Franklin Village at a glance
Franklin Village packs a walkable strip, historic apartment courts and character homes into one of central Hollywood's most livable pockets. The village centers on the block of Franklin Avenue at Tamarind, home to the Bourgeois Pig, La Poubelle, Birds and the shops and cafes around them, with the Scientology Celebrity Centre in the landmark Chateau Elysee at Bronson and the Hollywood Tower at Vista Del Mar bookending the strip. Residential streets run north toward the canyons and south toward Hollywood Boulevard.
Sellers here benefit from constant, real demand: young industry professionals and long-time Angelenos who want Franklin Avenue's cafes and the Bourgeois Pig energy at their doorstep. The Hollywood and Vine subway, the studios on Sunset and Gower, and the 101 are all within minutes, and Beachwood Canyon, the Hollywood Dell and Bronson Canyon rise directly behind it. James Malcom lists and sells homes from his primary office minutes away at 6200 Hollywood Blvd.
Homes and architecture in Franklin Village
Franklin Village housing is defined by the 1920s. The neighborhood was built out during Hollywood's first boom with Spanish Colonial Revival courtyard apartments, French Normandy and Chateauesque apartment houses, Craftsman and Spanish bungalows on the side streets, and duplexes and fourplexes on the blocks closest to the boulevard. Many of the courtyard buildings have been converted to condos, giving the village one of the best stocks of character condos in Hollywood.
Spanish bungalows, courtyard units and small-lot homes near Franklin and Beachwood trade on lifestyle: buyers pay for the village, not just the square footage. Newer small-lot homes and condo buildings have filled in along Yucca, Argyle and the blocks toward Hollywood and Vine, and the canyon side streets north of Franklin transition quickly into hillside single-family. Pricing correctly means quantifying that walkability premium instead of defaulting to broader Hollywood comps.
Streets, pockets and enclaves
Franklin Village is small, but the value shifts quickly between the village core, the canyon-side streets and the blocks closest to Hollywood Boulevard.
- Franklin and Tamarind: the village core with the cafe strip, courtyard condos and the strongest walkability premium
- Tamarind, Bronson and Canyon Drive north of Franklin: bungalows and duplexes climbing toward Bronson Canyon and Griffith Park, the most residential blocks
- Beachwood Drive and Gower: the eastern edge where the village meets lower Beachwood Canyon and Cheremoya Avenue Elementary
- Vista Del Mar, Ivar and Argyle: the western blocks around Hollywood Tower, with the Hollywood Dell above and the 101 freeway close by
- Yucca and Carlos: the southern blocks between Franklin and Hollywood Boulevard, with older apartments, newer condos and the Hollywood and Vine station
- Cahuenga and Whitley Heights edge: the western boundary, where the village shades into the Whitley Heights HPOZ and Hollywood Heights
Schools
Franklin Village is served by LAUSD, with Cheremoya Avenue Elementary at Franklin and Beachwood serving most of the village, Le Conte Middle School and Hollywood High School at the secondary level, and some western addresses assigned to Selma Avenue Elementary. Confirm assignments by address with the LAUSD Resident School Identifier, because the boundaries shift between blocks.
Parks, dining and daily life
Daily life in Franklin Village happens on Franklin Avenue. The Bourgeois Pig, La Poubelle, Birds and the surrounding cafes, the neighborhood market and the small shops at Franklin and Tamarind give residents a walk-to social life that is rare in Hollywood. The Upright Citizens Brigade theater that anchored the strip for years has closed, but the block remains one of the city's recognized cafe villages, and the Hollywood and Vine corridor supplies supermarkets, gyms, the Pantages and the broader restaurant scene a few blocks south.
Green space is up the hill. Bronson Canyon and its trails into Griffith Park begin at the top of Canyon Drive, Beachwood Canyon and the Hollywood Sign trails are reached via Beachwood Drive, and Lake Hollywood Reservoir is a short drive through the Dell. The Hollywood Bowl and Ford Theatre are minutes west in Cahuenga Pass, and the Hollywood Farmers Market on Sunday at Ivar and Selma is a walk from most of the village.
Commute and getting around
Franklin Village is one of the best-connected pockets of Hollywood. The Metro B Line station at Hollywood and Vine is a short walk from most of the village, and the 101 freeway on-ramps at Gower, Vine and Cahuenga are minutes away, putting Downtown, the Valley, Burbank and Universal within easy reach. Sunset Gower, Sunset Bronson, Paramount and Netflix's Hollywood offices are all close, which is a large part of why industry professionals rent and buy here.
