LA neighborhood Advice???

SO, I think we are going to just bite the bullet, and leave NYC for the LA area. I need advice though about which areas to move to.

Here is what we want:

1. SAFE
2. BY the water or a 30 minute walk to the water ( willing to lose this one)
3. 1 bedroom rent less then $1400
4. the ability to walk to something like a food store or coffee shop???
5. SAFE SAFE

**** we are also interested in the VALLEY area too? any opinions?**
My husband will have to be able to get to downtown LA for work.

Also - where do you NOT want to live?

Any opinions are much appreciated!

Don't they have the Internet in L.A.?

Gretel, while there may be some transplants from LA who currently reside in Brooklyn and frequent this board, you'd probably have more luck posting on an LA-based message board/blog.

As a California (not LA) transplant, the first place that comes to mind is Santa Monica, but I don't really know what rents are like there. Close to beach, SAFE and lots of shops within walking distance. However, it is not an inexpensive area, but never having lived in LA myself I don't know what rents are like, but I think you could probably find something decent for $1400. However, its not that near "downtown" LA - if the downtown you mean true "Los Angeles". If that's the case, you need to live inland, as the commutes from coastal areas are pretty horrendous.

In case you didn't know, no one walks 30 minutes in LA unless you're in very specific areas - like Santa Monica, Westwood, or Venice, and just staying in the neighborhood. You'll drive to the beach unless you live right near it.

But really, you should be posting on an LA board.

I lived in Venice and in Culver City - I paid $750 for an apartment and $1300 for a very small 2 bdrm house 14 years ago - I can't imagine Santa Monica having rents less than $1400 now - but they did have some inventory of rent-stabilized apartments. The entire West side of L.A. is desirable and closest to the beach.

Nobody walks anywhere - cars are your albatross. The only community feel is in Santa Moinca or Pasadena.

oh, i disagree. my parents live in west hollywood, which has a real community feel. also neighborhoods like silverlake and los gatos are like little towns. not near the water, though.

I think the ocean is on the other side in lA :roll:

Silverlake is VERY cool. My best friend lives there.
Also Whittier, pasadena... oh shoot just PM me.

And Yes, "nobody walks in LA"

Any information I have to offer would be at least 5 years old and I would not be surprised if L.A.'s neighborhoods change as quickly as Brooklyn's.

You'll need a car if you do not already have one. Even if you are a walk-o-maniac, you will need a car.

To determine whether of not a neighborhood has gang activity, you should drive through it after dark. I would not sign a lease for an apartment it L.A. until I saw the nightlife around in a few times.

smw380 wrote: oh, i disagree. my parents live in west hollywood, which has a real community feel. also neighborhoods like silverlake and los gatos are like little towns. not near the water, though.

You're absolutely right - my daughter lives in Silverlake and it's very cool as is Mt Washington as is West Hollywood - I was just addressing the close to the beach area query.

About 5 years ago I was visiting a friend who lived in Santa Monica. We were returning from a gallery opening at around 10:00 PM and were walking home of all things. We were stopped by the Santa Monica police asking why we were walking in the neighborhood. Go figure!

You want to be near a Tommy Burger.

Carnivore wrote: You want to be near a Tommy Burger.

THIS!!! yes... yum!!

I adore Venice Beach. It's like Greenwich Village but with water.

My mom moved to Whittier a few years ago and I was pleasantly surprised (I'm from LA, now a long-time New Yorker). Anywhoo, it has a nice small town feel and is very attractive, with lots of older architecture (uncommon in nearly all of the LA area). The downtown is totally walkable with lots of small shops and restaurants (some quite good), used bookstores, a few galleries, etc. The town seems to provide a lot of civic amenities - outdoor concerts, antique fairs, etc.. There are some nice arts-and-crafts era bungalows near the downtown; some of the more "suburban" parts further from the central downtown have newer, more bland type tract houses. It's worth a look depending on where you'll be working. Otherwise, I also recommend the neighborhoods noted above - Santa Monica would be first on my list if I could afford it, then West Hollywood, Silverlake, Pasadena, Los Feliz, Venice, in no particular order. You HAVE TO HAVE A CAR.

Palms is not a 30 minute walk to the beach, but you can get a nice one bedroom for what you're asking, even less. Also, Culver City.


Marina Del Rey and Mar Vista are pretty reasonable, depending on where you live there. Venice and West LA may be your next best bets. They have all that you're looking for.

You do have to have a car in LA. I'm probably moving back next year. I'll get a moped.

Carnivore wrote: You want to be near a Tommy Burger.

Or In-n-Out!

Santa Monica is your answer. I just relocated to Park Slope from there, and if you like one, you'll like the other.

It's within your budget if you look smart, and everyone I know found their apartment through westsiderentals.com .

You have to pay for a membership, but you could easily buy a login at half price on Craigslist from someone who doesn't need the one month membership anymore.

Anyhow, $50 is waaaaaay better than paying brokers fee.

Brooklynbound wrote: [quote=Carnivore]You want to be near a Tommy Burger.

Or In-n-Out!
Double-Double animal style, fries well-done and a Neapolitan shake.
Does it for me, every time.

dw438 wrote: [quote=Brooklynbound][quote=Carnivore]You want to be near a Tommy Burger.

Or In-n-Out!
Double-Double animal style, fries well-done and a Neapolitan shake.
Does it for me, every time.

Carnivore wrote: [quote=dw438][quote=Brooklynbound][quote=Carnivore]You want to be near a Tommy Burger.

Or In-n-Out!
Double-Double animal style, fries well-done and a Neapolitan shake.
Does it for me, every time.



:shock: I'm still full as hell with dimsum and I want this!! NIOW!!!!


I think I might pass out

I can't wait! Two more weeks!