Three streets that helped to build Westchester and Playa del Rey
Formerly sections of Rancho La Ballona and Rancho Centinela; previously called Rancho Sausal Redondo (Ranch of the Circular Willows), the former horse and cart paths: Manchester, Sepulveda and Lincoln Boulevards were developed.
As more efficient means of transportation and construction were introduced, these former dirt roads brought students to Loyola University, crops to market and tourists to the seashore.
MANCHESTER BOULEVARD, 1928. Looking west from about Sepulveda Blvd. (Courtesy, Google Books)
Eventually, a local barley field: Mines Field would be developed into LAX, and these roads would be further developed to bring travelers to the new international airport, and the new communities that sprung up in the area. Developers like Burns, Drollinger, Hannon and Kaiser would erect a town where celery, strawberries and other crops once grew.
SEPULVEDA BOULEVARD, 1942. Partly sparked by the war effort, Sepulveda was widened and re-opened to great fan-fare as it was dedicated near Centinela Boulevard. (Courtesy, Los Angeles Public Library)
“The American city should be a collection of communities where every member has a right to belong. It should be a place where every man feels safe on his streets and in the house of his friends.” Lyndon B. Johnson
LINCOLN BOULEVARD, 1934. This is a view heading south, approaching Jefferson Boulevard, at present day Marina Del Rey. (Courtesy, Los Angeles Public Library).
Today, along with the San Diego Freeway, route 405, these three roads remain the most vital arteries for the residents of Playa Del Rey, Westchester, and Playa Vista, California.
Much has changed over the years, but one thing remains constant; the need for proper and well-ordered roads and infrastructure to sustain the citizens of, and visitors to, our town.
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