Relocating to Burbank with my teen-questions, questions.... (Los Angeles, Long Beach: hardwood floors, leasing)
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Hi all, I am planning a move to Burbank with my teenage son next school year. Personally, I would have chosen somewhere closer into town like Miracle Mile, Larchmont given my friends locations, familiar areas, my personal preferences but he would be attending a school that will give him a fantastic education in a field he is very skilled in, as they have a program at Burbank High School that is tailored to what we have been looking for and simply unable to find in LAUSD or our home state, in addition to issues with sub par educational standards that have presented issues in our homestate. He has been homeschooled for sometime and able to expand on a field over his middle school years to a point where he is now at an intermediate level and I would hate to halt that for him because of limited resources where we are. So we did a search for schools out of state in NY and CA and weighed out many things and at this time California is the best option for us. I love what I read about the diversity, safety, cleanliness, etc of Burbank, and will be visiting in April to look at apts and hone in on job stuff. If we settle there, I would need to do so before the start of his 9th grade year by spring or summer.
Background: Well, here's more about us. I am a 35 yr old female, I am a vocalist/songwriter and actress from Atl area-I love my craft and my educational background is in performing arts, entertainment, psychology and communications. LA has always been a goal for me to pursue it all, but I wanted to wait until my son was older. Now he is 14 and will soon be ready for high school. Eventually I want to pull a masters at UCLA for grad school. For now, I am not opposed to working a regular job a while, securing our foundation there and setting my pursuits aside so my son can attend school at the best place we have found for him. First priority is him, always. The cost of living is higher in Burbank than other places I was originally searching so I would have to adjust some things in terms of work to make up the difference, which is fine for now. I would not plan on moving again out of California so I have plenty of time to pursue my craft and relocate later, but I want to focus on him and just supplement with acting classes a while for myself, settle in, get to know the area, networking, etc. and take my time with things. I have job leads in Studio City, West Hollywood and Burbank. I have also been told to stay open to temp work in entertainment, to give room for booking work but I am leary of that just because there is no consistency or guarantees on location and frequency of work. Yes, there are cheaper places to live outside of Burbank, but if we live outside of Burbank, in order for him to attend BHS, I would have to work in Burbank, obtain a work exception for student to attend who lives out of district, I would have to work (only in Burbank) full-time, like continuously the 4 years he is in high school, until at least 11th grade and even then, there is no guarantee he would be able to continue to attend due to priority of residents. Given my field and interests, that is not the best scenario for me as well, being iron clad stuck for 4 years somewhere working in Burbank, until he is 18, so the sacrifice is letting go of a cheaper place outside of Burbank and paying a little more so he can have a spot at guaranteed all 4 years. It is much easier by simply living in Burbank. The rules are so strict on where we live, we have to be zoned for the high school, otherwise it all becomes a complicated mess getting him in there and keeping him in there. Okay onto questions.
1) So social questions... I keep reading I will be sacrificing my life socially in Burbank being young and in my 30's because "no one will want to come out there to visit you". How true is this, really? I don't mind going into town to see friends and meet others but I am curious if this is an exaggeration? Is it really that socially boring and bland? I would love to make solid friends in the area to hang out with. I am a social butterfly. I have read it is a city run by moms and seniors. It is a kid friendly town which I love but I am still single, 35, not a party gal or clubber nowadays, by any means but I love meeting fun and outgoing people and would love to be able to meet others my age or in the range in the Burbank area as well, to go out to eat with, explore food and wine, events or have dinner with friends. I heard NOLO is a great place especially for artists and that it is college student heavy, I also heard some other negatives about safety and things, I am not sure it's my flavor yet. I would love a balance so my son has friends around locally and lots of kids to hang out with but I would also love to have a local social life too, with things to do. Is this an unrealistic expectation for Burbank? I have lived in an area before that was mostly older moms and seniors in a vacation and retiree area and it was like watching paint dry some days, there were no younger people around in their late twenties to mid thirties-I had to drive far out anytime I wanted to meet friends regularly. Like I said, I don't mind driving into LA, after all it's not really that far away, but I would love a realistic view of things in Burbank. I don't yet consider myself to be the suburban mom type-it seems a lot of what I read is full of sarcasm when it comes to Burbank and it being super suburbia and "behind in the times", so I just want to be prepared.
