Moving to LA, working downtown. Best place to live? (Pasadena: safe area, living in)

[cwctz8]

All,
I just took a job in downtown LA starting in August and will be moving in mid July. I'm a 27 year old single male relocating from the Midwest. I'm looking for some decent beach access and moderate nightlife, yet would like to be in a safe area with a reasonable commute (~ 45 mins - 1 hour). I'd prefer to be within close range of friends I have in SM, Venice, Manhattan Beach, and Hollywood, but I'd really like to avoid Hollywood. With public transit being tough from SM, Venice, and Manhattan, are they out of the question commute-wise? What are some other good areas to live near the westside that don't have ridiculous commutes to downtown?

Thanks for any advice.

[cwctz8]

bump

[Fierro]

Are you suggesting that you won't have a car? If so, I'd rule out living on the westside.

[cwctz8]

No, I will have a car. I'm just wondering if 45 minutes is a realistic commute from the westside. Anyone have an opinion on the Palms area?

[Island_OnThe_Land]

cwtz8: Yes, it's not unreasonable to make the commute from the Westside to downtown. I used to do the reverse living in Downtown and commuting to a job in Culver City. Morning commute was typically 45 min. to 60 min. Evening was about 35 min to 45 min. The summer was typically a lighter commute.

Again, this was a "peak" commute time. True, in LA you can get hit with a traffiic at anytime. That said, if you are going out later in the evening on a weekend, the 10 freeway could zip you from the Westside to downtown in 15 minutes.

Culver City and Palms are both good options for a young single guy. NOt quite as desirable as Santa Monica but "relatively" affordable for West LA and yet you are close to Santa Monica, Venice, etc. The "expo light rail line" will be opening in 2010 which will link Culver City to Downtown.

[KnoxTown]

I'd vote either living downtown or in Culver City.

[subPrimeTime]

I live in West LA/Palms and work in downtown. The morning commute is not bad at all. But I try to get to work by 7:30, therefore leave at 7ish.

Usually in the morning when I enter the 10 freeway eastbound at Overland (at roughly 7:05 to 7:10am), the electronic message sign reads "Minutes to Downtown: 11" (or 12). So that's not so bad. But on days when I leave later than 7:30, it usually says 20-25 minutes. I'd say the Culver City/Palms area is a good place to live and rents are becoming much more reasonable.

[yukiko11]

I would suggest the oppostite and think about going north or east. Maybe Burbank or Pasadena. If you are working, you can't go to the beach every day and as a Californian, you will get used to driving everywhere. However the rents will be more reasonable, and give you the opportunity to have more money to spend on entertainment.

[timelesschild]

I agree with Yukiko - I would suggest Pasadena. Great for singles, excellent public transportation - you can take the Gold Line (light rail train) right to downtown. And it's a pretty place in its own right.

[Wing Feathers]

I think you can make it downtown from Palms quickly at 5AM. Burbank is a great town, but you will not make it downtown easily. Traffic stops where the 5 & 110 meet. Took me about an hour in the morning, even though you're sooo close. Pasadena... now that place is a hell hole. Do not move there!