La Puente

La Puente, conveniently located east of Los Angeles, is a city with a long history that is working for the future. “It’s definitely an up-and-coming area,” says Narciso Cuevas, a Realtor with Century 21 Citrus Realty. “There are a lot of new projects, such as beautification efforts, and there’s a newly renovated park. It’s also centrally located – about 20 minutes to downtown L.A.”

Founded in 1841 by settlers who came from New Mexico by wagon train, La Puente today is an established suburb of Los Angeles with a population that exceeds 35,000. Most of the single-family housing is made up of sturdy ranch-style homes that date back to the 1950s. “A lot of single-story, midcentury homes with a lot of owners who have been here for decades,” says Cuevas. Many homes have been renovated to include more spacious floor plans. While accessible to major thoroughfares, La Puente’s residential streets often connect, sometimes ending in cul-de-sacs, helping keep traffic down and adding an extra layer of privacy. Sidewalks are plentiful, perfect for taking an evening stroll. Custom landscaping and fruit trees are common sights in residents’ yards. Home prices typically range from $230,000 for a four-bedroom, 1,200-square-foot home to $925,000 for a four-bedroom, 2500-square-foot home. La Puente also has condominiums and manufactured homes available. Condominium prices range from $140,000 for a 300-square-foot studio space to $800,000 for a three-bedroom, three-bath unit. Manufactured homes run anywhere from $60,000 to $300,000.

Activity is concentrated at La Puente City Park off North Glendora Avenue. After a recent makeover, the park has become more than a neighborhood green space. “They’ve got new athletic fields and a skating ramp, and now they have concerts in the park to try and get the community involved.” In addition to traditional recreational amenities such as basketball courts and fields for baseball, soccer and football, the 22-acre park also offers outdoor exercise equipment, walking trails and picnic shelters.

Families with school-aged children will find plenty of public-school options. Located in the city are Nelson, Sunset, Del Valle, Workman and Hurley elementary schools; Fairgrove, Lassalette, Sierra Vista and Sparks middle schools; and Bassett and La Puente high schools. La Puente High, open for over 100 years, features a Fine and Performing Arts Department and is the only school in the district that offers university-level fine arts courses for college credit. It also has the only Speech and Debate team in the district.

La Puente is located just minutes from the intersection of Interstate 10 and Interstate 605, providing convenient access to commuting to and from the greater Los Angeles region. Public transportation is readily available as well, with bus stops dotting the North Hacienda Boulevard corridor. Dining options -- both new and old, chain and local – are plentiful along the corridor, one of the neighborhood’s main arteries. There are familiar chains like In-N-Out Burger and KFC and local favorites like Villa Cariño Mexican Food & Mariscos. For a sweet treat, head to The Donut Hole on Amar Road. This drive-thru, donut-shaped shop is a regular destination for both locals and out-of-town foodies looking for pastry, coffee and a unique experience. For more contemporary dining, try Campo é Carbón, a Latin and Asian fusion reservation-only pop-up restaurant which runs out of chef Ulysses Gálvez’s backyard. Follow Gálvez on Instagram to get on the waitlist, and when you arrive at the pop-up, be sure to order one of his most popular dishes, the crab alfredo with garlic and cured cod roe. For everyday essentials, options along North Hacienda include Walmart Neighborhood Market, Aldi and Food 4 Less. “You have a lot of access to stores,” says Cuevas. “They’re everywhere.”

La Puente is a forward-thinking city built on a solid foundation.

Written By

Anna Anderson

Photography Contributed By

Michael Rutt

Video By

Bob Yukich