Westwood Question (Homeland: apartments, condos, crime rate)

[bandit94]

My girlfriend and I found an apartment we like in the Westwood area. it is located on South Midvale (cross street Rochester) and very close to Westwood Blvd. She is attending medical school at UCLA and I too will be doing graduate work there. The apartment is expensive (what do you expect in this area) but is only 2-3 years old and in a quite area near Westwood park. The surrounding apartments seemed to be filled with more grad students and professionls and are quite. This all being said...i was just wondering what the general safety is in this area. My girlfriend will be walking/biking/taking bus to campus frequently...so i just want to make sure this part of Westwood is safe (it looks very safe, but moving here from the Bay Area, we just don't know everything).

[Bruin5]

It's very safe. The only thing you might need to be concerned about is the issue of some of the homeless hanging around the park. That said, the park is still a good place to go for a jog, basketball and other things and you're just a walk away from the Village.

[Island_OnThe_Land]

Ditto: Very safe area. Can't get much safer in LA.

The continuing fall in LA's crime rate should comfort you as well. Based on current crime stats, LA is as safe as it's been in 40 years. Of course, it is still a big city so you should always use caution.

[greggd]

Originally Posted by bandit94

My girlfriend and I found an apartment we like in the Westwood area. it is located on South Midvale (cross street Rochester) and very close to Westwood Blvd. She is attending medical school at UCLA and I too will be doing graduate work there. The apartment is expensive (what do you expect in this area) but is only 2-3 years old and in a quite area near Westwood park. The surrounding apartments seemed to be filled with more grad students and professionls and are quite. This all being said...i was just wondering what the general safety is in this area. My girlfriend will be walking/biking/taking bus to campus frequently...so i just want to make sure this part of Westwood is safe (it looks very safe, but moving here from the Bay Area, we just don't know everything).

You have made a very good choice.

Have a friend about 1 block from you. Very safe area and convenient for UCLA. Some good restaurants on westwood blvd, bristol farms, ralphs in the village, and 3 or so pharmacys.

There is a good mix of Condos & Apts in the area with Single Family So. of Ohio. That's a desirable mix. She can bike or walk to work easily, just have her be careful of traffic while riding as in any area.

The westwood park does not really have any homeless people living there. The adjacent Federal Bldg and entire surrounding area is under very heavy 24 hour video survellance with Homeland Security patrols.

Westwood in general and Wilshire blvd through the westwood corridor has a lot of patrol due to the # of students and due to govt offices in the area. They also like that area for revenue generation via tickets on wilshire blvd.

[Lovehound]

Avoid areas with low traffic at night. Find a secure place to park your car, or keep a cheap car and don't keep any valuables in your car.

I'm a UCLA grad. Go team! (Not that I give a **** about sports.) Fond days...

[LALady]

Originally Posted by bandit94

My girlfriend and I found an apartment we like in the Westwood area. it is located on South Midvale (cross street Rochester) and very close to Westwood Blvd. She is attending medical school at UCLA and I too will be doing graduate work there. The apartment is expensive (what do you expect in this area) but is only 2-3 years old and in a quite area near Westwood park. The surrounding apartments seemed to be filled with more grad students and professionls and are quite. This all being said...i was just wondering what the general safety is in this area. My girlfriend will be walking/biking/taking bus to campus frequently...so i just want to make sure this part of Westwood is safe (it looks very safe, but moving here from the Bay Area, we just don't know everything).

Very safe. The UCPD (Univ Cal police department) patrol that area. That said, students have been mugged walking in the early hours but I think the crime rate is pretty low

[BennyPhoenix]

Very safe if you exercise common sense. Property crime is not unusual, so dont keep anything in your car that you dont want stolen.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by BennyPhoenix

Property crime is not unusual, so dont keep anything in your car that you dont want stolen.

That describes EVERY neighborhood in L.A. including not only Westwood but other areas with very low violent crime. Don't keep anything visible to passers by in your car, period.

[bandit94]

Thank you all for the feedback and words of encouragement. Another quick question. We had also looked at apartments on Warner Ave. (cross street Ashton). Any feedback on this area? or do you think the Midvale Ave. is hard to beat?

[Bruin5]

That is another good area, probably more expensive but I would probably go for the Midvale place personally as your walk to the Village would be shorter.