Is this a decent area to rent????????? (Los Angeles, Ross: for sale, apartments)

[Jakehorror]

I'm not familiar with this particular area and may rent a room there: 112 west 5th st. 90013
It's called the Rosslyn and another City Data pal told me about it. I'm looking for a room until I can get established and get a nice 1 bedroom so as long as it's not a "murder zone" it's ok. Is this area close to public transportation? Shopping etc? I have no kids or pets. Very low maintence= I can rough it if I have to.

[CESpeed]

That's in downtown. It's not the murder capital, but if you want to "rough it", congratulations. If it's an SRO, your roommates will be homeless or almost homeless people. Personally, they couldn't give me a place. Do you need to be downtown? Have you considered Koreatown or Hollywood? If you are forced to use public transportation, they both have good connections. Try craigslist: los angeles classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events. Good Luck.

[nickdahammer]

Originally Posted by Jakehorror

I'm not familiar with this particular area and may rent a room there: 112 west 5th st. 90013
It's called the Rosslyn and another City Data pal told me about it. I'm looking for a room until I can get established and get a nice 1 bedroom so as long as it's not a "murder zone" it's ok. Is this area close to public transportation? Shopping etc? I have no kids or pets. Very low maintence= I can rough it if I have to.

It will be rough, IMHO. But I do have a friend who lives at the Bartlett @ 7th and Spring. He has a dog and they walk up Main from 7th all the time. That's certainly a new development- used to be like running a handout/smell gauntlet of down-and-outers. The Rosslyn is slowly becoming an artist's haven and I know they are giving 'tours' of the building. Funny you mention it, because a friend of mine has a friend (might be you...?) who is interested in the building. We may be taking a tour of it next week.

There is a great Pho restaurant right around the corner and some great places north on Main, aka 'The Old Bank District." New book store, DVD Bank, and of course, Pete's Cafe.

If you need anything more specific, let me know. I don't give advise unless I've walked the area myself, and I have.

[nickdahammer]

Originally Posted by Jakehorror

I'm not familiar with this particular area and may rent a room there: 112 west 5th st. 90013
It's called the Rosslyn and another City Data pal told me about it. I'm looking for a room until I can get established and get a nice 1 bedroom so as long as it's not a "murder zone" it's ok. Is this area close to public transportation? Shopping etc? I have no kids or pets. Very low maintence= I can rough it if I have to.

I re-read my post: his dog is very small- sounded like he was a great dane or something...!

FYI, the Rosslyn is the western-most end of the 'nickel', aka Fifth Street, aka Skid Row. So you are gonna run into those denizens at night. They are fewer than in the past, but still there.

[IvyAve]

Originally Posted by Jakehorror

I'm not familiar with this particular area and may rent a room there: 112 west 5th st. 90013
It's called the Rosslyn and another City Data pal told me about it. I'm looking for a room until I can get established and get a nice 1 bedroom so as long as it's not a "murder zone" it's ok. Is this area close to public transportation? Shopping etc? I have no kids or pets. Very low maintence= I can rough it if I have to.

I've lived in Los Angeles my entire life and worked downtown for at least 15 years. 112 W. 5th Street is a crack haven. Although, there has been some revitalization of downtown, I would strongly suggest you look in another area. Crime is at it's highest in that area. It’s like living in Time Square during the 80s. If rent is cheap in L.A., there's a reason why. I would never suggest living on skid row to anyone. Here's a youtube video of skid row:
YouTube - Skid Row Test Trailer

[the one]

some people might think its gritty, others will say its livable, and some might think its the best place on earth. only real way to know is by going down there yourself. i walk this stretch from 2nd/main down to the old score bar on 4th/main and over to 5th/spring regularly, always been fine. but maybe i dont look like the mark for a stick up. im sure a pretty girl with a big hermes bag might be just the flavor for some goon. thats not me tho. if you can, check it out. but the area sure is changing.

[fastfilm]

YouTube - Skid Row Test Trailer
Here's a better link to IvyAve's pertinent newsbytes of Skid Row. Are you sure you want to live in this every day? I truly don't think anyone would consider this the best place on earth.

[katenik]

Originally Posted by fastfilm

YouTube - Skid Row Test Trailer
Here's a better link to IvyAve's pertinent newsbytes of Skid Row. Are you sure you want to live in this every day? I truly don't think anyone would consider this the best place on earth.

god, that's depressing!

jakehorror, i have to ask: why would you leave wherever you are to come to a place like this? isn't there some point at which being able to afford a safe, comfortable place to lay one's head becomes more important than living in LA? i know you think you can "rough it," but there's a difference between roughing it and living without dignity, and that's what you'll find on skid row.

[LizzyNola]

WOW!

You must be brave to even want to live down on 5th street in that zip code.

I was just down there last week taking clothing to the mission.

May I ask if you are a female?

Whatever you do down there please watch your back. As another poster stated, you could not pay me to live down there.

Good luck!

[Christine Joan]

As others have stated, it is really creepy down there. There is a degree of creepiness in almost all the areas where you will find affordable housing, but at least most of the other areas, like Koreatown or Hollywood, are relatively safe during the day and not nearly as depressing.

I hope you will check out other available options on Craig's list before you move into skid row. It can be a very dangerous area. Because there are so many other available options for you to try, it makes no sense to me that you would choose to move there unless you are making a documentary on the homeless or something along those lines. Even if you are doing something along those lines, it would be better to live somewhere else and use public transit to visit the area during the day with friends.

Korea town and Hollywood are both along the metro red/purple line and have easy access to downtown and other areas and both offer room rentals that are probably the same price, but offer a much higher quality of life. Choose wisely and be safe.

Call 1-800-ASK-LAPD, if you don't believe us about the area and ask them about the crime statistics for that location.