To dine, we have French 75, which has a great jazzy atmosphere, the famous Arnie Morton“s Steakhouse, and soon to be McCormick and Schmicks.  Also in Burbank is Bob“s Big Boy, which is listed as a California Point of Historic Interest.

Burbank/Toluca Lake

People often mistake a certain part of Burbank for Toluca Lake, which it borders.  This section which we call Burbank/Toluca Lake, is usually listed for sale as being in Toluca Lake with Burbank services. One of the most exclusive addresses in Burbank is South Valley Street, an enclave of approximately 20 homes.

Two additional landmarks in the Burbank/Toluca area are Priscilla“s coffee house, a favorite gathering place of celebrities and industry related clientele, and directly behind Priscilla“s is the other landmark, the Rizzotti's private office.

    
priscilla's coffee                       bob's big boy     arnie morton's

MAGNOLIA PARK

What to do on a typical weekend afternoon in Burbank?  Just steps away from Burbank homes located in the area called Magnolia Park, many people find pleasure in a relaxing stroll down its Boulevard.  The Magnolia Park area features amenities to meet all of your living needs.

You can tell when you've entered this area from the west, when the street signs change in color from blue to green.  Both sides of the street are lined with decorative banners that signify the unique area that you have crossed into. The banners give the Boulevard that small town feel and show the respect and honor Burbank people have towards all of the independently owned shops.

One might stop for a bite to eat at the corner of Hollywood Way and Magnolia, where you“ll fine a very well known Cuban bakery, called Porto“s, which is family owned and operated. This bakery is always packed with people purchasing delicious creations, anything from Cuban sandwiches and Tiramisu, to their authentic potato balls.

A small distance down the street people are drawn to The Victorian Rose, which provides fine European antiques to Burbank and all of Southern California.  Their website is Victorianrose.com if you would like to obtain more information. Best of Times is another of the many antique stores found on the Boulevard. Many of the antique stores have resided in Burbank for years, yet more spring up all the time.

        
 victorian rose                           magnolia park  handy market

Keep on walking and you“ll hit It“s a Wrap where you can get a taste of Hollywood. Specializing in production wardrobe sales, It“s a Wrap caters to the general public as people may purchase items used in a wide variety of movies, or a hit TV show. Many items are tagged with well-known actors“ names, adding a unique dimension to the shopping experience. For more information, and updated news on their current events, their website is: www.itsawraphollywood.com.

All of Burbank“s fitness fanatics take advantage of the Chandler Bike Path, which is only one block over from the Boulevard and is also located in the Magnolia Park area. Years ago a shrewd business man, Dr. David Burbank foresaw the worth of rail transport. He sold Southern Pacific Railroad a right-of-way through Burbank“s property for the price of only one dollar. This area was utilized for transport for many years, until it was recently transformed into the Chandler Bike Path which people now use to walk, run and bike!

Also for those on the healthier side, Full Of Life is just a few blocks further. This store specializes in food and vitamins for the health conscious. There is also a restaurant located in the store accommodated with a grandiose view of all of the Boulevard“s liveliness.

On Saturday“s, there is always a crowed gathered across the street in front of Handy Market for their famous tri-tip sandwiches and ribs that are BBQ“d right in front of the store!  This boutique market has been family owned and operated for the last 35 years and provides exceptional service to the community. As people fill their shopping carts with fresh meats and vegetables, they always run into a familiar face. And best of all, at Handy Market,  the customer is always right!

If it“s raining outside and you still wish to tour the Boulevard on foot, you can always take cover in one of these friendly transit shelters scattered throughout Burbank.

To make the outing complete many people enjoy visiting the recently built state of the art, Buena Vista Library, located on the corner of Buena Vista and Verdugo. Double the size of its original location, the library also has its own park, which is enjoyed by the public every day. With numerous activities and events for children, many families are drawn to its excitement.

This enchanting area captivates the entire city during Christmas time, as the street glimmers with festive lights and local shops have extended hours and welcome everyone in for shopping and a cup of hot cider. Magnolia Park has so much to offer, and is only one of the reasons that more people move into Burbank everyday.

     
buena vista library             magnolia blvd.                   porto's bakery


BURBANK HILLS

Located North of the 5 freeway is the area denoted as the Burbank Hillside, even though most of it is gently up sloping and not what is conjured up when you hear the word. 
 
High up the hill is an exclusive development of million plus dollar homes called the Halston and Highridge Estates which range in price from the $1.5 million dollar range to the $3million dollar range with interior square footage from 3000 to 6000.  Many of the homes feature phenomenal views of the San Fernando Valley and downtown Los Angeles. Burbank also has an area of nature calming canyon living located at the end of a windy street called Country Club Drive. 

  
halston/highridge homes                     halston/highridge views          

There are many tree-lined streets, an open air park system, a public golf course, De Bell, where Burbank residents can play a round of golf for under $20, and Burbank“s Starlight Bowl and Amphitheatre, which is similar to the Hollywood Bowl-where outdoor musical performances are reviewed under the stars.
 
One of Burbank“s biggest assets is its school system.  The majority of the public schools have received the California distinguished schools award.  The high schools recently underwent multi-million dollar renovations and additions and the tracks at the schools are open for public use.  Burbank“s residents are thrilled each year when the high school performing arts programs delight them with Broadway worthy performances.

       
john burroughs high school        golf course        the castaway

The Castaway“s restaurant is located at an acute focal point in Burbank and hosts thousands of banquet events each year.  It has a deck where you can enjoy spending time with friends around a fire pit on cool California nights.
 
Providence Saint Joseph“s Medical Center is a hospital where some of the best physicians in the world are in residence.  Over the years, the Disney family and Bob Hope“s estate have given substantial gifts which has made it one of the best in the nation.
 
With the contributions that the Hope family have made to the community over the years, it is no wonder that the airport located within the borders of the City of Burbank was recently renamed to honor Mr. Hope.  The Bob Hope Airport offers an easy in and out experience for air travel without having to fight the crowds and traffic of LAX.
 
Burbank is bordered by Glendale on its southern side, Sun Valley on its north, and the City of Los Angeles communities of North Hollywood and Toluca Lake on its west.

DOWNTOWN BURBANK

Downtown Burbank is  the new and trendy Los Angeles hot spot offering entertainment, fine dining, retail and night life -  minus the Westside traffic. Downtown Burbank is located just South of the San Gabriel mountains and North of the Bob Hope Airport with easy access from and to the I-5.

    
burbank town center      amc theaters                    burbank empire center

Get all your shopping accomplished in one stop.  From European made home furniture at Ikea to the latest in fashion at Urban Outfitters, downtown Burbank has it all.  It is very similar to 3rd Street Promenade, the Grove and Melrose. The Burbank Town Center Mall is home to Macy“s, Bed Bath & Beyond, Sport Chalet and a variety of smaller retail stores.

Just beyond this shopping space is Burbank“s Empire Center.  It is home to the Great Indoors, Best Buy, Marshall“s, Linens and Things, Target, Aaron Brother“s, and a plethora of other specialty shops and restaurants.

     
bob hope airport              woodbury university        burbank police department

Once your shopping escapade has come to an end, choose between the popular California Pizza Kitchen, the serene setting of Market City Café or a variety of other appetizing restaurants Downtown Burbank has to offer.

Another attribute that makes Burbank special is its proximity to Woodbury University. Woodbury has earned renown as one of the top architectural schools in the nation as well as producing award winning graphic designers.

           
cpk                                 condos on san fernando rd      ikea