About PicFair Village

Named after the Picfair Theater, which stood at the intersection of Pico Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue until the 1980s, it is primarily an African-American middle class neighborhood with an emphasis on single family homes. Picfair is often seen as an "overlooked" neighborhood because it offers superb middle class housing, excellent schooling and educational opportunities, and yet is not as famous as many of the neighboring districts such as Baldwin Hills.

Due to the quiet abundance of space and gradual expansion in the area, local realtors offer a wide selection of homes. While there are a few apartment and condo complexes, the emphasis is primarily on single family residences, with the houses becoming larger and more lavish as they approach Baldwin Hills. As such, Pickfair is becoming very popular among family-oriented African American professionals since it permits them to own a large, centrally located home in a quiet, low-crime neighborhood which is also only a short driving distance from the more commercial districts of Los Angeles. In an effort to increase available and affordable homes while still maximizing space available to residents, two and four family homes have been recently constructed in the southern section of the district.

Picfair is served by the Los Angeles school district, although all students must be bussed to adjoining neighborhoods to attend school. There is no train service, but the broad streets are suitable for both buses and private cars. The neighborhood has also become home to a number of literary personalities, most notably Walter Mosley, who lived in the neighborhood for several years. The availability of affordable homes near to publishers, editors and print organizations has thus made it a popular destination for aspiring African American authors due to the convenience and opportunity it provides.