Hawthorne Area. (Torrance, Culver City, Lomita: apartments, rental, how much)

[AlanD04]

What does anybody know of the Hawthorne area? I was thinking of maybe moving there with a job being located in the 90501 area of Torrance.

[WinnieC]

What area of Hawthorne are you interested in?Some areas are okay other areas are pretty rough.

[AlanD04]

I'm not really sure what parts of Hawthorne. I've just been looking at craigslist for some apartments around the Torrance/Hawthorne area.

[jessemh431]

What is your price range? I can help you look.

I would rather go with western portions of Torrance. Maybe even Redondo/Hermosa Beach.

[AlanD04]

Well I might be getting my cousin to go in with me so I'm not really sure what the price would be if I could find a roomate.

I was looking myself for a studio or 1br for under 1000. The job location is in Torrance, I just trying to find something a little more north, closer to the Valley.

[jessemh431]

Why is that...family?

[jessemh431]

MOVE IN SPECIAL $898 ONE BLOCK FROM THE BEACH (broken link)

I love this one. It's right near downtown Culver City which has a hotel almost like that famous looking building in NYC...you know...that one on the corner of Broadway and something where it splits. There's several restaurants, a movie theater, a couple grocery stores, the movie studios, Coldstone Creamery, a farmer's market every week, and plenty of other stuff within walking distance. Only thing is, it's with a roommate. However, that is one of the best ways to live comfortably in LA. But, if your cousin comes out, you two could be roommates and be able to afford a pretty nice apartment
Looking for a Super Cool Roommate Feb 1st (broken link)

When you find out how much it would be for both of you, let me know and I'll look in a couple more areas for you.

[swagger]

I lived in Hawthorne for a while about 18 years ago (wow, I'm getting old!). I was on 120th St., a little east of Hawthorne Blvd.

The first night in my new place, I was walking a friend who'd helped me move out to his car, which was parked just around the corner on a side street. The car that was parked on the corner (not his) had a smashed window and a dashboard ripped half way out by the thieves who took the stereo.

My favorite Hawthorne anecdote: I was coming home from a friend's place pretty late at night (early in the morning). I turned up the street that lead to the alley where I parked. Just off the corner was a police car parked on the street. As I passed, he pulled out, turned around and started following me. I knew I was going to be pulled over, as my tags were expired. I turned into the alley and parked my motorcycle, at which point he pulled in behind me and stopped.

He got out and started asking me a bunch of questions. Being a skinny white guy, he just assumed that I smoked crack (never in my life) and had convinced himself that I was a drug addict. He told me that he could give me a ticket for the expired tags or some such thing, with which I agreed. He then said, "I could also beat you to a bloody pulp and leave you in the alley." My blood went cold - he was right, and I could do nothing about it (this was before Rodney King). I agreed... He ended up writing me up for the tags and not having the motorcycle endorsement on my license and went on his way.

I was not impressed with Hawthorne - at all. I lived there for six or eight months. I've also lived in Torrance and Lomita, and knew people all over the area. I know there are some decent neighborhoods in Hawthorne, but my advice would be to look elsewhere if you can afford it. Much of Torrance is quite decent, and their police force is top notch (at least it was when I was living there). Based on the zip you gave (90501), I'd look around west Torrance or maybe north Torrance. South Torrance is nice but fairly expensive. I'd avoid old Torrance if possible.

Keep in mind that I lived there a while ago, and things may have changed. Others would probably be able to give advice based on more recent experiences/observations. I just thought I'd throw my two cents in...

[jessemh431]

Trust me, if it was that bad then, it's worse now with all the illegal immigrants bringing in gangs and riff raff. I have a friend that lives there. She won't go out of her house after dark without at least 3 female friends or 2 male friends. During the day she doesn't even like going out, but she does it. I know of white people that are even in gangs in nearby Del Aire. It's called Del Aire Locals, or DAL.

[DontH8Me]

Originally Posted by AlanD04

I'm not really sure what parts of Hawthorne. I've just been looking at craigslist for some apartments around the Torrance/Hawthorne area.

One of the other posters mentioned that some parts are ok, others not so much. This is true, and if it's Hawthorne and it's an apartment, then it is in an undesireable part of Hawthorne. The close-knit communities with good neighbors (Hawthorne is touted as "The City of Good Neighbors") would be Wiseburn/Holly Glen. No apartments there, only SFRs.

I am not sure why one poster suggested to avoid "old" Torrance - I happen to think it is a really quaint, interesting part of town. It seems a bit nicer than North Torrance at any rate.

I happen to work in 90501 as well, so I am familiar with the area here. If you can find a place around here you'd be just fine. If you want to pick a spot farther north to live, then I would suggest looking into El Segundo or Playa del Rey - you could find a rental share or studio within your budget.