The architecture of Watts

The 2-acre lot that will house the new building is on East 102nd Street, just west of Compton Avenue. Currently the site is occupied by a pair of low-slung mid-century buildings that once served as clinics.

(Carolina A. MIranda / Los Angeles Times)

July 23, 2014 4:51 PM PT

Watts architecture is generally small in scale. Bungalows dating to the ‘20s, churches of all ages and various public housing projects (many from the ‘40s) make up much of the design landscape. And, of course, there are Simon Rodia’s famously loopy towers.

Much of the architecture in Watts is built on a small scale, with few buildings more than two stories high. Many residential streets are lined with California bungalows (many of which date to the ‘20s), as shown in this image from 2005. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

A preponderance of public housing projects

Watts is brimming with public housing developments, often built in a low-slung, superblock style that was popular in the ‘40s. Seen here: Avalon Gardens, one of the oldest housing developments in L.A. (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

Some projects, such Jordan Downs, were built in a barracks style. Built during World War II, these units were intended to serve as temporary shelter for factory workers. Since the ‘50s they have been used as housing for the poor. (Bethany Mollenkof / Los Angeles Times)

Certainly, the most widely recognized piece of architecture in the neighborhood has to be the famous towers built by Simon Rodia over a period of three decades starting in the 1920s. This historic Times photograph is from 1960. (R.L. Oliver / Los Angeles Times)