Park Estates, Long Beach, CA

Park Estates is the mid-century modern showcase of Long Beach, a neighborhood of large homes on wide lots that developer Lloyd Whaley began laying out in 1948 between Cal State Long Beach and Recreation Park. Williams and Lloyd Wright all designed houses here, and Neutra's Hafley House is recognized by the Los Angeles Conservancy. Homes are mostly single-story and low-slung, with deep lawns, big trees and plenty of glass. Williams designed Whaley's own residence, and later modernist work by Kenneth S. Wing and Paul Tay fills out the mix alongside ranch and traditional homes. An active homeowners association keeps the look of the streets consistent. Parks are close on every side. Bouton Creek Park on Atherton Street and Los Altos Plaza Park on Anaheim Road are inside or at the edge of the neighborhood. Recreation Park's golf courses and tennis center sit just west, and Colorado Lagoon's swimming beach is a short drive south. Food clusters along the edges. On Pacific Coast Highway, Cafe Lorel is the white-tablecloth option, DiPiazza's handles pizza nights and Green Field Churrascaria serves Brazilian grilled meats. On Clark Avenue, Cyclops Coffee's flagship has become a real neighborhood anchor, and Beach City Deli & BBQ shares the block. Daily errands mean a short drive. Trader Joe's, Target and Lazy Acres anchor the Los Altos Center along Bellflower Boulevard, and the shopping at the Traffic Circle is a few minutes west. Cal State Long Beach borders the east side, so traffic on Atherton and Bellflower rises when classes are in session. The neighborhood is built for the car and the quiet interior streets have no shops of their own. Buying in Park Estates means living with an architectural record where a Neutra, a Lautner and a quiet 1950s ranch can share the same block, and neighbors notice when one comes up for sale.