Reseda Boulevard, originally named Reseda Avenue until May 1929, is a major north-south arterial road that runs through the western San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles County, California.
Reseda Boulevard runs approximately 12 miles (19 km) from the Santa Monica Mountains at the Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park in the south to the Santa Susana Mountains and Porter Ranch in the north. It passes through the community of Tarzana, passes Mulholland Park gated community and El Caballero Country Club, then continues into the flats of the Valley through the communities of Reseda and Northridge, passes the campus of California State University Northridge, and ends at Porter Ranch. The epicenter of the 1994 Northridge earthquake was approximately one block west of the Boulevard, in its namesake community of Reseda. Damage occurred throughout the San Fernando Valley though areas of more widespread destruction followed along the boulevard's northern course including an apartment building which stood at the time, the Northridge Meadows Apartments, where 16 people died when the top two floors collapsed on the ground floor apartments. Tom Brokaw broadcast the NBC Nightly News from the scene of the Northridge Meadows Apartments on the evening of the earthquake.
Tarzana – south of Victory Boulevard
Reseda – between Victory Boulevard and Roscoe Boulevard
Northridge – between Roscoe Boulevard and SR 118
Porter Ranch – north of the SR 118
Metro Local line 240 and Metro Rapid line 744 run along Reseda Boulevard. Reseda also crosses the Orange Line at its station located at its intersection with Oxnard Street.
In 1977 the Los Angeles City Council failed to approve a plan to create a "Reseda to the Sea" link from the San Fernando Valley to L.A.'s Westside at Sunset Blvd. The plan was revisited in the early 90's -- Reseda Blvd. was widened to four lanes as far as Mulholland Drive to the South in anticipation of much-needed relief for existing cross-mountain passes -- but was again rejected amidst concerns of environmental and neighborhood impacts.
Landmarks along Reseda Boulevard (south to north)
Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park – a 1,500-acre (610 ha) preserve of wild land located in the Santa Monica Mountains at the southern terminus of Reseda Boulevard in Tarzana. The park is named for Los Angeles City Councilman Marvin Braude, who for more than 30 years led the effort to preserve the Santa Monica Mountains. Up the hill a short distance is "dirt Mulholland", the unfinished dirt part of Mulholland Drive from west of the 405 freeway to Canoga Avenue in Woodland Hills, left unfinished to prevent development and encourage hiking and biking.
Mulholland Park Gated Community – located at the southern end of Reseda Blvd., just below Marvin Braude Mulholland Gate, Mulholland Park is a gated communities and is the home to many celebrities.
Braemar Country Club – country club located in the Santa Monica Mountains overlooking the San Fernando Valley; facilities include two 18-hole golf courses, 20 tennis courts, swimming, yoga, and dining.
El Caballero Country Club – country club located in the hills of Tarzana; facilities include an 18-hole golf course that hosted the City of Hope Office Depot LPGA Championship from 2001–2003, and has been the choice for the U.S.G.A. sectional qualifying rounds for many years.
Tarzan Ranch – In 1919, Edgar Rice Burroughs moved to California, where he purchased the 550-acre (220 ha) estate of General Harrison Gray Otis (founder of the Los Angeles Times), renaming it "Tarzan Ranch". Reseda Blvd. in Tarzana runs through the former Tarzan Ranch. In 1923, Burroughs sold a large portion of his ranch for home sites. In 1930, the new community was named Tarzana.
Reseda Park and Reseda Recreation Center – park and recreation center located at 18411 Victory Blvd., including barbecue pits, baseball diamond, basketball courts, children's play area, community room, picnic tables, seasonal pool, tennis courts and volleyball courts.
Northridge Meadows Apartments (9565 Reseda Boulevard) – former site of a three-story, 120-unit apartment complex that collapsed in the 1994 Northridge earthquake; sixteen fatalities resulted from the collapse of the building.
Northridge Hospital Medical Center – a 411-bed hospital founded in 1955 and located one block east of Reseda Blvd. on Roscoe Blvd., is one of two certified Level II trauma centers in the San Fernando Valley. Though located very near the epicenter of the 1994 Northridge earthquake and was damaged, it remained open and over 1,000 patients were treated in 48 hours following the earthquake.
California State University, Northridge – located to the east of Reseda Blvd. between Nordhoff Street and Halsted Street, Cal State Northridge was founded in 1954 and is a four-year university in the Cal State system with 34,000 students, over 4,000 faculty and staff, sited on a 356-hectare (3.56 km2) campus in the San Fernando Valley.
Faith Bible Church – Originally known as the Norwegian Lutheran Church, Faith Bible Church, located at 18531 Gresham Street, Northridge, was built in 1917 in the Gothic style. It was declared a historic site in 1976.
Northridge Park and Recreation Center – a Los Angeles city park and recreation complex including a licensed child care facility, preschool building, historic Cultural Arts House and a community building.
Oakridge and Grounds (Rancho Cordillera del Norte) – located just west of Reseda Blvd. at 18650 Devonshire St, Northridge. Built in 1937 and designed by architect Paul R. Williams in the English Manor style for actress, Barbara Stanwyck, Jack Oakie and his wife purchased the home from Stanwyck a short time later. The house has had very few alterations and was designated a historical site in 1990. An entertaining video tour of the Oakridge Estate is available on the Wandrlust web site.
Devonshire Downs – a former horse racing track and fairgrounds located on Devonshire between Reseda Blvd. and Zelzah. It is best known for hosting the three-day Newport '69 Pop Festival in July 1969 featuring Jethro Tull, Jimi Hendrix, The Animals, Marvin Gaye, Joe Cocker, Ike and Tina Turner, the Byrds, and The Chambers Brothers. It is currently the north campus of Cal State Northridge.
