By city council action in October 2001 (C.F. #01-1874), "Crenshaw Manor" was officially named and designated as being bounded by the following streets: Exposition Boulevard on the north, Crenshaw Boulevard on the west, Chesapeake Avenue on the east, and Martin Luther King Boulevard on the south.[1]
The Department of Transportation was instructed to install signage in the general vicinity of the above-mentioned locations and remove any existing City of Los Angeles signs in those areas and replace them with signs designating the newly adopted boundaries.[1]
History
Crenshaw Manor began in 1942 as a development built to serve WWII defense workers and their families.[2] The development was located on the west side of Crenshaw Boulevard from Coliseum Street to Santa Barbara Avenue.[2][3] Crenshaw Manor was described as having "accessibility to an excellent neighborhood shopping district, schools, transportation and recreation".[2] The name Crenshaw Manor remained in use from the 1950s,[4] through the 1990s. [5][6]
Beginning in 2000, the Eighth District Empowerment Congress began working on the "Naming Neighborhoods Project" to identify and name the communities with the neighborhood council area. The first focus group was held at Hebrew Union College in June 2000. Through research, a meeting with an urban historian, and numerous community meetings, the Empowerment Congress ultimately outlined sixteen unique neighborhoods, including the neighborhood of Crenshaw Manor. The names were submitted to City Council in October 2001 and approved in February 2002.[7]
Because the neighborhood is within two different council districts,[8] a motion was made in November 2002 to "delete" the area named as Crenshaw Manor.[9]
In November 2004, citing that "the stakeholders in the area have continued to express their support of the designation of Crenshaw Manor", the motion was amended and the designation of Crenshaw Manor was restored.[10]
In 2014, the Los Angeles Times reported that neighborhoods within the Crenshaw area were experiencing soaring home prices as young professionals were purchasing homes in the community and new shops and restaurants were opening up.[11]
Landmarks and attractions
Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza - The Macys building opened in 1947 as the May Company.[12] Crenshaw Manor signage is installed in front of the building on both Crenshaw Boulevard and on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Per official neighborhood council maps, the section of Crenshaw Manor south of Coliseum Boulevard is served by the Empowerment Congress West Neighborhood Council.[13][14] Crenshaw Manor north of Coliseum Boulevard is served by the West Adams Neighborhood Council.[15][16]
Fire service
One Fire Department Station is located within the boundaries of Crenshaw Manor:
Los Angeles Fire Dept. Station 94 - 4470 Coliseum Street [17]
Education
Two public schools are located within the boundaries of Crenshaw Manor:
Coliseum Street Elementary School, LAUSD, 4400 Coliseum Street [18]
Stella Middle Charter Academy, federally funded public charter school, 4301 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.[19]
^"Crenshaw Area Lots in Demand". Los Angeles Times. June 20, 1943. Retrieved 16 February 2023. ...Crenshaw Manor, home community at the west side of Crenshaw Blvd. between Coliseum St. and Santa Barbara Ave.
^"Council File 01-1874"(PDF). No. 16. City of Los Angeles. January 2005. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
^ ab"Council File 01-1874"(PDF). No. 10. City of Los Angeles. January 2005. Retrieved 31 August 2020. ... mainly located in Council District Ten, while the Northwest intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave is in Council District Eight
^"Council File 01-1874"(PDF). No. 11. City of Los Angeles. January 2005. Retrieved 31 August 2020. I HEREBY MOVE that Council AMEND the Motion...and the official name designation...in Council District Eight as follows: DELETE the area designated as Crenshaw Manor, inasmuch as it is located in Council District Ten
^"Council File 01-1874"(PDF). No. 10. City of Los Angeles. January 2005. Retrieved 31 August 2020. I THEREFORE MOVE that Council AMEND the Motion (Ridley-Thomas/Reyes) to ADD the area designated as Crenshaw Manor, given that the stakeholders in the area support the subject name designation