2) I have also read Burbank is so easily accessible to the 170, 4, etc, close to the areas where I would need to go to see friends, for future auditions, bookings, etc, and that it is not so far removed from LA...I was also told however, to avoid residing close to the highways due to smog levels and noise...this leads to my next question. How bad is the smog at this point there? My son had significant issues with asthma growing up, but seems to do great in warmer climates. I have mild asthma as well. Is the smog really strong in Burbank compared to other areas? I havent had much luck finding this info for this year online.
3) Also, any pointers on where to live in the area, I am looking for walkability in location and to be near some socially dense areas, shopping (not strip malls, but I loved the Grove last time I was there, so thinking more along the lines of entertainment, shopping, dining, etc) especially having a teenager. I read from several students at BHS the area is great for them as students and friends to hang out, so at least he would have a ball there. The safety there has been a highlight as well for me, since it is just the two of us. Any additional input including my questions about the area is welcome! Thanks all!
Last edited by mickib; 02-24-2016 at 03:32 PM..
Reason: grammatical errors
if there are still people out there who will refuse to visit you because you live in the valley, i doubt those are the type of people you want to spend time with. it's certainly a family friendly area, but nightlife is not far away in places like NOHO and studio city. as for smog, LA has dirty air compared to pretty much every other city in the country, but it's not nearly as bad as it used to be. the worst smog tends to be near the ports in the Long Beach area and the Inland Empire.
Join Meetup.com for your interests. Tons of people out there. You can adjust the mile radius from Burbank, depending on how far you want to drive. Be Ok with driving 25 miles, as everything is spread out. The Valley will have plenty for you to do fun and job-wise. West Hollywood is a bear to drive to because no freeways go there, BTW.
Once your son starts school he will become a "resident" for continuation in his school, no more competing AFAIK. However, you will need to be a confirmed resident for 1 year to get in-state college tuition. Also be aware, UCLA gets the highest number of applications for ANY university in the US, it's extremely competetive.
It would help if you'd just say where you're coming from, if you want comparisons and better tips.
In terms of renting, Burbank is actually much cheaper than Miracle Mile/Larchmont area, is it not? And it's a good location for your interests as well -singing, acting? Burbank is where you should WANT to be! It's where all the big film studios are located.
Plenty of people your age and younger live in the area as well (All the people who work at said studios.)
Downside, though, it's definitely not a walkable area.
I've lived in Burbank for 2 years now and chose it after driving every single neighborhood in Los Angeles for six months prior. I was 38 when I moved here, no children.
I love it here still, and spouse and I are looking to buy here in Burbank.
Which brings me to my first point, and then I'll probably answer all your questions in random and weaving order: every area has its own feel. You may have already noticed this, since you mention loving the Grove when you visited. Even socially, you may find that you don't want to meet friends in certain areas, because you just don't like the ambience. (I found this adorable coffee shop to meet a friend at recently, but when we got there, the neighborhood it was in felt gross and old. We never went back.) Speaking of, you ALSO may not want to "make the drive" - there have been times I wanted to see friends, but that party was in Venice on Friday night and I said LOL NOPE.
Living in Burbank: Burbank Town Center would be a place you'd enjoy, if you like the Grove. It's got a similar feel and I spend many warm nights there eating great Indian food followed by coffee and creme brulee next door, watching the outdoor living statues or breakdancers or whoever else is up that evening.
