Raising kids in Venice? (Long Beach, Huntington Beach: buying a home, buying, luxury)

[jbl2023]

OK so me and my family are thinking of buying a home very near the beach and Ocean Front Walk in Venice, and sending our kid to private school. We're wondering though, what kind of experience will our child have growing up in Venice? Is it very walkable, and will it be a full place for our child to grow up in, from small child to teenager?

[ButterflyUK]

Okay, havent lived there for donkeys years but how cool to grow up on the beach. I remember it as being very fun, very much an outdoor lifestyle. Loads of surfing.

I really really hope its not gone downhill. If it has, look towards Huntington Beach. Unless that area has gone downhill too.

[impala666]

Originally Posted by jbl2023

OK so me and my family are thinking of buying a home very near the beach and Ocean Front Walk in Venice, and sending our kid to private school. We're wondering though, what kind of experience will our child have growing up in Venice? Is it very walkable, and will it be a full place for our child to grow up in, from small child to teenager?

Do you understand the the fruitcakes that hang around Venice beach!!
...North Hollywood shootout...
If you have the money move to Malibu...your kids will thank you for it!

[BRinSM]

i live very close to venice, but i don't see kids there very often. not to offend anyone, but the kids i do tend to see are nearly all black and brown and obviously from lower class families. i don't think i've ever really seen white or asian kids, or even black or brown kids that come from middle class families. however, one of the top rated elementary schools in LAUSD is in Venice. it still isn't place where you can let your kids run around in the streets or even at the local parks. Although they're kept to specific areas, gang members and drug dealers still roam the streets. Santa Monica is much more family friendly than Venice and is literally just up the street. The only issue with this is that there aren't many single family homes near the beach in Santa Monica. i don't have kids, but if i did, i would certainly pick santa monica over venice. you may also consider marina del rey, which is on the other side of venice and is certainly a much nicer area for families.

[WestSideGirl310]

Venice right off of Ocean front walk is not the best area. It's very seedy and there is a very seedy if not criminal element that frequents that area. It's a heavy drug area, too. Plus the area can also get mobbed with "fanny pack" tourists...lol. I would not raise a kid in Venice if I could help it! The homes on the canals are nice (granted it's affordable), but the surrounding area isn't!

[slough]

Originally Posted by jbl2023

OK so me and my family are thinking of buying a home very near the beach and Ocean Front Walk in Venice, and sending our kid to private school. We're wondering though, what kind of experience will our child have growing up in Venice? Is it very walkable, and will it be a full place for our child to grow up in, from small child to teenager?

Venice is probably the last place along the coast in SoCal where I would want to raise a child. It is gentrifying to some extent with artists, rich young professionals, and architects who like non-traditional housing moving in; however, most of Venice is still seedy and attracts even sketchier people. The Ocean Front Walk is a place for adults and although it can be fun and definitely has culture, there are just too many crazy people, illicit drugs, and roaming gangs to make it safe for kids to hang out at.

I would definitely recommend Santa Monica or Manhattan Beach if you're looking for a similarly priced area that would be ok to raise a family.

[ConsideringLA]

Originally Posted by jbl2023

OK so me and my family are thinking of buying a home very near the beach and Ocean Front Walk in Venice, and sending our kid to private school. We're wondering though, what kind of experience will our child have growing up in Venice? Is it very walkable, and will it be a full place for our child to grow up in, from small child to teenager?

When you have kids, you have to sometimes make sacrifices that will give them the best possible experience. Happy memories of friends, neighbors, school, all in a safe environment. Venice is NOT the best place for the kids. It does not have the safety afforded to you in many other areas around So Cal. The challenge is most safe, kid friendly beach towns are pricey - so you may not have the luxury of living at the beach.

That's the sacrifice.

[katenik]

if you want to raise kids at the beach, move to el segundo.

[NaplesRes]

Naples in Long Beach is great. Of course I'm biased...

[Sorcerer68]

For singles and childless couples, Venice is great. For raising kids, I agree that Santa Monica is much better. As I'm suddenly raising a 9 year-old, I've been on this train of thought lately.

I grew up in South Redondo and it's still the same clean, safe family beach community with SFR all the way to the water. Homes aren't as expensive as MB and you have a little more room to breathe. Hermosa is better for younger adults.