is San Pedro a safe neighborhood for family with kids? (Los Angeles: apartments, rentals)

[avatar08]

I'm being relocated to Torrance for work and I was looking at some apartments in the San Pedro area, because it seemed more affordable. Does anyone know if this is a safe neighborhood (for walking around in the evenings)? I was told that Harbor City was a not a safe place and I saw that San Pedro was close to Harbor City.

redondo, hermosa, and manhattan all look like nice places to live but is it possible to find apartments in that area for around $1500 but also large enough for a family to live in? maybe like at least 600 sq ft?

thank you in advance!

[CESpeed]

I wouldn't move my family to San Pedro. The rest I'll leave the South Bayers to answer.

[JTGJR]

I wouldn't recommend San Pedro at this time. There are some decent areas, but crime is still a problem in much of the city and the school system is in shambles on many fronts. . $1500 should find you a decent place in the Torrance cities and the school system is much better. Start your search in South Torrance, then West Torrance and, finally Torrance itself. Try to stay west of Hawthorne Blvd.

[Paula Lynn]

There are some very nice areas in Pedro, however, the majority are not the greatest. Same with Torrance. I would spend a bit more money and try to find something in Torrance or Redondo, Manhattan or Hermosa. Stay away from Harbor City.

[calipoppy]

I echo the advice given so far...San Pedro does have some nicer areas but it can be quite spotty(and trust me...you don't want to rent or buy it the wrong neighborhood in SP) There is a mini-gang war in parts of San Pedro, Harbor City, Lomita and Wilmington.

If you will be working in Torrance, I would recommend South or West Torrance, anywhere on the Palos Verdes Peninsula(RPV, Rolling Hills or Palos Verdes Estates). I would say that these are the best areas since you mentioned kids. South and West areas of Redondo Bch, Manhattan Bch or Hermosa Bch.

[whatever78]

I currently live in the point fermin area of san pedro and disagree with the previous replies. there is a not so nice part of san pedro, but i think the majority of it is quite nice. stay above (hill side) of gaffey or west of 25th either side of gaffey and it is quite nice. i urge you to decide for yourself.

i can vouch that these rentals are in nice areas. people out with strollers, etc. there are quite a few nice parks here as well. i've lived all over la and i think pedro, while it has its not so nice area, has a lot to offer for a family, it feels like a family area to me with lots of parks. the only thing i don't like about it is there isn't as much night life or shopping, it feels more suburbian in that respect. and there is an air quality issue for me because of the port.

i highly recommend that you drive around the areas i mentioned to get a feel for it. the residental area surrounding "downtown" is the not so nice area.

call the listings below, make appts to go see, and check out the surrounding area yourself.

All New Apartment in San Pedro (broken link)

Finest area of San Pedro - Vista Del Oro (broken link)


!!!
Great Value...Spacious 2 bed/2 bath (broken link)
no address but if its really south shores its a fantastic neighborhood and i believe the elementary school is good as well.


!!!
2 Bedroom Condo Great Location

this last one is located adjacent to rpv in a lovely area. honestly, what a great deal.

[bhcompy]

its a lot better somewhere off western than it is on gaffey.

[calipoppy]

Yes, there are nice areas of San Pedro. However, the nicer areas are predominantly SFRs and not as many apts.

I lived in San Pedro for about a year in the early 90s (just below Gaffey at 13th Street) and I have to say that it was a bit scary back then. And I must say that the area has declined even more since that time.

A good boundary if you will be renting in SP is to stay West of Meyler. The Point Fermin area is nice but again its predominantly SFRs and the apt bldgs in the areas below Gaffey are not kept as nice (in general)

[julieflutie]

Well, I have to say I have a family and found an excellent apt. for 1575/month in a safe neighborhood that is 1351 sq ft! There are places in San Pedro like this - check on Craig's list or just drive around. My landlord never listed on Craig's list, but just posted a sign on the lawn. I would say to look on Megan's law, no matter where you move to. With a family, you need to know if there is a high concentration of sex offenders living near you and your children. Steets I recommend - Patton, Walker, Dodson, Averill Park Dr.
9th street to 20th street, as long as it's above Leland Ave. I would avoid the area near Hamilton & Carolina. anywhere near Gaffey or Pacific. The Palisades are just okay - I prefer Vista Del Oro or Averill Park. The gardens near Taper Ave School are great, but go for around 2000/month. Best wishes!

[Out of the Jungle]

Purchased a house in SP about 5 years ago on the "nice" side of town (i.e. west of Gaffey), had a baby and started to raise her in our cute little Craftsman home. When the police wouldn't let us drive into our alleyway because of dead body located there as a result of a gang shooting, we decided to politely move out of SP – and Los Angeles for that matter

Honestly, we tried to stick with it, even after I couldn’t park in my garage because of the drunken gentleman who was passed out in front of the driveway - twice. I did, however, become a skilled painter. A lesson we learned early on was to keep a good supply of paint handy so that you can keep up with the Jones’ during the weekly graffiti cleanup. Seems that in LA, there is an acceptable amount of blight.

Aside from the gangs, dirty neighborhoods, ghetto-type people, lawless animal-like teenagers of disinterested parents, dead bodies, homeless vagrants urinating wherever they please (i.e. on the wall of the public library), local crackheads, housing projects, incessant noise of the infamous ghetto birds circling above (police helicopters), the many halfway houses, dinner punctuated with gunfire, LAUSD, and ubiquitous graffiti, it was fine.

One reason I’d briefly go back to SP is the Omelet and Waffle Shop (but only with wearing good quality body armor). Great Saturday morning breakfasts! Other than that, it’s pretty much a cesspool.