Is there any snob appeal to living in Northridge? ;-) (Pasadena: condo, buying a home)

[calipoppy]

The "Valley" in 10-15 years time will be a shadow of its former self. With the exception of a few select hillside areas as hold outs, the SFV will fall to the "white flight" pattern that a lot of LA has undergone. I can remember when the MAJORITY of the SFV was very lovely. And slowing but surely it is becoming a Third World catchall.
There never used to be violent crime reports coming out of the Valley but in the last few months there have been more news reports of shootings and other crimes in the Valley than in South or East LA. And it is such a shame. If I lived in the Valley I too wouldn't want to acknowledge or except that my area was changing for the worse.

[whatever78]

I don't know...I'm trying to stay positive, and consider with gas prices up and gentrification underway closer in, that maybe the reverse of white flight will continue to happen. it is much pricier to buy in the city now in areas that were considered bad neighborhoods, people are trying to come back to the city and a lot of it seems to be getting nicer.

[LALady]

Originally Posted by calipoppy

When someone says that they live in Northridge they are saying that the live in an average(maybe very slightly above average) area. You are not going to get oohs and aahs and envious stares.

lol. Anyone here get "oohs and aahs" when the state where they live?

[LALady]

Originally Posted by jayolm

I'm sorry but I disagree with many of the other posters on here who believe cities like Northridge and Granada Hills are nice places to live. There are very few cities left in the san fernando valley that are "nice" anymore. Only Encino, Woodland Hills, Chatsworth, Calabasas, and any communities up against the hills are nice. And of course going farther north up the 101 fwy, everything up there is nice (Simi Valley, Westlake Village, etc.). When deciding on which city to live in here, you must look 10, 15, 20 years into the future, for the bad areas continuously move outward, and more and more cities will become like Reseda. Avoid Sherman Oaks and Northridge completely because of this, as they will be like Van Nuys in 15 years. Go farther east, like to Calabasas or even as far as Oak Park. Those places are too far out to be touched by the spread of the bad areas.

In other states the price of gas has dropped the value of the outlying areas like a rock. In LA, closer-in areas will always retain their value because of the cost of the commute.

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by calipoppy

The "Valley" in 10-15 years time will be a shadow of its former self. With the exception of a few select hillside areas as hold outs, the SFV will fall to the "white flight" pattern that a lot of LA has undergone. I can remember when the MAJORITY of the SFV was very lovely. And slowing but surely it is becoming a Third World catchall.

I'm going to have to agree with you. I expect to be either gone or in the process of leaving by 2012 at the latest. Buh bye.

Originally Posted by LALady

In other states the price of gas has dropped the value of the outlying areas like a rock. In LA, closer-in areas will always retain their value because of the cost of the commute.

And that is why Northridge will continue to be a good deal, because it's centrally located to jobs and shopping.

[LALady]

[quote=Lovehound;4023634]I'm going to have to agree with you. I expect to be either gone or in the process of leaving by 2012 at the latest. Buh bye.

**************************************************
Don't be disappointed when you experience those same neighborhood transformations in other parts of the US.

[matt345]

Originally Posted by LALady

Don't be disappointed when you experience those same neighborhood transformations in other parts of the US.

Exactly. What happened to Van Nuys has happened to other similar places all over the United States. Places like this are called "inner suburbs" and many of them are currently experiencing neglect and decay as the inner city did decades ago. Yes, it's very unfortunate, but why do people on this forum act like this is anything unique to LA? Like you said, it's happening everywhere.

I'm sorry, but I just don't see Sherman Oaks or Encino becoming anything like Van Nuys in the near future. And maybe it's because I moved here from some place else, but I don't even think Van Nuys is that bad. Yes, it has crime problems and is quite trashy and ugly, but I don't feel uneasy going there, as I would if I were to drive through Compton.

[laquests]

How did San Fernando get to be 90% Hispanic? On the map it looks like it is in or up against the mountains where the price of homes would prohibit low paid Latinos from buyin/rrenting them? Jusst curious. Laquest

[calipoppy]

Originally Posted by laquests

How did San Fernando get to be 90% Hispanic? On the map it looks like it is in or up against the mountains where the price of homes would prohibit low paid Latinos from buyin/rrenting them? Jusst curious. Laquest

The San Fernando Valley is a just that....a valley. There is a large expanse of flat land that lies in between the hills/mountains. When the middle class Whites who inhabited those areas in the 40s - 80s/90s moved into Ventura County and beyond, Latinos (not quite 90%...yet) moved into those areas. The Valley has been a victim of the White flight vacuum scenario. Certain residents in more affluent parts of the SFV simply are in denial that the Valley has become or will become like areas such as Compton, Pacoima, Sunland, etc. SFV residents who don't believe this haven't spent any time driving through Tujunga or Panorama City...these areas already resemble Tijuana.

The recent shootings that have occured on or near Ventura Blvd are a testament to the fact the the SFV has definitely changed for the worst. And while "Jose" and "Maria" may never be able to afford a house in the West Hills, it doesn't mean that they aren't able to drive into those neighborhoods, shop in those grocery store or hangout in parks in those areas, etc. I'm quite sure that 15-20 years ago, the residents of Van Nuys and Panorana City never thought that they would see the current massive influx of Latinos that has taken place.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by laquests

How did San Fernando get to be 90% Hispanic?

One possibility is the presence of the mission.