Pasadena vs. Marina Del Rey (Santa Clarita, Burbank: condos, safe area, living)

[prim2007]

Anyone have any thoughts on which would be a better place to live if working in downtown LA? I also would travel 3-4 days out of the month so it would be nice to have a reasonable drive to the airport.

I also heard Santa Clarita is a nice, safe area but it sounds a bit far and may be a little slow for a single 30-something professional.

[morefromcali]

I think that if you are working downtown, that you'd be much better off in Pasadena. I love Marina del Rey, and it is an easy drive to the airport, but Pasadena is a much easier drive downtown. Good luck with your decision!

[Sorcerer68]

Pasadena is teeming with life and a nice, easy place to live. Commute to Downtown isn't bad at all. I've lived there as a 30something professional and loved it. My place was on the edge of Old Pas and we never lacked things to do. Burbank airport is a great secret---incredibly easy and you can be from curb, through security and to your gate in 20 minutes. This airport was 15 minutes from my door most days.

[waverlyroot]

I work downtown and live near Pasadena. Though the 110 is hellish, you can exit off to a number of side streets that will take you in more quickly. I don't know much about Marina del Rey, but I can say that Pasadena is a gem, well-managed and well-governed. Lots of cultural and educational opportunities, and gorgeous architecturally to boot. The Westside may have better weather, but it's just strip malls and condos as far as I can tell.

[prim2007]

Thanks for sharing. This is very helpful!

[TheRealAngelion]

They are very different. Pasadena has a small town feel, quaint, old money, but also yuppy, community oriented with traditions and its own unique identity and sensibility. Not to mention it has some of the most beautiful residential neighborhoods in the country. You would be closer to downtown as others have mentioned. The downsides are that Pasadena is farther away from LAX and can get hot and smoggy, especially during the summer. Nevertheless, everyone I have ever known who has lived in Pasadena absolutely love the place.

Marina Del Rey on the other hand is near the ocean and on the Westside, which will put you close to Santa Monica and Venice Beach to the north and Manhattan and Hermosa Beaches to the south. The beach communities are more laidback and eclectic, but at can also be more fast paced and hectic because of the high population density and more diverse demographic. The biggest pluses are that there is a greater variety of things to see and do on the Westside, you would be close to LAX, and the coastal climate is better than in Pasadena. Downsides are you would have a longer commute to downtown and Westside traffic and congestion to contend with on a daily basis. But living near the ocean can be irresistible.