Don't worry about living next to the highways, hell, you want that if you're going to be commuting often. I can't say that all of Burbank is walkable per se, but when you start looking at places, you'll get a better feel for places more walkable to you than others. I live on the Toluca Lake border so Burbank is technically thoroughly walkable for me; in 2-10 minutes I've done my grocery shopping, grabbed my Starbucks, made my bank deposit, had a great chocolate croissant. In fact, Magnolia is only a mile so I can walk the other way there, grab some Porto's bakery items, walk up and down Magnolia checking out the antique shops, take a yoga class, stop at the park...but like everything in LA, your mileage will vary. Plenty of mom and pop owned to enjoy.
Being close to the 5 is great because you can get to Glendale (hit the Americana if you want Grove-style shopping) and Pasadena in a jiffy, or hop on to the 134 or 101 to get anywhere else. It's one of the things I do love about living in Burbank - the fact that we can get everywhere pretty quickly depending on traffic (and sometimes even despite it).
Socially, it's a diverse as anywhere else. You'll see old ladies with purple dreadlocks and moms with strollers. Magnolia Park is a great place to hang out and people watch, or just explore all the retro and vintage and antique stores that populate Magnolia Boulevard. We also have the IKEA, if you're into that but that's a total side note. Depending on how sociaBLE you are, you can meet new people everywhere; standing in line at Porto's Bakery (considered one of the best bakeries in LA), in your new yoga class, etc. People keep to themselves but are friendly when interacting. I haven't had a poor interaction with anyone yet. There are plenty of outside sociable places (like Burbank Town Center and Magnolia Street 1st Friday Out) and events that will put you in the same place as other people who share that immediate interest. You can also find Facebook groups for LA residents that have common interests if Meetup.com doesn't work out. Tons of social events and volunteer opportunities to meet people that you already have one thing in common with, that sort of thing. I wouldn't consider it bland per se, but it is much slower paced when compared to Hollywood, which gives me panic attacks. I prefer to live in the calm and visit the chaos. There are plenty of kids here. Would I consider it suburbia? Yes, compared again to Hollywood. And I think when you have a child, that's a good thing, because his base is safe and easy to manage expectations while you VISIT the other areas for excitement or change of pace without the commitment to it.
Downtown Burbank will have everything you need if you plan to live on that side of Burbank. But see, come over the 5 and you'll have another feel. So explore ALL of Burbank to see how each enclave of it feels to you depending on your price range. I'd rather you live in Burbank and drive around to work, than live outside Burbank and have to add all those restrictions and the task of getting your son TO school on top of driving around LA for work ANYWAY. You'll thank me on that one, and like you said, you can hop-skip-jump elsewhere when you want a change of pace/scenery. Plus, the traffic in Burbank is a dream. You can still get to the beach in Santa Monica (of shop at 3rd Street Promenade there) in 45 minutes on a good weekend morning. Or the Grove. Or Beverly Hills. Pasadena is 10 minutes away (loooooove that place).
Renting a place is it's own situation. Shouldn't be hard to find a 2 bedroom; in Burbank they run from 1600-2500. Depends on your budget, taste, and non-negotiables. Don't act like you just got into town, though, and have first and last's at the ready.
Regarding NOLO - I think you meant NOHO, North Hollywood, no, it's not as nice and safe, between the two I'd pick Burbank. You can drive into NOHO if you need to socialize there that badly, but it's not hipsterfied so much that you'd love it. In fact, spouse and I drove through it today and he said "man, we wouldn't like living here, because the median age of everywhere here is probably 25-28, and not in a good way." I visit some of the more hipster bars and coffee shops, but don't plan on leasing anytime soon. For Burbank, yes there are a few areas I wouldn't rent. You can't go wrong with Toluca-Lake adjacent (heck you can get a place right across from the studios), and close to Downtown, for great walkability.
I grew up in Burbank, and know it well. Though I graduated from the cross-town rival high school, John Burroughs JBHS, alma mater of Ron Howard, Rene Russo, Brittany Murphy & Debbe Dunning
I am sure you can find affordable housing in Burbank.
Even the less expensive places are still in a safe area for you and your son.
