Buying in Torrance.... Normandie area? (Carson, Lomita: rent, condo, townhome)

[motifone]

Hello

New member here, but looks like a lot of good info. here. My wife and I currently rent in the Westchester area, and are casually starting to look around for something possibly to buy. We looked at two condo/townhome options in the Torrance area -- around the Normandie/Plaza Del Amo area and another around Normandie/Mariposa. The units were nice, gated, new.... but my gut says the area doesn't look so hot, maybe it was the "dried up, no grass, discarded sofa in the road" vibe to the area.

Does anyone have any insight on this area of Torrance? Is this what some refer to as the "Torrance P.O." area?

Thanks!

[EscapeCalifornia]

My wife is from around there and she says that area's not the greatest. She says to aim farther west along Sepulveda.

[JTGJR]

Agreed. Don't know that it's a horrible area, but definitely an area that you could expect to hear about some problems. Try to get a bit further west or southwest if possible.

[motifone]

Thanks for the insights so far. I'll continue to check in for other opinions, but I suppose the replies are confirming what I thought. It seems more of an industrial area than anything. If they beautified that strip of Plaza del Amo a bit more, that would be an improvement

[calipoppy]

Torrance is a great city. The police dept is very proactive.

If you will be moving to Torrance, I would recommend not moving east of Western Avenue. East Torrance has a bit of a gang problem that is spilling over from Harbor Gateway/Harbor City/Carson/Lomita/Wilmington.

[Alter]

Sounds like you are looking in Harbor Gateway which is Torrance P.O. but not really Torrance. If you can afford it look further west and stay in the Torrance Unified School District. It is more expensive but also a better area. Even if you aren't interested in schools they add to resale.
I am not sure where the actual east/west line is, maybe at Western?

[motifone]

What does Torrance P.O. stand for anyway?

[Alter]

Originally Posted by motifone

What does Torrance P.O. stand for anyway?

Torrance post office, you get a Torrance address for mail but you are not really in Torrance. That means you get LA Unified schools, LAPD for police and your city services (trash, fire, etc.) will not come from Torrance.

[xyzxyz]

I don't know what Normandie Avenue in Torrance is like...I just know what it is like in Hollywood and I wouldn't live there if you paid me. As one earlier poster put it, if you move to Torrance, go as far west as possible, like around Sepulveda.

[motifone]

Thanks, everyone. Very helpful.