Westwood is one of Los Angeles’ great neighborhoods, still not well known and/or understood. As a former resident and a frequent visitor of it, I am bringing a personal perspective, in the belief that an awareness of its qualities may carry a message meaningful to other cities, American and around the world.

The video that follows deals with problems of traffic, density, heritage, identity, cultural mix and environmental quality through images and interviews, at time humorous. It unveils some secrets mostly unknown to its residents, such as a cemetery hidden by high-rise buildings at its very center, where many famous movie stars are buried. It takes the viewer through its history evolving from being a countryside less than a century ago through its development based upon the dream of creating “a second Hollywood” (and the beginning of the 20th Century Fox studios.)

[embedvideo id=”91799734″ website=”vimeo”]

WESTWOOD LA from Rick Meghiddo on Vimeo.

It also presents my own view on some challenges for a sustainable future, including the creation of safe bike routes, growing vegetables on roofs and balconies, a widespread presence of public art and the creation of an aerial train between UCLA’s campus and Westwood’s main boulevard.