Single Mom trying to decide on Long Beach buy (Los Angeles: condo, neighborhood)

[chakramami]

I'm a single mom who is looking to move to Long Beach and has found two possibilities, but needs some LB perspective here since I have not lived there. I have a 9 year old boy and want a good school trajectory for him as he grows. I'm really open with him and expose him to social and cultural issues/people etc, and I do not shelter so much but make him aware and keep perspective and keep it real safety wise. I want to live walking distance to the beach and am pretty stuck on this- love the beach-my son is a swimmer and hopefully will be on a swim team in the area. Diversity and culture are big on my list along with safety and good schools. Any perspective would help- particularly from people with kids etc. Here are my two options:

1. 1300 Ocean block. What I believe is between the downtown and alamitos beach. On south side of ocean on the sand. Nice little condo, high HOA, but I like the slight view, security, anemities, etc. Parking- 2 spaces. Concerns are the school designated for the area, but have been told it is easy to request a different school in LBUSD. No kids living there as well as recreational access for him at this stage and as he grows? Do kids live there?? Or is this more single professional? I like that it is Between belmont shore, pike, downtown, pine, etc. and on the sand for access. The sand on the beach looks dark though and not as clean as the belmont shore sand?

2. Belmont Shore condo- 2-3 blocks from 2nd street and 1-2 blocks from the beach. No view. Condo is a bit smaller, but well designed and well lighted. No aneminities really, but I hear there is a great pool and driving around it seems more family oriented?? Condo is pricier but HOA's are much lower. Designated school is great from my research. Garage- since i hear parking is an issue- with a bit of space behind it as well for another car- besides street parking.

What do you all think- which would be a good place for an edgy concerned mom like me?
thanks-

[JohnG72]

The Belmont Shores place will provide better access to restaurants and grocery stores(Large grocery.... I think Ralphs and Albertsons by 2nd and PCH...Movie Theatre also...Actually I think there is one closer, just can't remember where). There is the olympic pool at Belmont Shores near the pier...I don't know what public access is but I'm sure they have programs that would suit your son. The beach access is better I think. I would guess its a bit safer and if you want to visit the downtown/pike area, its only about a ten minute drive.

[NaplesRes]

LB is school of choice so in theory you can send your child to any school in lb. in reality schools fill up with the "neighborhood" children pretty quickly so its best to live in the area you want to go to school. The elementary schools in the coastal region are excellent (Fremont, Naples, and Lowell). Belmont Shore is Lowell. You should check on your downtown condo and see if it is Fremont. If so, good. If not see what the designated school is.

If you want to expose him to social, cultural diversity then belmont shore is better than a lot of suburbs I guess but it is still a fairly white, upper middle/upper class neighborhood. Probably better off with the other location if this is important.

Both options you are considering are safe.

The beach downtown is not so clean. Basically for swimming, etc. you want to be east of belmont pier or in Alamitos Bay (in belmont shore).

[bhcompy]

To echo NaplesRes, swimming in LB isn't the best thing to do. Too close to the ports(industrial pollution) and there is runoff from the San Gabriel River and Los Angeles River to worry about. I don't swim Alamitos Bay so I can't speak to it, but Seal Beach is next door and I do go there instead and it is a fine beach. All Long Beach beaches and Seal Beach are affected by the breakwater as well, which means there is little wave activity.

[NaplesRes]

Originally Posted by bhcompy

To echo NaplesRes, swimming in LB isn't the best thing to do. Too close to the ports(industrial pollution) and there is runoff from the San Gabriel River and Los Angeles River to worry about. I don't swim Alamitos Bay so I can't speak to it, but Seal Beach is next door and I do go there instead and it is a fine beach. All Long Beach beaches and Seal Beach are affected by the breakwater as well, which means there is little wave activity.

Many people swim, kayak, etc in alamitos bay. Heal the Bay gives it high water quality ratings consistently. Same with the ocean side as long as your east of belmont pier. But since there are no waves most people prefer seal which is a short bike ride from belmont shore.

if you're into sailing, yachting, etc then long beach is actually great for that and has 4 yacht clubs I believe.

[chakramami]

thanks everyone...after doing more research on sexual predators etc...i kind of freaked with the 1300 block one....and am leaning more towards the belmont shore area overall...anymore perspective is appreciated

[chakramami]

i also like that belmont shore is better in a way than many suburbs....and the walking is important...