Neighborhood research: Eagle Rock / Echo Park / Highland Park etc

[Jeff Eames]

Hi all! Looking for our first duplex to house hack in Los Angeles, and would love to hear your thoughts on the Highland Park / Glendale / Echo Park area. Open to expanding a little further south as well, but would love to stay north of the 10/101. How do you go about researching new development going in? Where are the cool new spots going in? Where are the best up-and-coming spots? 

I'm planning to spend some time in the coming weeks driving the neighborhoods, talking to people, checking out the shopping areas, etc. Anything else I can do online to maximize my time when I hit the pavement? Thanks for any advice you can offer!