Commute to Ocean Park in Santa Monica? (Manhattan Beach, Marina: houses, neighborhood)

[trplmstrmike]

I am starting a job in a couple weeks located in the Ocean Park neighborhood of Santa Monica, just North of 10th Street on Ocean Park Blvd. After reading through posts and visiting the area, I am leaning toward living around the Main Street if I can afford it or in downtown Santa Monica. I love walkable communities and those seem like a good ones for a 27 year old single professional. My budget is up to $2000 per month for a 1 bedroom or studio or am willing to share a bigger place with people. I'm finding some potential options on CraigsList.

However, I am also thinking of other areas and was wondering about commute times during rush hour. I would have a fairly standard 9-6 job. What would you estimate the commute to be from these spots?

Pacific Palisades
Marina Del Rey
Manhattan Beach (El Porto neighborhood)
Manhattan Beach (near the pier)
Topanga Beach

If you haven't figured it out, I want to live within at least 10 blocks from the beach and have a commute under 30 minutes. Thanks for your help! I love this forum!

[BRinSM]

I live very close close to Main St and the area where you will be working. It is expensive here, but you should be able to find something for 2 grand. It is a great neighborhood for a single person, or anyone for that matter. Since you'll be working in the area, I would not commute from very far away. Traffic in and out of Santa Monica can be some of the worst in all of LA, and that is saying something. Commuting from the Marina wouldn't be too bad, but any farther south is going to be a rough commute. The Palisades isn't too far away either, but there really isn't much going on up there.

[straight outta camden]

I agree. I doubt you could make it to work within half an hour starting from anywhere south of LAX, though I admit I haven't tried recently. I don't know how the commute is on the PCH these days but I guess it isn't much fun either. I don't like Palisades, which is smug and middle-aged, or Topanga / eastern end of Malibu, which has been ruined by hideous houses. Marina del Rey is the best of these options.

But is it the best option? How about Venice, for example? Cheaper than Santa Monica (admittedly, not much cheaper) and stuffed with singles. Or Ocean Park itself. $2000 is a bit of a tight budget but you should be able to manage, and you will save on gas.