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where to live in LA?
« on: January 26, 2009, 06:42:27 PM »

Offline Cman

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There is a good chance that my wife and I will move to LA for work (a job at USC).  We don't know the area at all, and so would appreciate any suggestions from natives or transplants of the area. 

A few details: we don't have kids, but we hope to at some point.  We like the idea of not having to commute too much (we currently live in the Bay Area, CA, and commuting is very easy for us now). 

One area we were thinking of is the "historic core"/ downtown area, which is close to Staples Center (looking forward to wearing my Celtics gear to games there  ;) ).

Thanks for any and all suggestions/ thoughts.
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Re: where to live in LA?
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2009, 07:29:25 PM »

Offline BigAlTheFuture

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Compton, California. Great great neighborhood.  :P

On a serious note - my mom use to live in Santa Barbara and she loved it there.
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Re: where to live in LA?
« Reply #2 on: January 26, 2009, 07:35:36 PM »

Offline Tnerb02

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Maybe you should try and post it on city-data.com. They have a lot of knowlegeable people on there.

« Last Edit: February 12, 2009, 06:31:09 PM by Tnerb02 »
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Re: where to live in LA?
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2009, 07:41:37 PM »

Offline JAM

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If you don't want to commute then don't move to LA.  I've been here for 9 years, and have just gotten to the place with my family in the past 4 years where we don't have to drive much.  It takes a lot of planning.

The downtown Staples area is being built up, but still has a long, long way to go.  USC itself is not in a great area of City.  

You may want to try Culver City as a section of town.  It's not that close, but not that far.

Regarding kids and schools the LA Unified School District is a disaster.  It's only getting worse with the budget problems the State is having.  If you are willing to commute, and I do mean COMMUTE, I would suggest Burbank or Glendale.  Burbank has a very good public school system, and Glendale's is better than the LAUSD.

Hope to see you around Staples.  If you go to the Clips game you'll see more Cs fans then Clipper fans.
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Re: where to live in LA?
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2009, 07:59:44 PM »

Offline Cman

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Thanks and TPs to everyone for the comments & suggestions.  Jam: didn't know that about the Clippers games.  Very interesting.
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Re: where to live in LA?
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2009, 08:11:35 PM »

Offline D Dub

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My suggestion would be to head towards the beach.  The beach towns are the only ones that don't feel like giant mini-malls overwhelmed by cars.  A little further south by Redondo Beach is most choice, imo.  Palos Verde penisula is beautiful area to paddle and fish.

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Re: where to live in LA?
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2009, 08:24:59 PM »

Offline Danimals

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The best way to live in LA is if you live and work within walking distance of the Metro rail.

http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/maps/images/rail_map_future.pdf

USC is one of the stops for the Metro rail. Simply find housing that is also near one of the many Metro stops. If you do this, you will quickly find that you can live in LA and do practically everything without a car - something unthinkable in years past.



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Re: where to live in LA?
« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2009, 08:29:44 PM »

Offline Cman

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Quote from: Danimals on January 26, 2009, 08:24:59 PM
The best way to live in LA is if you live and work within walking distance of the Metro rail.

http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/maps/images/rail_map_future.pdf

USC is one of the stops for the Metro rail. Simply find housing that is also near one of the many Metro stops. If you do this, you will quickly find that you can live in LA and do practically everything without a car - something unthinkable in years past.


Yes, thanks for this idea.  That is one plus about USC is the new rail line (it is not in place yet, but construction is happening now, and it should be done within 1 year).
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Re: where to live in LA?
« Reply #8 on: January 26, 2009, 09:19:16 PM »

Offline Brickowski

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I'd live in Westwood or Santa Monica, although folks at USC might consider that enemy territory.
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Re: where to live in LA?
« Reply #9 on: January 26, 2009, 09:53:21 PM »

Offline BringToughnessBack

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When I moved to S. Cali a few years back, we lived in Santa Monica near Montana and 10th street and it was one of the best places I have ever lived at. You will have traffic no matter where you are but once you figure things out, it is not that bad. There are always ways around the traffic.