Metro buses run on Franklin, Hollywood Boulevard and Gower. Street parking is the village's weak point: the density of apartments and the cafe strip keep curbs full, and permit parking districts cover many blocks, so a deeded garage space or a driveway is a measurable value driver for any condo or home here. Freeway sound along the northern edge near the 101 is also a factor buyers price.
Who buys in Franklin Village and why
Franklin Village buyers are young entertainment-industry professionals, couples buying their first condo or bungalow, and long-time Angelenos who want to live in a walkable village rather than a hillside or a tower. Many have rented in the courtyard buildings for years and buy in the same neighborhood when they can, and a steady share are moving west from Los Feliz or east from West Hollywood for the price and the canyon access.
Selling a home in Franklin Village
Homes that sell fastest in Franklin Village are character condos in the restored courtyard buildings with a parking space and a well-run HOA, and single-family bungalows or small-lot homes on the canyon-side streets north of Franklin. Both draw buyers who have been renting in the village and want to stay, and both tend to receive multiple offers when priced to village comps rather than Hollywood-wide numbers. Duplexes with one unit delivered vacant also move quickly because they open the door to owner-occupant buyers using owner-occupied financing.
Homes that sit are usually condos in buildings with pending litigation, low reserves or special assessments, units facing the 101 or the busiest stretch of Franklin, properties with no parking, and tenanted RSO buildings priced on potential rather than actual income. Unpermitted conversions and additions, common in older Hollywood housing, stall escrows once the buyer's lender and inspector report.
Preparation that matters locally starts with the building file for condos and the permit file for houses. For a condo, gather the HOA documents, reserve study, insurance certificate and minutes early, because buyers' lenders will scrutinize them. For a house or duplex, order the LADBS 9A report, reconcile the permits with what is built, and pull leases and rent registration for any tenants. Complete the standard alarm, gas shut-off and water retrofit items, and lean into the 1920s character with refinished floors, original tile and good lighting.
Timing in Franklin Village is steadier than in the hills because the renter-to-buyer pipeline runs year-round, but demand still peaks from late winter through early summer and again in early fall. Sharp pricing off hyperlocal comps, professional visuals and marketing that sells the village lifestyle alongside the home are the formula. As a seller-only agent, James's entire process, from prep and staging guidance through negotiation, is built around netting you the most money with the least friction.
Buying in Franklin Village
Buying in Franklin Village means reading the HOA as carefully as the unit, and checking permits and parking on any house. Review reserves, insurance, litigation and pending assessments on condo buildings, confirm the parking space is deeded or assigned, and listen for freeway sound on the northern blocks. Competition is strongest for restored courtyard condos with parking and for bungalows on the canyon-side streets, where multiple offers are common. Offer strategy should combine solid financing that the HOA documents will support, a realistic inspection period and a willingness to move quickly, because the village's buyers are often renters who already live nearby and watch every new listing.
Franklin Village seller and buyer questions
Is Franklin Village a good place to live?
Yes, for buyers who want a genuinely walkable pocket of Hollywood with a cafe strip, a subway station and canyon trails all within a short walk. The trade-offs are tight parking, apartment density, freeway sound on the northern blocks and limited single-family inventory. It is one of the few parts of Hollywood where residents can live largely without a car.
How much does a house cost in Franklin Village?
Franklin Village sits in the mid to upper range for Hollywood, above the flats south of Hollywood Boulevard and below Beachwood Canyon and the Hollywood Dell directly above it. Condos in the courtyard buildings form the entry point, bungalows, duplexes and small-lot homes make up the middle, and renovated single-family homes on the canyon-side streets define the top. James Malcom will send current closed comps for your street or building on request.
What is Franklin Village known for?
Franklin Village is known for the cafe strip at Franklin and Tamarind, the Bourgeois Pig, La Poubelle and Birds, the Scientology Celebrity Centre in the historic Chateau Elysee, the Hollywood Tower, its 1920s courtyard apartments and its position at the foot of Beachwood Canyon and Bronson Canyon.
What are the best streets or pockets in Franklin Village?
