"stay south of ventura blvd."

[Slauson Rosecranz]

Originally Posted by cre8

Ventura Blvd divides the haves and the have-nots. Got big bucks? Enough to be a neighbor to the Jacksons, TV executives and big-time lawyers? Go south. If you don't, stay north.

I think it's safe to say the only reason why the Jacksons have that sprawling Encino estate is because of Michael and Janet.

I could be wrong, but I REALLY don't think Tito, Randy, and *ugh* LaToya could've made that happen their own.

[RobertC]

Originally Posted by EGR 818

Thats Being too general, although all the areas south of Ventura Blv are affluent many of the nicest neighborhoods in the valley are chatsworth, woodland hills, and porter ranch all of them being in the north valley.

I've always thought Porter Ranch was a little funny. It's mass-produced tract housing for new-money-multihundredthousandaires. Either the rich man's Palmdale or the poor man's Beverly hills. That being said, it is pretty nice, and offers a great view of the valley if you go high enough.

[LALady]

Originally Posted by Slauson Rosecranz

I think it's safe to say the only reason why the Jacksons have that sprawling Encino estate is because of Michael and Janet.

I could be wrong, but I REALLY don't think Tito, Randy, and *ugh* LaToya could've made that happen their own.

I think you are right.

[UB50]

Originally Posted by RobertC

I've always thought Porter Ranch was a little funny. It's mass-produced tract housing for new-money-multihundredthousandaires. Either the rich man's Palmdale or the poor man's Beverly hills. That being said, it is pretty nice, and offers a great view of the valley if you go high enough.

When they started putting up homes in the area where they put the WalMart center, all I could think of was the fire danger. The wind REALLY blows in that area. It's much more dangerous than the older area of Porter Ranch -- and even that area has had fire problems in the past. I know they put a fire station in the middle of all that but I can still see it going up in smoke one of these days.

The other side of the 118 is at least protected a little by having the freeway as a buffer zone...

[UB50]

Originally Posted by EGR 818

Thats Being too general, although all the areas south of Ventura Blv are affluent many of the nicest neighborhoods in the valley are chatsworth, woodland hills, and porter ranch all of them being in the north valley.

Actually, the nicest areas are the gated/guarded communities like Bell Canyon and that other one (can't think of the name) near Chaminade. Before those were around though, everyone said "We live south of the Boulevard."

I think Porter Ranch is just a typical upper middle class suburb. It's not that exclusive.

Holmby Hills. Now that is exclusive.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by UB50

Actually, the nicest areas are the gated/guarded communities like Bell Canyon and that other one (can't think of the name) near Chaminade. Before those were around though, everyone said "We live south of the Boulevard."

I think Porter Ranch is just a typical upper middle class suburb. It's not that exclusive.

Holmby Hills. Now that is exclusive.

Which Chaminade? Devonshire or West Hills?

[UB50]

Originally Posted by Charles

Which Chaminade? Devonshire or West Hills?

Devonshire -- though I actually think the housing development I'm thinking of is up another major street. It's a housing development that allows you to keep horses.

[Desertho]

You don't have to be affluent to live comfortably and safe in the Valley considering the main purpose of the Valley is that you don't have to be affluent to live comfortably and safe in Los Angeles.

Some of the hidden gems I know of in the Valley are the Branford Park area of Arleta, Sun Valley close to the mountains, Shadow Hills, Lake View Terrace close to the mountains, and Sylmar close to the mountains (you see a pattern here?). Also La Tuna Canyon, Sunland/Tujunga close to the mountains if not on it. All are in the much maligned East Valley parts. Inexpensive places by LA standards.

[Fleet]

Originally Posted by UB50

When they started putting up homes in the area where they put the WalMart center, all I could think of was the fire danger. The wind REALLY blows in that area. It's much more dangerous than the older area of Porter Ranch -- and even that area has had fire problems in the past. I know they put a fire station in the middle of all that but I can still see it going up in smoke one of these days.

The other side of the 118 is at least protected a little by having the freeway as a buffer zone...

That is exactly what I was thinking when they started building up there in the early 1990s... the fire danger.
I don't think I would be comfortable living north of Rinaldi St. A very nice area and nice scenery but I would be scared if a fire was burning in the nearby Santa Susana Mountains.

Here are some before and after photos of Porter Ranch...

[Fleet]

Originally Posted by UB50

I think Porter Ranch is just a typical upper middle class suburb. It's not that exclusive.

Holmby Hills. Now that is exclusive.

There are a lot of gated areas in Porter Ranch.
Some things that make it exclusive are the relative lack of traffic (especially compared to places like Van Nuys), the open spaces and scenery, the nice wide streets and the relative lack of smog.