It's all about property values. If I recall, there's a relevant passage in "City of Quartz" about this type of thing. Just wait until people start fighting over which streets get to be included in the "new city."

That's what makes this odd, since I doubt Toluca Woods can do any better than "Toluca Lake" for property value by association.

After the Canoga Park civil war that resulted in the creation of West Hills, those of us left in the "barrio" part of CP decided to go even further uptown. When people ask where I live I'll say either Canoga Del Rey, Rancho Del Canoga, Canoga Gardens or my favorite, Canoga Harbor. I shop in Reseda Estates or sometimes Reseda del Mar. And fine dining can always be had in Tarzana Pines and adjacent Laguna Tarzana.

I live in Burbank and there is only ONE Burbank--no Burbank Woods or Burbank Hills! We DO have beautiful downtown Burbank, though, which keeps improving and getting better decades after Rowan & Martin made it famous.

Sure, Burbank's great. I mean, a new PF Changs -- how can you beat that? But even in lowly North Hollywood, where gentrification continues at a snail's pace, houses are going for $500K and up these days. Those of use fortunate to get in at last year's unreasoably high prices have the luxury of looking down our noses at Valley Village. We're also find of saying, "Oh, they're tearing that down to build a Grove-like thing there. Any day now."