Apartment community, is this the ghetto? (Pasadena, Vista: apartments, to rent, crime)

[GT28107]

1050 Wilshire Blvd, L.A.

I know nothing about that area of the city and was just curious if it was in a sketchy neighborhood. I am in the process of moving from Chicago - L.A.

Thanks in advance.

[Christine Joan]

It looks like it is in downtown, near Alvarado. I think you could find a much better neighborhood, but it depends on your budget and what you are looking for while here.

If you move west just a little, to Wilshire/Vermont, there are brand new apartments available at the Metro station, although they are a bit expensive, about $1300 or so for a 1 bedroom.

Most newcomers want to be on the westside (west of La Brea) for good reasons. It is considered safer there, although I am not aware whether crime statistics support this reason. Also, the westside is where a lot of young single people work and play. If you haven't already committed to the address, I think it is better to come here first and look and then decide where you want to rent.

One good thing about all areas of LA is that the sun shines almost daily everywhere here and it is usually very nice outside. So, even if the area is bad, I'm sure you'll likely enjoy it much better than a Chicago winter.

However, I would highly recommend that you keep looking for a better address further west.

Best wishes.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by GT28107

1050 Wilshire Blvd, L.A.

I know nothing about that area of the city and was just curious if it was in a sketchy neighborhood. I am in the process of moving from Chicago - L.A.

Thanks in advance.

What are you looking for and how much do you know about L.A. where will you be working? The area may not be the worst but you may want to look west or even East like Pasadena or north toward Eagle Rock?

Nita

[nori_garsi]

Unless you're planning on working downtown you may want to reconsider. I wouldn't live downtown at all but I know some people really like it, and if you work there you won't have to worry about commuting. There are decent areas downtown but I agree with the other posters, you may want to look in a different areas.

It really depends on your budget and your job/school location.

[uptown_urbanist]

I think that area is considered fairly sketchy, although that doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't take the spot. If you want to live downtown I'd consider moving across the freeway to be in the main part of downtown; it will be a lot more convenient and you wouldn't be separated by the freeway. That stretch of Wilshire (it looks like it's right near the 110) seems sort of boring when I've been through it (haven't walked that specific stretch of Wilshire), although there's been new development and maybe that impression is wrong or outdated. Wilshire gets more interesting I would strongly suggest that you don't take the apartment sight-unseen. There is a wide range of sketchiness, with some neighborhoods that are considered transitional at best have some good things to offer, while other neighborhoods you won't want to live if you have any kind of choice even if it is the cheapest place around. Some of that is due to personal level of comfort.

I agree that you might want to consider other neighborhoods (unless the location is right next to your work), although I disagree with the poster who said that "most newcomers want to be west of La Brea" - some do, and if your work is west of there then I would consider a location that direction, but there are other desirable neighborhoods east of La Brea filled with young people and newcomers. I do agree that if you want to be on Wilshire but near downtown that moving west towards Vermont would be a good option; being right above or very close to the station there would be very convenient. You'd be a short metro ride from downtown, Los Feliz, or Hollywood, and could easily take the bus up or down Wilshire (although those Wilshire buses are packed).

In LA, to an even greater extent than in most cities, your life will be easier and you will probably be happier if you live close to your work, if at all possible.

[King0fthehill]

Are you white? While there are a few token white people there, its overwhelmingly (we're talking in upwards of 90%) Hispanic -- working class at that. The area itself is pretty dense and urban, replete with many 1920's apartment buildings, and has lots of pedestrian foot traffic and street vendors hawking various goods. Very vibrant.

It also worth noting that the area has no shortage of sketchiness, gangs, graffiti or drugs (or illegal immigrants, if that freaks you out), and being a token white guy in a marginal area like Westlake might not be a good thing, especially if things take a turn for the worse (you'll be an easy target). LOL, I regularly get asked if I want to buy SSN's, ID's, Green Cards, etc on my visits to MacArthur Park. Most of the gang stuff is directed towards other gangs, so if you don't delve into that underworld, you'll be fine.

