Frogtown Real Estate

Also known as Elysian Valley, Nestled along a 2.5-mile stretch of the L.A. River, Frogtown is still a somewhat secluded oasis for artists and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Frogtown gained its nickname from the four-legged amphibians that used to breed in the riverbed and wander around the neighborhood up until the 1970s. Locals labeled them all as frogs, leading to quick acceptance of Frogtown as the area’s pseudonym. Frogtown natives recall how they filled the river, streets, and backyards – there were so many that you couldn’t help but drive right over them. While Frogtown was (and still is) a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood of single-family homes, it was once known for housing several large factories, like Hostess, and a bunch of small art studios. Even famous artists like Shepard Fairey and Amy Adler flocked to the area early on with buzz about the industrial art community establishing itself in the area. The author and activist Lewis MacAdams founded Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR) in 1986 with the intention of making it an ecologically sound recreational space.