The one thing to take into consideration is commuting in the area, as it can be extremely time consuming to go a short distance.
Driving during rush hour from UCLA to Burbank or vice versa would be absolutely frenetic.
There are "hip" areas of Burbank. And yes, Burbank can be somewhat super suberbia, but having their own police force which is very attentive, and which is why the city is safe... you can't go wrong in living in a safer city for yourself and for your son.
Growing up in the 70's in Burbank the smog level was very poor, though things have changed greatly over the last several decades and your son should be fine. I too had asthma, but grew out of it.
Let us know what you end up doing.
Best of luck,
Join Meetup.com for your interests. Tons of people out there. You can adjust the mile radius from Burbank, depending on how far you want to drive. Be Ok with driving 25 miles, as everything is spread out. The Valley will have plenty for you to do fun and job-wise. West Hollywood is a bear to drive to because no freeways go there, BTW.
Once your son starts school he will become a "resident" for continuation in his school, no more competing AFAIK. However, you will need to be a confirmed resident for 1 year to get in-state college tuition. Also be aware, UCLA gets the highest number of applications for ANY university in the US, it's extremely competetive.
It would help if you'd just say where you're coming from, if you want comparisons and better tips.
Thanks so much for your input..all of this is great. Esp the info on UCLA thanks so much. I thought I'd mentioned I was coming from Atl, GA. Major difference compared to the south. I so appreciated your reply.
if there are still people out there who will refuse to visit you because you live in the valley, i doubt those are the type of people you want to spend time with. it's certainly a family friendly area, but nightlife is not far away in places like NOHO and studio city. as for smog, LA has dirty air compared to pretty much every other city in the country, but it's not nearly as bad as it used to be. the worst smog tends to be near the ports in the Long Beach area and the Inland Empire.
Haha, yes...good point, ditto on friends who refuse to visit. It made it sound like it was a planet away. Thank you for your reply, this is so helpful.
I grew up in Burbank, and know it well. Though I graduated from the cross-town rival high school, John Burroughs JBHS, alma mater of Ron Howard, Rene Russo, Brittany Murphy & Debbe Dunning
I am sure you can find affordable housing in Burbank.
Even the less expensive places are still in a safe area for you and your son.
The one thing to take into consideration is commuting in the area, as it can be extremely time consuming to go a short distance.
Driving during rush hour from UCLA to Burbank or vice versa would be absolutely frenetic.
There are "hip" areas of Burbank. And yes, Burbank can be somewhat super suberbia, but having their own police force which is very attentive, and which is why the city is safe... you can't go wrong in living in a safer city for yourself and for your son.
Growing up in the 70's in Burbank the smog level was very poor, though things have changed greatly over the last several decades and your son should be fine. I too had asthma, but grew out of it.
Let us know what you end up doing.
Best of luck,
Kenneth
Kenneth, this is so great, thanks so much for your input as a native "Burbankian". I have read so many things about JBHS too!!! I have seen some less expensive places online lately, so it is good to know the area is generally safe all around.
Yes, it seems the best thing to do is to work in the area and leave social excursions and explorations to traveling outside of the area. One thing I hate is being stuck in traffic for ridiculously long periods back and forth to work on a daily basis.
It seems this is also the best time to go because he has grown out of having severe asthma, now just uses his inhaler as needed, but much more manageable. The pollen here in GA has him sneezing but that's so much better than ER visits and nebulizers, so that's great the smog is better than it used to be.
BHS has a fantastic program in animation, so that is why I chose that, otherwise either school seems fantastic! The only thing I found very different was that one of the counselors told me on the phone there are no buses...the kids either drive, get picked up or dropped off or they walk to and from school. (Coming from Atlanta, that wasn't necessarily appealing to me, also because I lived once in an area where there were one too many registered sex offenders), so the idea of him possibly having to walk or not some days, because he is not of driving age and if I had to work while he is at school, was unnerving, but it does make me feel better to hear of the police presence.