The best thing about Santa Monica near Montana(north of Wilshire is important) is that on weekends, you will not need to drive anywhere. Everything is close..amazing restaurants, the beach is a short walk, great bike path along the water that runs for miles as well. It was a perfect place for my wife and I and we currently live in the N.Bay area but still love the idea of getting back to Santa Monica again. Ideally, 2 places, one in wine country and one in Santa Monica.
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Re: where to live in LA?
« Reply #10 on: January 26, 2009, 09:55:39 PM »

Offline Big Ticket

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Quote from: Cman on January 26, 2009, 06:42:27 PM
There is a good chance that my wife and I will move to LA for work (a job at USC).  We don't know the area at all, and so would appreciate any suggestions from natives or transplants of the area. 

A few details: we don't have kids, but we hope to at some point.  We like the idea of not having to commute too much (we currently live in the Bay Area, CA, and commuting is very easy for us now). 

One area we were thinking of is the "historic core"/ downtown area, which is close to Staples Center (looking forward to wearing my Celtics gear to games there  ;) ).

Thanks for any and all suggestions/ thoughts.

You live in the Bay Area??  Whereabouts, and why have we not watched a Celtics game together?!  ;D
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Re: where to live in LA?
« Reply #11 on: January 26, 2009, 09:56:43 PM »

Offline Big Ticket

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Quote from: BigAlTheFuture on January 26, 2009, 07:29:25 PM
Compton, California. Great great neighborhood.  :P

On a serious note - my mom use to live in Santa Barbara and she loved it there.

I went to school in Santa Barbara... one of the most beautiful places in America and amazing to live there... but not much industry and it's very expensive. 

Little bit far from LA too...
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Re: where to live in LA?
« Reply #12 on: January 26, 2009, 11:21:34 PM »

Offline WayneKreklow

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The USC area is not really a neighborhood you want to live in. Many good recommendations here. My two cents:

- Beaches are great and you will love the quality of life, but the commute will kill you, especially the South Bay.
- Santa Monica has some nice places and the commute is a little less than South Bay, but will still get you a little bit.
- Burbank/Glendale is really not a bad commute, but they are both very sleepy, quiet towns. Burbank schools not too bad, as the studios pay massive taxes.
- Not a fan of living east of the city.
- You could go South, living in the Long Beach area, but again the commute is killer.

The big question really lies in what you prefer -- a higher quality of life during non-working hours or a shorter commute. I lived in Hermosa Beach for years, but the commute to Burbank killed me. I now live in Sherman Oaks, which I like.

And words cannot express how heinous the traffic is.

Best of luck and let us know where you land. Will point out the Celtic friendly bars near you
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Re: where to live in LA?
« Reply #13 on: January 27, 2009, 01:25:57 PM »

Offline BringToughnessBack

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Quote from: Big Ticket on January 26, 2009, 09:55:39 PM
Quote from: Cman on January 26, 2009, 06:42:27 PM
You live in the Bay Area??  Whereabouts, and why have we not watched a Celtics game together?!  ;D


That is a good question! My wife and I live in Sonoma County, about an hour north of SF in Wine Country! I do not remember the last Celtics game we did not watch! Where in the Bay Area are you located?
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Re: where to live in LA?
« Reply #14 on: January 27, 2009, 03:20:08 PM »

Offline Cman

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Thanks again to everyone for the posts about LA (and I have given you all TPs).
I'll keep you all updated on where we end up (waiting to hear back from some other possible places of employment in NYC, Toronto and Boston, but the job in LA is most certain right now -- and probably the best oppty).

Big Ticket: we live in Berkeley.  Still haven't made it to a Warriors game, but am a big fan of Powe and saw him play several times here at Cal  :).
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