Swarming with western toads, the residential streets of Elysian Valley earned it the nickname Frogtown. Elysian Valley is a neighborhood nestled between the Golden State Freeway and the Los Angeles River. It is often called an isolated urban community. However people from all over flock to this river-adjacent area.
Architect Tracy Stone lived here for 20 years. She said they used to feel like a remote outpost. People had to deliberately come here. But then outward-facing places like Wax Paper opened in 2016. Stone was amazed and delighted that it was possible.
On a recent Saturday morning, a long line of bicyclists waited patiently for coffee. They were on the Elysian Valley Bicycle and Pedestrian Path. This 7-mile stretch runs along the L.A. River. It serves as a sidewalk for the neighborhood. A few blocks away in an old machine shop, the line was equally long. This was at Justine Hernandez’s vegan bakery.
Hernandez opened Justine’s Wine Bar behind her bakery in August. She said it is a creative hub and the neighbors are lovely. Sometimes it feels like Sesame Street. Later that day, more than 35 vendors set up for the monthly Frogtown Flea Crawl. The event highlights small local brands.
Analise Anderson co-organized the flea crawl with James Andrews. She said there’s nowhere else you can find a river, trees and so much beauty. People feel a great sense of community at the market. Elysian Valley was once known for its small factories. These factories provided working-class jobs for Latino and Filipino immigrants. But factories closed and artists moved in. They were attracted by the affordable rent.
In 2015, the L.A. River Revitalization Corp. announced a new master plan. The neighborhood changed further. Rents soared and developers added luxury lofts. Artists and immigrant families moved out. Longtime resident Daniel Paredes shared how his family was displaced four times. It happened when their rent increased. He also spoke about the challenges of the green gentrification of the river. Sometimes it feels like things that are green don’t take into account the concerns of people of color.
Despite the neighborhood’s growing pains, Stone has hope for its future. She can walk into Spoke at any time and see a neighbor. She also has a choice of amazing restaurants within a few blocks. It makes living here rich and wonderful. Many businesses came here deliberately. They want to be part of the community. A wealth of nonprofits operate in this neighborhood. They do great work and want to be good neighbors.
That sense of connection makes Elysian Valley so welcoming. You can sip a custom flight at Frogtown Brewery. You can refill your bike tires for free at Spoke. You can peruse pop-up art exhibits at the Frogtown Artwalk. It’s a feeling that will stay with you long after you leave Elysian Valley.
Elysian Valley is a three-mile long pocket of land. It is sandwiched between the Los Angeles River and the Golden State Freeway. The freeway isolates the neighborhood. You can only enter at Fletcher Drive or Riverside Drive. Elysian Valley’s distinct character has been shaped by its geographic isolation.