I will definitely keep everyone posted on how things unfold
I've lived in Burbank for 2 years now and chose it after driving every single neighborhood in Los Angeles for six months prior. I was 38 when I moved here, no children.
I love it here still, and spouse and I are looking to buy here in Burbank.
Which brings me to my first point, and then I'll probably answer all your questions in random and weaving order: every area has its own feel. You may have already noticed this, since you mention loving the Grove when you visited. Even socially, you may find that you don't want to meet friends in certain areas, because you just don't like the ambience. (I found this adorable coffee shop to meet a friend at recently, but when we got there, the neighborhood it was in felt gross and old. We never went back.) Speaking of, you ALSO may not want to "make the drive" - there have been times I wanted to see friends, but that party was in Venice on Friday night and I said LOL NOPE.
Living in Burbank: Burbank Town Center would be a place you'd enjoy, if you like the Grove. It's got a similar feel and I spend many warm nights there eating great Indian food followed by coffee and creme brulee next door, watching the outdoor living statues or breakdancers or whoever else is up that evening.
Don't worry about living next to the highways, hell, you want that if you're going to be commuting often. I can't say that all of Burbank is walkable per se, but when you start looking at places, you'll get a better feel for places more walkable to you than others. I live on the Toluca Lake border so Burbank is technically thoroughly walkable for me; in 2-10 minutes I've done my grocery shopping, grabbed my Starbucks, made my bank deposit, had a great chocolate croissant. In fact, Magnolia is only a mile so I can walk the other way there, grab some Porto's bakery items, walk up and down Magnolia checking out the antique shops, take a yoga class, stop at the park...but like everything in LA, your mileage will vary. Plenty of mom and pop owned to enjoy.
Being close to the 5 is great because you can get to Glendale (hit the Americana if you want Grove-style shopping) and Pasadena in a jiffy, or hop on to the 134 or 101 to get anywhere else. It's one of the things I do love about living in Burbank - the fact that we can get everywhere pretty quickly depending on traffic (and sometimes even despite it).
Socially, it's a diverse as anywhere else. You'll see old ladies with purple dreadlocks and moms with strollers. Magnolia Park is a great place to hang out and people watch, or just explore all the retro and vintage and antique stores that populate Magnolia Boulevard. We also have the IKEA, if you're into that but that's a total side note. Depending on how sociaBLE you are, you can meet new people everywhere; standing in line at Porto's Bakery (considered one of the best bakeries in LA), in your new yoga class, etc. People keep to themselves but are friendly when interacting. I haven't had a poor interaction with anyone yet. There are plenty of outside sociable places (like Burbank Town Center and Magnolia Street 1st Friday Out) and events that will put you in the same place as other people who share that immediate interest. You can also find Facebook groups for LA residents that have common interests if Meetup.com doesn't work out. Tons of social events and volunteer opportunities to meet people that you already have one thing in common with, that sort of thing. I wouldn't consider it bland per se, but it is much slower paced when compared to Hollywood, which gives me panic attacks. I prefer to live in the calm and visit the chaos. There are plenty of kids here. Would I consider it suburbia? Yes, compared again to Hollywood. And I think when you have a child, that's a good thing, because his base is safe and easy to manage expectations while you VISIT the other areas for excitement or change of pace without the commitment to it.
Downtown Burbank will have everything you need if you plan to live on that side of Burbank. But see, come over the 5 and you'll have another feel. So explore ALL of Burbank to see how each enclave of it feels to you depending on your price range. I'd rather you live in Burbank and drive around to work, than live outside Burbank and have to add all those restrictions and the task of getting your son TO school on top of driving around LA for work ANYWAY. You'll thank me on that one, and like you said, you can hop-skip-jump elsewhere when you want a change of pace/scenery. Plus, the traffic in Burbank is a dream. You can still get to the beach in Santa Monica (of shop at 3rd Street Promenade there) in 45 minutes on a good weekend morning. Or the Grove. Or Beverly Hills. Pasadena is 10 minutes away (loooooove that place).