The residential blocks of Tamarind, Bronson and Canyon Drive north of Franklin are the most sought-after, combining bungalows with quiet and a short walk to the strip. The restored courtyard buildings near Franklin and Tamarind hold the best condos. The Beachwood Drive edge benefits from Cheremoya Avenue Elementary, while the blocks nearest the 101 and the busiest stretch of Franklin trade at a discount.
What schools serve Franklin Village?
Cheremoya Avenue Elementary at Franklin and Beachwood serves most of the village, with Selma Avenue Elementary covering some western addresses, and Le Conte Middle School and Hollywood High School at the secondary level. Nearby private options include Immaculate Heart on Franklin Avenue and Hollywood Schoolhouse. Confirm assignments by address with the LAUSD Resident School Identifier.
Is Franklin Village safe?
Franklin Village is a dense, active neighborhood patrolled by LAPD Hollywood Division, and the busy cafe strip and constant foot traffic make it feel lived-in at most hours. Property crime, vehicle break-ins and issues spilling over from Hollywood Boulevard are the most common concerns. Conditions vary between the strip, the freeway edge and the residential side streets, so check the LAPD crime mapping tool and city open data for the specific block.
How long does it take to sell a house in Franklin Village?
A well-priced courtyard condo with parking or a bungalow on the canyon-side streets typically draws offers within the first few weeks because renters in the village are watching every listing. Condos in buildings with HOA problems, units facing the 101 and tenanted buildings priced on potential take longer and usually need a price adjustment. James Malcom tracks live and pending sales here and will give you a realistic timeline.
Does Measure ULA apply to home sales in Franklin Village?
Yes. Franklin Village is inside the City of Los Angeles, so Measure ULA applies to sales above its annually adjusted thresholds. Most condos trade below the first threshold, but single-family homes, duplexes and apartment buildings here can cross it, and the tax then applies to the entire price. Confirm current thresholds with James Malcom and your tax advisor before pricing.
What do I need to do before selling a home in Franklin Village?
For a condo, gather the HOA documents, reserve study, insurance and minutes early, and complete the smoke and carbon monoxide alarm and water conservation items inside the unit. For a house or duplex, order the LADBS 9A report, reconcile permits with what is built, add a seismic gas shut-off valve, and pull leases and rent registration for any tenants. Full disclosures apply to both. James provides a prep checklist specific to your property type.
Should I renovate before selling in Franklin Village?
Light restoration pays; a full remodel rarely does. Buyers here value 1920s character, so refinished floors, original tile and ironwork, fresh paint, updated lighting and a tidy courtyard or garden return more than a generic kitchen replacement. Fix what an inspector will flag and leave the big project to the buyer.
What is Franklin Village like compared to Beachwood Canyon or Los Feliz?
Franklin Village is flatter, denser and more walkable than Beachwood Canyon directly above it, with far more condos and apartments and a lower entry price, while Beachwood offers single-family hillside homes and quiet. Compared to Los Feliz, the village is smaller, more condo-heavy and more affordable, with better subway access and a similar cafe culture on a smaller scale.
Who is the best listing agent in Franklin Village?
James Malcom of The Malcom Group lists condos, bungalows and small income properties across Franklin Village and Hollywood from his office at 6200 Hollywood Blvd. Judge any agent here on whether they price off hyperlocal village comps, can read an HOA file and an RSO rent roll, sell the village lifestyle to the renters and industry buyers who want in, and represent you without buyer-side conflicts. Call (310) 595-0915.
Can I sell a house with tenants in Franklin Village?
Yes, and in a neighborhood this dense it is common. Pre-1978 apartment buildings and courts fall under the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance, which caps increases and requires just cause and relocation assistance for most move-outs, and the city's just-cause rules cover most other rentals, including condos. A tenanted property sells mainly to investors on actual rents, while a vacant unit opens the owner-occupant pool. James will model both paths with you and your attorney before listing.
Is Franklin Village a buyer's or seller's market right now?
Character condos with parking and bungalows on the canyon-side streets remain a seller's market because the village's renters are always waiting to buy, while condos in troubled buildings and tenanted RSO properties lean toward a buyer's market where price and HOA health decide. Interest rates shape the condo market more than anything else here. James Malcom watches live inventory and pending sales in the village and will tell you where your property stands today.
Nearby neighborhoods
- Beachwood Canyon
- Hollywood Dell
- Bronson Canyon
- Whitley Heights
- Hollywood Heights
- Hollywood
- Los Feliz
- Cahuenga Pass
Compare Franklin Village with
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