Simple charms of a ‘Mayberry’ lifestyle

If Montrose, where one-of-a-kind mom-and-pop shops have been the rule and corporate businesses the exception for 90 years, is archetypal Main Street U.S.A., then neighboring Sparr Heights is its residential equivalent. The architecturally diverse, well-manicured homes reflect the same pride of ownership that distinguishes Montrose shops.

What’s in a name?

Montrose, which has its own ZIP Code, is an unincorporated community served by Glendale’s schools and its police and fire departments. Multifamily apartment dwellings dominate the housing market, but single-family homes abound in adjacent neighborhoods, such as Sparr Heights in Glendale.

Because of the proximity, Sparr Heights’ residents sometimes refer to their neighborhood as Montrose.

Although two major streets are named Ocean View and Honolulu, Montrose is far from the surf. A Hawaiian expatriate came up with the street names, and a transplanted Pennsylvania couple borrowed the name Montrose from a community in their home state.

Wow factor

Sparr Heights is in walking distance of Montrose Shopping Park, the charming, jacaranda-lined shopping village that’s often compared to Mayberry, the mythical town that was home to television’s Andy Griffith.

Before Quiznos Classic Subs and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf opened last summer, all the village’s shops had been independently owned since Baskin-Robbins closed more than two decades ago. The latest additions to the evolving mix of 150 businesses are a martini lounge, a Cuban restaurant and a gift shop with tearoom.

Drawing card

Sparr Heights shares Montrose’s “everybody knows your name” feeling, thanks in large part to the weekly Harvest Market, a weekly tradition for most of the neighborhood.

Insider’s view

Many of Montrose’s “small-town” events are turning into big-time occasions. The Montrose Christmas Parade, featuring Santa Claus descending from a helicopter, annually draws more than 40,000 spectators. And Oktoberfest attracts about 50,000. Even activities such as trick-or-treating turn large-scale in Sparr Heights. Some homes draw as many as 700 costumed candy-gatherers.

Good news, bad news

In Sparr Heights, small comes at a cost. Prices for 1,000- to 1,500-square-foot homes on lots less than 7,000 square feet rival those of similar-sized homes in San Marino. Prices typically range from $400 to $500 a square foot, according to Elizabeth Cohen of Keilholtz Realty.

Report card

Sparr Heights is part of the La Crescenta subset of the Glendale Unified School District. Fremont Elementary School scored 839 out of 1,000 on the 2003 Academic Performance Index. Seven Glendale elementary schools scored higher, but no middle schools rival Rosemont Middle School’s score of 834. Crescenta Valley High School boasts the highest high school score in the district, 826.

On the market

Demand outstrips the supply of homes in Sparr Heights, where none was on the market in mid-December. Seven of the nine houses sold since the end of June brought more than their asking prices. One 1,378-square-foot home that was listed for $578,000 is now in escrow.

Historical values

Single-family detached resales for the entire 91020 ZIP Code:

Year...Median Price

1990...$235,000

1995...$169,000

2000...$242,000

2002...$345,000

2003*...$366,250

*year to date

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Sources: Elizabeth Cohen and Jane Kane, Keilholtz Realty; John Drayman, Montrose Shopping Park Assn., https://www.shopmontrose.com ; Montrose Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce, https://www.montrosechamber.org ; DataQuick Information Systems; Glendale Unified School District, https://www.glendale.k12.ca.us/ .