History of Janss Investment Company and Westwood Village

The area encompassing Westwood, Brentwood, and West Los Angeles began developing in 1887, when the founders of Santa Monica donated land to the federal government for the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. To further develop the Westwood area, the Janss Investment Company emerged. The Janss Investment Company was a family-run, Los Angeles–based real estate development company that operated from 1895 to 1995—initially operated by two brothers, Edwin Janss Sr. and Harold Janss. Janss Investment Company is responsible fo the development of Westwood Village, the on-street shopping, dining and entertainment district—the 2nd suburban shopping center ever to be built in the nation.

Westwood, early 1930s

In 1925 Janss Investment Company sold 375 acres to the cities of Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills. In turn, this land was donated to the state to be developed into UCLA. While the UCLA campus was being built, Janss Investment Company went to work developing the Westwood Village commercial area and surrounding residential neighborhoods. Westwood began to boom at the same time as UCLA, which officially opened in 1929, and the district served not only faculty, staff and students but also affluent shoppers from the surrounding upscale single-family-home neighborhoods. In terms of architecture, The Janss Investment Company instructed major architects to follow a Mediterranean theme, with clay tile roofs, Spanish tile, paseos, patios and courtyards. At the time, this design was considered one of the nation's best-planned and beautifully laid out commercial areas. In 1955, the Janss brothers sold their remaining titles to the Village to Arnold Kirkeby and later to Manuel Borenstein, both real estate developers at the time. This signaled a transition for the Westwood Village. When planning the Village, the Janss brothers strategically picked businesses that catered to different groups so that the businesses would not be in competition with one another. But with this switch, it indicated the end of a unite front from Westwood Village businesses.

Westwood Village, present-day

In 1970, outside of the immediate Westwood Village, the 24-story office building now known as the Oppenheimer Tower was built. This signaled a shift in design of buildings, as these new buildings soon became a blend of styles with condominium towers and office buildings. With an increase in high-rise office spaces, more commuters were coming to Westwood Village. This led to the Village rapidly growing as a business district. In the 1980s, Westwood Village began to see a setback due to fear of a “crime wave” emerging in the affluent area of Westwood and larger LA area. The setback also contributed to the unplanned and uncoordinated setup of businesses in the area, which now were more in competition with one another.

UCLA Janss Steps

It’s important to bring attention to how Janss Investment Co. used racial covenants to ban people of color from owning properties or businesses in the area in the 1920s. In the summer, UCLA USAC opted to rename Janss Steps as Tongva steps. However, since some indigenous groups do not identify with the term Tongva, the EVP office is now pushing to have the steps renamed as the Kuruvunga Steps to be more intentional and inclusive. As part of the UCLA community, It’s important to reflect on and recognize the evolving history of Westwood.