What is Historic Filipinotown?
A PLACE. The churches, the community halls, the Filipino restaurants, community organizations, and small businesses hold meaning to a community and its heritage. These sites contribute to the history and identity of Historic Filipinotown.
A COMMUNITY. A neighborhood of residents, community organizations, leave a unique imprint on the life of Historic Filipinotown.
A HISTORY. The stories and memories of people who lived, worked, and gathered in Historic Filipinotown may be all that remains after a long history of displacement and urban renewal of Filipino Americans in Los Angeles.
Historic Filipinotown is historically one of the few areas where Filipinos first settled in Los Angeles during the early part of the 20th century. Many Filipino-American families began purchasing homes and establishing businesses in the area beginning from the 1940s, shifting away from the Little Tokyo area in the 1920s and the Bunker Hill area later on. During the early part of the 20th century, the establishment of restrictive covenants forced Filipinos to reside in a small area downtown between Main and Los Angeles Streets. After the covenants were lifted in the 1940s, Filipinos migrated west toward Bunker Hill and northwest toward Temple and Beaudry streets. Eventually, Filipinos migrated farther west after the 1950s when Filipino residents of Bunker Hill were evicted due to redevelopment efforts. By 1970s, Filipinos moved westward near Temple and Beaudry streets, bringing with them more Filipino American establishments and organizations. However, disinvestment in the central city discouraged affluent Filipino immigrant families from settling in the area. Instead, many migrated to the suburbs, contributing to the decline of the Filipino American presence in this enclave. However, many Filipino cultural, political and social organizations remained in the Temple Beverly corridor.
In 2002, Historic Filipinotown’s municipal designation was achieved after a 30-year struggle to be recognized a historically and culturally important neighborhood. City Councilmember Eric Garcetti's office established a Historic Filipinotown Designation Committee with a diverse coalition of community leaders, planners, professionals, and concerned citizens to develop strategies in fostering community and economic development in the neighborhood. This designation recognized the presence and achievements of the Filipino American community in Los Angeles, as well as help spur revitalization of this area as a cultural space. Since the designation, civic and business groups in the neighborhood have worked closely with the City to preserve the neighborhood’s ethnic heritage assets and utilize its unique character to promote heritage tourism, economic development and community revitalization. Historic Filipinotown was designated in October 2011 as a Preserve America community by First Lady Michelle Obama.
In 2002, Historic Filipinotown’s municipal designation was achieved after a 30-year struggle to be recognized a historically and culturally important neighborhood. City Councilmember Eric Garcetti's office established a Historic Filipinotown Designation Committee with a diverse coalition of community leaders, planners, professionals, and concerned citizens to develop strategies in fostering community and economic development in the neighborhood. This designation recognized the presence and achievements of the Filipino American community in Los Angeles, as well as help spur revitalization of this area as a cultural space. Since the designation, civic and business groups in the neighborhood have worked closely with the City to preserve the neighborhood’s ethnic heritage assets and utilize its unique character to promote heritage tourism, economic development and community revitalization. Historic Filipinotown was designated in October 2011 as a Preserve America community by First Lady Michelle Obama.