Renting a place is it's own situation. Shouldn't be hard to find a 2 bedroom; in Burbank they run from 1600-2500. Depends on your budget, taste, and non-negotiables. Don't act like you just got into town, though, and have first and last's at the ready.
Regarding NOLO - I think you meant NOHO, North Hollywood, no, it's not as nice and safe, between the two I'd pick Burbank. You can drive into NOHO if you need to socialize there that badly, but it's not hipsterfied so much that you'd love it. In fact, spouse and I drove through it today and he said "man, we wouldn't like living here, because the median age of everywhere here is probably 25-28, and not in a good way." I visit some of the more hipster bars and coffee shops, but don't plan on leasing anytime soon. For Burbank, yes there are a few areas I wouldn't rent. You can't go wrong with Toluca-Lake adjacent (heck you can get a place right across from the studios), and close to Downtown, for great walkability.
Thank you for taking the time to help me with such detail!! This is fantastic. ...and quite funny, my son and I read it together and he was tickled and put at ease too about some things. BTW, I LOVE IKEA! I was hoping there was one in the area because I will need to IKEA much of my home. Also, the Burbank Town Center if it's anything like the Grove as you mentioned, will be awesome and perfect for me. I grew up in an area that had a place similar to the Grove, probably a little smaller, but it was like the town square kind of, so it honestly reminded me of home. Burbank Town Center sounds great. I also have an aunt in Pasadena, so that being close is great. I intend to attend a church I always visit when I come that moved to Glendale most Sundays when I can, so Glendale being close too is awesome. My son loves bakeries so he would love Porto's and I am a coffee gal so coffee shops are a plus. I also love "thrifting", so it sounds like there are lots of little shops around to explore. I read through every word and this just reinforced so many things and answered so many questions for me!!! Yes, I meant NOHO, not NOLO, hahaha! I am going to make a note of all the cool places you mentioned since I will be coming out there next month, so I can check them out.
The one non negotiable for me is probably just having a dishwasher and W/D in home...I loathe coin machines and had one bad experience with some guy stealing my lady clothes and sheets from the machine, and since I do lots of laundry, that's a deal breaker. I also have fibromyalgia neuromusculoskeletal issues, so it's easier for everything in home to be there and any modern amenities to take the load off of me physically. So I am also looking for something ground floor or with elevators, etc. more accessible in terms of a home. As well as better parking than a place like say, West Hollywood, because lugging crap around for me whether groceries, a purse, into work, etc, doesnt help my condition. The fibro is another reason the climate works for me...although ATL is known as Hotlanta, the winters can still be incredibly intense and temperature jumps can be insane on my nerves and muscles. I seem to do better out there. Hardwood floors too bec of his allergies to dust and puppy friendly is about it. I have been open to roommates, but my son is not as keen on the idea...it sounds like there are plenty of options we can explore. You dont have to tell me twice about the commuting nightmares, I agree much better to work in Burbank and be where he can easily go to school there and just go into town and get out of it as we please.
My son was enamored at the thought of breakdancers, as I was with the creme brulee. He also loves Indian food. Sounds like a dream. I will take a stroll through next month. I currently use meetup in Atl and have met lots of people in wine meetups and things like that. I also forgot to mention I enjoy horseback riding so hopefully I can find a place nearby ...I know Pierce in Woodland Hills has some equestrian courses there, but not sure the distance yet.
(I found this adorable coffee shop to meet a friend at recently, but when we got there, the neighborhood it was in felt gross and old. We never went back.) Speaking of, you ALSO may not want to "make the drive" - there have been times I wanted to see friends, but that party was in Venice on Friday night and I said LOL NOPE. ......This is SOOOO me.
You mentioned a few places in Burbank that may not be a good idea to rent in...can you elaborate on that?
Anywho...Can't thank you enough!!!!
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