People who know real stuff about Silverlake (Los Angeles, San Fernando: apartments, to rent)

[Tea Tea]

Hey

I would like to hear from people who have lived (or still live) in Silverlake or work there and really knows the area. A lot of people say different things and exaggerate if they've only been there for a couple days.

I'm considering moving there, I really like it there but I was only around for a day. I want to know what it's like to live there.

I look forward to hearing your opinions

Thanks

[Tea Tea]

[cynwldkat]

Personally I would not like to live there. I had a friend that lived there...guess he thought it was ok. It depends on what you are looking for. There are a lot nicer places to live. I lived about 20 minutes from there in the San Fernando Valley for 20 years. I'm sure I didn't see all of Silverlake but what I saw didn't impress me.

[ndomorph]

That's a really general question, can you focus it? Are you interested in the social scene? Rents? Geography? Dog friendliness? Walkability? Parking/traffic? Air quality?

[Sorcerer68]

Silverlake has some of the most stunning architectural homes in Southern California. Most are mid-century designs from architects like Neutra. Silverlake has one of the largest concentration of gay and lesbian population in Los Angeles resulting in a very artsy environment. There has been a huge gentrification movement in the last several years, especially on and near Sunset which has become a wonderful urban village. IMHO Hyperion still could use beautification. Some people missed the memo that it's not a bad neighborhood anymore and it's ok to take the bars off the windows. There are many art galleries, cafes, boutiques and antique shops. If you enjoy walking or walking a dog, a stroll around the lake itself is a great place to do it. There's a dog park on the south end of the lake. Silverlake seems to meld into the neighboring communities of Echo Park and Los Feliz (where I live). One of the beauties of Silverlake is it's central location.

Conservative Rebublican types probably think Silverlake is hell, just as people like myself would rather gargle broken glass than live in a "master planned community". It's all in who you are and what you seek. A lot of opinions you hear about Silverlake come from the first type I described or people who haven't been there in years. The changes are astonishing. The hills have never been bad. I never tire of looking at the amazing homes there.

[Tea Tea]

Originally Posted by cynwldkat

Personally I would not like to live there. I had a friend that lived there...guess he thought it was ok. It depends on what you are looking for. There are a lot nicer places to live. I lived about 20 minutes from there in the San Fernando Valley for 20 years. I'm sure I didn't see all of Silverlake but what I saw didn't impress me.

What exactly didn't impress you? Could you be a bit specific please? Was it just the whole vibe? I hear it's improving a lot. I'm an arty person so people say it would be good for me.

[Tea Tea]

Originally Posted by ndomorph

That's a really general question, can you focus it? Are you interested in the social scene? Rents? Geography? Dog friendliness? Walkability? Parking/traffic? Air quality?

All of it. I mentioned im considering moving there so rent, parking, traffic, social scene and walkability is all important. Not so much Dog friendliness and air quality.

[Tea Tea]

Originally Posted by Sorcerer68

Silverlake has some of the most stunning architectural homes in Southern California. Most are mid-century designs from architects like Neutra. Silverlake has one of the largest concentration of gay and lesbian population in Los Angeles resulting in a very artsy environment. There has been a huge gentrification movement in the last several years, especially on and near Sunset which has become a wonderful urban village. IMHO Hyperion still could use beautification. Some people missed the memo that it's not a bad neighborhood anymore and it's ok to take the bars off the windows. There are many art galleries, cafes, boutiques and antique shops. If you enjoy walking or walking a dog, a stroll around the lake itself is a great place to do it. There's a dog park on the south end of the lake. Silverlake seems to meld into the neighboring communities of Echo Park and Los Feliz (where I live). One of the beauties of Silverlake is it's central location.

Conservative Rebublican types probably think Silverlake is hell, just as people like myself would rather gargle broken glass than live in a "master planned community". It's all in who you are and what you seek. A lot of opinions you hear about Silverlake come from the first type I described or people who haven't been there in years. The changes are astonishing. The hills have never been bad. I never tire of looking at the amazing homes there.

Thank you for your reply. I enjoyed reading that. Found it rather interesting. I do like the idea of going for a walk or jog by the lake and the shops round there are great!

So there aren't any parts of Silverlake that are ruff and not safe to live in? When I search on craigslist for apartments I start to wonder if it's a nice part or bad part of Silverlake. Rent seems to be reasonable cheap.

[Sorcerer68]

Originally Posted by Tea Tea

Thank you for your reply. I enjoyed reading that. Found it rather interesting. I do like the idea of going for a walk or jog by the lake and the shops round there are great!

So there aren't any parts of Silverlake that are ruff and not safe to live in? When I search on craigslist for apartments I start to wonder if it's a nice part or bad part of Silverlake. Rent seems to be reasonable cheap.

We used to call the part near Sunset Ghettolake but it's not the case anymore. The hills are the most expensive. Housing in Silverlake runs from apartments to mansions and everything in between. Rent is reasonable compared to lots of other parts of L.A.

[LivingLikeAGradStudent]

I like Los Feliz more than Silver Lake, which has more traffic, tougher parking and some, well, inconsistently kept-up homes and streets. Hills just west of Dodger Stadium have some nice places to rent.