From oil boom town to Historic District — the Long Beach neighborhood of California Heights has come a long way! In 1921 oil gushers were discovered on Bixby Ranch grazing land and shortly thereafter 830 lots were sold — including oil rights. “Buy a Lot. Become a Millionaire” was the sales pitch. By 1923 the new owners discovered that there was almost no oil under their lots, so they began to build homes in a new community: California Heights. Locally, it is known as “Cal Heights”.
Today California Heights is Long Beach’s largest Historic District filled with charming 1920s and 1930s Spanish revival style homes.
Some homes in Cal Heights are entitled to special tax benefits under the Mills Act which can reduce property taxes by a significant amount. If you plan to buy a home in this Historic District, be sure to ask about it.
Many of the homes have been brought back to original condition and the neighborhood association keeps a careful eye on restorations of these charming homes. Unlike other areas of the city, turning a home into a quirky “fun beach house” is not allowed.
Another neighborhood with many Spanish Revival homes is Belmont Shore, which does not have the official Historic status nor the architectural restrictions. You will also see a few Tudor revival and California Craftsman bungalows in this neighborhood east of Atlantic and to the south of Bixby Road adjacent to upscale Bixby Knolls.
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