Remembering the 1930s, West Adams Presbyterian Church stood proudly. It stood at the corner of Washington and West Boulevards. Imagine the neighborhood kids walking to the West Adams Presbyterian Church. They walked every Sunday. It was a safe and friendly neighborhood then. There were no gangs and no drugs.
Built in 1930, West Adams Presbyterian Church later became the First A.M.E. Zion Cathedral. The Romanesque Revival style is quite stunning. The church is located at 1449 W. Adams Boulevard. A bi-lingual sign advertised mufflers outside in 1993.
West Adams has a rich history. In 1902, Huntington and Merritt created West Adams Heights. It was L.A.’s first suburb. By the turn of the 20th century, West Adams became the wealthiest district. Many historical architectural styles remain today.
Downtown business barons and USC faculty quickly populated the area. They transformed L.A. from a pueblo to a metropolis. Rich men behind L.A.’s enduring names built homes here. These included oil tycoon Edward Lawrence Doheny and Fatty Arbuckle.
White residents moved to Beverly Hills and Hollywood. Wealthy Black Angelenos then began residing in West Adams. Racist housing covenants limited Black residents.
By the late 1930s, West Adams became a center of Black life. It was known as Sugar Hill. In 1948, the Supreme Court overturned segregationist covenants. This began with the Sugar Hill Cases. Judge Thurmond Clarke forbade racial housing restrictions. Norman Houston bought a house. Neighbors sued to oust Black residents.
The covenant’s overturning brought a surge of wealthy Black residents. Over the 20th century, West Adams was home to many celebrities. These included Pearl Bailey, Ray Charles and Hattie McDaniel. Landmarks included the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company building. Ray Charles Square stands at Washington and Westmoreland.
The construction of the 10 Freeway in 1963 decimated West Adams. Sugar Hill was destroyed. The city would have had to cut through USC’s Fraternity and Sorority Row otherwise. This selective eminent domain demolished Black-owned mansions. It displaced most of Sugar Hill’s owners. The neighborhood’s viability declined.
West Adams is an architecture lover’s dream. You can still see Craftsman homes and Victorian mansions. The neighborhood has a large collection of historic houses. West Adams contains over 70 historic sites.
Abbot Kinney built Kinney Heights in 1900. It is a tract of Craftsman Homes within West Adams. Many homes have been renovated and are still standing.
West Adams has a majority Latino population followed by a Black population. Metro’s E Line has brought displacement. New restaurants and businesses seek to capitalize on the boom.
Many Black and POC-owned businesses thrive here. These include Reparations Club bookstore and Harold & Belle’s Cajun restaurant.
Originally West Adams Presbyterian Church. Then First AME Zion Cathedral. This building reflects a vibrant past. It embodies architectural beauty. It tells stories of community change. West Adams Presbyterian Church remains a significant landmark.