LA to celebrate new landmark sites preserving Black history and culture. Here’s where they are and how to join

Robert Garrova explores the weird and secret bits of SoCal that would excite even the most jaded Angelenos. He also covers mental health.

Published Aug 12, 2025 2:01 PM

A wide shot of the one-story building from a side angle. It's a clear time during daylight as a blue, red and white barber sign sways in front of the building entrance. On the side are two murals painted on the wall. One says in black and white that it is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and respect each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains. On the right is a mural of red and yellow flowers.

The paperwork has been filed, the bronze plaques have been made and now it's time to celebrate a half dozen new Historic-Cultural Monument sites that are rich with Black heritage.

More than three years in the making, the project was a collaboration with L.A. to get landmark status for sites that preserve our region’s Black history and culture.

That includes StylesVille barber shop in Pacoima: the oldest Black-owned business in the San Fernando Valley. And Jewel’s Catch One, one of the city’s first gay nightclubs for people of color.

According to Los Angeles City Planning, as of January 2023, “only 4% of the city’s 1,260 locally designated landmarks (Historic-Cultural Monuments) reflect associations with African American history.”

Rita Cofield, an associate project specialist at the Getty Conservation Institute, said bronze plaques were installed at some of the sites within the past few months.

“Not to be cheesy, but it warms my heart to see these stewards so excited to get this plaque,” she told LAist. “These buildings are being used by people. They’re not relics. They’re being celebrated, but they’re also being used, they’re part of the community."

In all, six sites have received the landmark designation over the past couple of years, with an additional six slated to come.

Sponsored message

What does the designation do?

Cofield said the Historic-Cultural Monument status will protect the buildings from changes that would drastically alter their appearance and overshadow the existing historic site.

While Cofield said most changes to the properties would have to go through the Office of Historic Resources, that doesn’t mean the current property owners — or stewards — are barred from all renovations.

“Preservation is managing the change to make sure you’re not changing any character-defining features,” Cofield said.

Getty representatives said there are celebrations planned for Thursday:

The Tom and Ethel Bradley Residence
St. Elmo Village
Jewel’s Catch One

A date hasn’t been set for StylesVille, but details should be coming soon.

Here’s a list of all the African American Historic Places, Los Angeles (AAHPLA) sites:

Sponsored message

StylesVille Barbershop & Beauty Salon
13161 Van Nuys Blvd., Pacoima

Started in 1958 by Fred and Ollie Carter, Getty said this Pacoima mainstay is the oldest Black-owned business in the San Fernando Valley. The barber shop is one of several Black-owned businesses in the area, which sprouted as Black families came to Pacoima due to discriminatory housing practices in other communities.

Greg Faucett, who's a Black man wearing an appron and sunglasses, stands outside his one-story shop on a bright sunny day. The shope name is visible in red and blue lettering on a sign on top of the facade wall.

St. Elmo Village
4820-4846 West St. Elmo Dr., Los Angeles

This cherished artists’ compound was started by Rozzell and Roderick Sykes. The Getty called it “an artist enclave comprised of residences, art studios, and cultivated landscapes.”

A community of wood-paneled houses is shown among lush vegetation. A colorful mural is painted on the ground in front of the houses.

Tom and Ethel Bradley Residence
3807 Welland Ave., Los Angeles

Sponsored message

The Leimert Park residence was once home to L.A.’s first Black mayor and Black first lady, Tom and Ethel Bradley.

A white house is shown. There is a green lawn in front and a collection of health cycad plants.

Jewel's Catch One
4061 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles

Catch One was one of L.A.’s most influential nightclubs that was welcoming to members of the LGBTQ+ community and people of color.

As founder, Jewel Thais-Williams told KPCC’s Take Two in 2016: “It gave me a stage to be of service to community that was rejected and neglected in so many ways."

In the Arlington Heights neighborhood on 4607 Pico Blvd sits a multi-colored nightclub building known as Jewel's Catch One.

California Eagle
4071-4075 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles

Sponsored message

This site once housed what the Getty called “one of the longest-running Black-owned and operated newspapers in Los Angeles.”

A white two story building is shown. It has colorful graffiti on the front and various advertisements. A red care speeds by.

New Bethel Baptist Church
503-505 E. Brooks Ave., Venice

The church was founded in 1952. Its creation coincided with more Black people moving to the area for defense jobs during the World War II period, according to the Getty.

A beige church building has a window with two crosses in it. A white cross in front of the building reads 'New Bethel'

Hey, LA listener!

LA to celebrate new landmark sites preserving Black history and culture. Here’s where they are and how to join

Keep up with LAist.

What does the designation do?

Make your tax-deductible year-end gift today