Idlewood

File:Idlewood.jpg

Idlewood, Los Santos (near), showing Big Smoke's home (light green) and Downtown Los Santos (distance); as depicted in GTA San Andreas.

“

Contested Turf, currently under control of Front Yard Ballas, a major set of Ballas. Old Reece's barber shop has been the local news service for years. Worth hitting up for information.

”

— GTA San Andreas Website.

Idlewood is a district in Los Santos, San Andreas. North of the district are Glen Park and Jefferson, while to the south are Willowfield and El Corona. Districts west of Idlewood are Commerce and Little Mexico, while to the east are Ganton and East Los Santos.

Character

The neighborhood has a high crime-rate and, just like Ganton, is notorious for gang violence, drug-trafficking and prostitution. Idlewood primarily consists of small, single-family houses, housing projects, stores, a Pizza Stack restaurant, a gas station, a few warehouses and the Alhambra club. Idlewood is an african-american neighborhood with a population of 465.

Influence

It is likely that Idlewood is based on real life Inglewood, California. However, the projects area of Idlewood; known as Crystal Gardens (where the crack house is during the mission Cleaning the Hood) is based on the Jordan Downs housing projects in Watts.

Events

Idlewood is the main place to recieve the Big Smoke's missions, in the mission Ryder, the player is introduced to restaurants and barbers there. The neighborhood plays a major role in the mission Grove 4 Life, where Carl and Sweet Johnson take a part from the neighborhood back to the GSF.

Gang control

Idlewood, in 1992, had become a stronghold for the Ballas gang specifically the Front Yard set, but the district had previously been held by Grove Street Families. Sometimes  Aztecas members can be seen walking their turf in the southern end of Idlewood as their territory shares a border with Idlewood violence between them is common when this happens. Later on the game, in the mission Grove 4 Life, CJ and Sweet go to Idlewood and took at least two territories from there back. Carl Johnson can acquire Idlewood as GSF turf by starting a gang war, depending on the player's actions.

Notable Residents

• Melvin "Big Smoke" Harris (Early 1990s - 1992, moved to East Los Santos)

Places of Interest

The Alhambra is the most visited and known place of interest in the neighborhood, an unamed train stop in the border with El Corona, a pizza stack, a tattoo parlor and the Old Reece's barber are the most famous attractions in the neighborhood.

Businesses

Reece's Barber Shop in Idlewood.

• Crystal Gardens
• 1 Day Service
• 24 Hour Motel
• 25¢ Video Arcade
• 69¢ Store
• Alhambra
• City Burgers
• FLOWERS
• Going Gas Station
• Liquor Deli
• Pay 'n' Spray
• Perfumes Flatware
• Old Reece's Hair & Facial Studio
• Security Storage
• Super $5.00
• Tattoos
• Well Stacked Pizza Co.
• Wholesale Produce

Weapons

• Fire Extinguisher (behind the counter at Well Stacked Pizza Co.)
• Flowers (considered a weapon) (at the Going Gas Station)
• Grenade (on top of the stairs at the 24-Hour Motel)
• Katana (behind the wooden fence east of the 69¢ Store)

Others

• Sprunk soft drink vending machine (replenishes health) (at the Going Gas Station and inside the Alhambra Club)
• Ten Gang Tags
• One Unique Stunt Jump
• Multiplayer icon down the street from Big Smoke's house. It is also next to a gang tag.

Trivia

It is possible that Idlewood could be returning in GTA V; this is for many reasons. First of all, Idlewood was located in Los Santos, near Grove Street, and since Grove Street Families are returning, it is likely Idlewood will be too. Another reason is from a screenshot, showing a Freight driving through a small town resembling Idlewood (see gallery).

Gallery

Train.jpeg

The Freight driving through a small town.

Template:Los Santos neighborhoods