The subway (Red/Purple) and the venerable overcrowded 720 bus both offer easy hops into Downtown, which is right on the other side of the freeway.

Originally Posted by Christine Joan

It looks like it is in downtown, near Alvarado. I think you could find a much better neighborhood, but it depends on your budget and what you are looking for while here.

If you move west just a little, to Wilshire/Vermont, there are brand new apartments available at the Metro station, although they are a bit expensive, about $1300 or so for a 1 bedroom.

Most newcomers want to be on the westside (west of La Brea) for good reasons. It is considered safer there, although I am not aware whether crime statistics support this reason. Also, the westside is where a lot of young single people work and play. If you haven't already committed to the address, I think it is better to come here first and look and then decide where you want to rent.

One good thing about all areas of LA is that the sun shines almost daily everywhere here and it is usually very nice outside. So, even if the area is bad, I'm sure you'll likely enjoy it much better than a Chicago winter.

However, I would highly recommend that you keep looking for a better address further west.

Best wishes.

Negative. Generally speaking, the Westside is more high-end, family-oriented and sterile. Santa Monica and Venice are the exceptions to this rule. Other areas, like Palms, Mar Vista and even Culver City, may be relatively affordable, but are bland.

The young people flock in droves to places like Silverlake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, Koreatown, Hollywood, etc. Less edgy ones, from what I've seen, go to the Valley.

[majoun]

[quote=King0fthehill;8239464]

Negative. Generally speaking, the Westside is more high-end, family-oriented and sterile. Santa Monica and Venice are the exceptions to this rule. Other areas, like Palms, Mar Vista and even Culver City, may be relatively affordable, but are bland.[/QUOTE[

Santa Monica IS high end except for the Pico neighborhood and also IS family oriented, bland and sterile except for Ocean Park (high end but not family oriented, bland, nor sterile) and Pico. In fact, northern SM is as family oriented, sterile, and bland as any part of the Westside.

[King0fthehill]

I know its bland and sterile, but for some reason on these forums, it gets the ok and people generally exclude it from aforementioned grouping.

I'm in the same boat as you. Also, its a shame SM has allowed the Pico area to get so run down. That area can almost pass for some of the working class Central American hoods...(not a good thing, in terms of cleanliness/aesthetics/amenities).

[majoun]

Originally Posted by King0fthehill

I know its bland and sterile, but for some reason on these forums, it gets the ok and people generally exclude it from aforementioned grouping.

I'm in the same boat as you. Also, its a shame SM has allowed the Pico area to get so run down. That area can almost pass for some of the working class Central American hoods...(not a good thing, in terms of cleanliness/aesthetics/amenities).

Parts of it, yes.(i.e. from 14th to Cloverfield) Ironically, Pico has lost fewer businesses than Montana, according to what I've read, and has fewer empty storefronts just because the rents weren't as high to begin with. The eastern part of the Pico neighborhood doesn't look bad at all, and the western part of the Pico neighborhood - between Lincoln and 14th - is no worse than Palms or much of Mar Vista (although it's more expensive than both because of the schools).

SM despite its pseudoprogressive veneer may be one of the most racist cities in L.A. County, and the city of SM has long neglected the only part of SM that's majority Latino and not virtually lily-white.

However, when the economy improves and gentrification starts expanding again, Pico will be THE most likely target for gentrification because of where it's located. I suspect the same is true of Palms and Del Rey.

[King0fthehill]

Perhaps I should have specified I was only referring to the 14th/Cloverfield area.

How did they let that area get that area slid into such a state of nasty decay?

And yes, the next gentrification cycle will be interesting. I think its fair game to also say Mar Vista will gentrify. I hope the gentrification wave will tidy up Pico-Union, Westlake, or even the humongous swaths of Ktown and East Hollywood that are still ratty. Those areas, along with the newly rail accessible "Black Belt" (Jefferson Park, West Adams, etc) are no-brainers.