North Hollywood — Attraction in Los Angeles

When it first opened in 1893, the train depot at the corner of Lankershim Boulevard and Chandler Boulevard was crucial to the rapid growth of the town that was first called Toluca, then Lankershim, and finally, North Hollywood.

In a few decades, the area was transformed from having only a few buildings and fruit farms to a bustling urban center. The depot still stands today, is one of the oldest existing structures in the San Fernando Valley, and has been named a cultural and historic monument by the city of Los Angeles, which means it would have to be restored or moved if the property were to be developed. Now, since the plan was first announced in 2000, it seems the Metro Transit Authority, which owns the depot, will be taking the first major step to fully restoring the Valley's oldest unmodified train station.

The last Red Car - plastered with a sign that read Bye Bye Big Red - left the North Hollywood depot bound for downtown on Dec. 28, 1952, and was soon replaced with a motor coach (bus) line. The automobile and a cruising lifestyle were fast overtaking the Valley. That same year, the Valley Plaza shopping center in North Hollywood was opened, credited as the first major shopping center and department store located in the suburbs, near a freeway and with ample parking.

Today, the North Hollywood station is a combined rapid transit (known locally as a subway) and bus rapid transit (BRT) station in the Los Angeles Metro Rail and Metro Busway systems. It is the northwestern terminus of the B Line subway and eastern terminus of the G Line BRT route. It is located at the intersection of Lankershim Boulevard and Chandler Boulevard in the NoHo Arts District of the North Hollywood neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles.

The North Hollywood station is located on two large blocks near the intersection of Lankershim Boulevard and Chandler Boulevard.

The B Line platform is located under Lankershim and the original entrance to the station, under three colorful arched canopies called "Kaleidoscope Dreams," located on the block east of Lankershim and north of Chandler. This block also contained a large bus plaza and park and ride lot.

The G Line platforms were added about 5 years later, along Chandler and west of Lankershim. For the first 10 years after the opening of the G Line, passengers transferring between the B and G Lines needed to use a crosswalk. Metro constructed a second entrance to the B Line platform on the west side of Lankershim adjacent to the G Line platform in August 2016, easing transfers.

Today, the fare, for honest folks, is $1.75. Be careful in Los Angeles at...

This review pertains to the parking regulations at the station, not the subway itself (the subway is fantastic !). This a WARNING to any first time users to to subway with regards to parking. The park and ride is set up to make money on parking tickets. There are signs that indicate "monthly parking passes". The issue I have is with the signs at the daily parking spots, which only say that cars will be subjected to being towed if left for 72 hours. Theses signs do not indicate a parking citation without obtaining a parking permit. You MUST get a permit for the day. There are these very vague "Park and Pay" signs when you enter the parking lot, but (as I stated above) no reminders on the signs in the daily parking areas. Got nailed with $50 ticket because the MTA doesn't add the parking permit reminder on their signs. I feel this vagueness on the MTA's part is intentional in order to make money on parking tickets. MTA can make this easier and more clearer so people like myself don't get burned...

Use this place only if you have to. There is a subway to hollywood and LA here, multiple buses, and the orange line bus that runs to the west valley. The only nice thing here is the historic train station that is now a coffee shop. It's across the street from the red line subway & buses, and next to the orange line. Be aware north hollywood station is extremely dangerous, filled with ghetto crackheads, felons, & methamphetamine addicts. No security whatsoever most of the time. They refuse to do anything about all the criminals hanging out here shouting, screaming, robbing people, attacking people, harassing people, etc. Metro honestly needs to be sued to force them to...