Neighborhood Focus – Belmont Heights
I’m featuring another one of Long Beach’s diverse neighborhoods today, the upscale neighborhood of Belmont Heights.
Belmont Heights homes are some of the most sought after real estate in Long Beach due to their proximity to the beach and the neighborhood’s family orientation. This is a classic beach neighborhood with mature landscaping and beautiful homes that were often built in the 1920’s. For those looking for a community with great curb appeal then Belmont Heights may be for you.
The homes in this area are not under any formal association which means cost savings. Also, many of the historic homes in this area may be covered the federal Mills Act which offers residents of historic homes huge tax savings for preserving the integrity of these older properties.
Belmont Heights is an area of roughly 11,000 residents bordered by Ocean Boulevard and Livingston Drive to the south, Redondo Avenue to the west, Seventh Street to the north and Nieto Avenue to the east. It boasts two historic districts and a hodgepodge of architectural styles including Craftsman bungalows, Victorian, Spanish Revival, Tudor Revival and Mediterranean.
The neighborhood has evolved as residents’ needs have changed over the decades. In Belmont Heights, one can find a spacious mansion next to a one-bedroom bungalow or a condo complex. The area’s longtime feral parrots serve as a mascot and add to the vibrant feel.
For a little history, if you lived in downtown Long Beach in 1908 and felt like a drink at the nearest tavern, you’d have to travel three miles east to the city of Belmont Heights for a cocktail. But, Belmont Heights was incorporated as a city for just one year before it joined with Long Beach in 1909. Many of the original homes sat high on bedrock overlooking the ocean and marshlands below, giving it the name Belmont Heights.
Today, it’s a historic neighborhood with eclectic architecture, an abundance of mom and pop shops and a strong sense of community. If you would like to take a look at homes on the market in Belmont Heights, contact me any time and I’ll be happy to give you a tour.