Living in the San Gabriel Valley (Los Angeles, San Diego: school, calculated, gated)

[VillageLife]

Originally Posted by jzt83

I don't care much about the LA area and the SGV is one of the few places I'd live if I were to live in the LA area again. It's got a good mix of urban and suburban neighborhoods. It's more down to Earth and isn't as congested or stressful as many other parts of LA. It has this serene quality about it that I can't really put my finger on.

I think so too It's an area where you feel like a subarban,very down to earth. you are right

[jzt83]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

For some weird reason, I find myself intrigued by the San Gabriel Valley. I've been doing a lot of exploring in this area lately. I'm definitely a mountain person, not a beach type, and I took advantage of the warm, clear, smog free weather this weekend to do a lot of hiking in the Angeles National Forest. So far I've been up to Mt Baldy, various spots along Hwy 2, and San Gabriel Canyon (Hwy 39 going up from Azusa). I love the views of the San Gabriel mountains from the valley floor-- absolutely stunning-- that is at times like this week when there actually isn't thick clouds of smog blocking the view. I like Pasadena, not so much the part of Old Town that feels like an outdoor shopping mall, but the rest of it. But Pasadena is just the tip of the iceberg, I've discovered. And from what I've seen driving around on various roads (mainly Colorado, Foothill, Huntington, Arrow, Azusa) throughout the lesser known towns in the SGV, I like large swaths of what I see.

It's very hard to describe, more of a "feeling" than a logical analysis. To me, much of downtown/central/east/south LA feels like a giant hole, a place to be avoided for one reason or another. The westside feels either too (I don't know what the word is) "foo foo" or ugly and depressing (ie-- Palms), the San Fernando valley feels polished on the edges and rotten at the core, the South Bay is okay but doesn't excite me much (probably because no mountains), most of Orange County with just a few exceptions feels too "blah," and further east in the Inland Empire feels too scary. Some of the places I've seen in the San Gabriel Valley feel "just right." Old suburbs, tons of old style "Main Street" drags, strip malls filled with cool mom and pop ethnic businesses, a lot of mid-century architecture, awesome mountain views, close to beautiful canyons in the San Gabriel Mtns with tons of hiking spots (and at much higher elevations and more dramatic terrain than what the Santa Monica Mountains offers), a lot of diversity in general, very down to earth compared to the western part of LA county.

I'm not totally enamoured with it either. I've seen how bad the smog can get in the past and it can be putrid and disgusting. The traffic heading westward in the morning and eastward in the evening is horrendous. It seems like you'd be throwing your life in the garbage can 5 days a week. It seems like only the westernmost part of the SGV is even commutable to downtown < 1hr, and entire SGV is out of commuting range to jobs in west LA at reasonable hours. It feels like the place has definitely gone downhill over the years-- although I do like just a little bit of grit and kind of an old, but not too old feel. There was a TON of gang graffiti spray painted on the rocks at the trailhead site north of Azusa. And then the problem is the SGV, as much as I like it, is still in LA, still with all the same problems-- cost of living, smog, traffic, overcrowding etc, but unlike west & central LA it's so far out there it's not even very close to most of the "Big City" attractions and high salary jobs that make LA special in the first place. You still have Los Angeles cost of living, but with a Tucson economy (and for some weird reason the SGV reminds me a lot of Tucson). It seems like it's the kind of place where maybe with the possible exception of Pasadena there isn't really much of a logical reason to move there unless if you're from there. But I always like to think, "What if..."?

Am I "off" on my thinking? Please let me know. How do most people in the SGV "make it"? Where do they work?

Agreed for the most part. I enjoy the preponderance of mid-century modern ranch houses in the area. It feels like what I'd call "old school" suburbia where there are lots of single family homes, yet it's still walkable in many areas with long commercial strips.

Most of LA feels like it's in limbo. On one hand many of the areas are very urbanized and very densely populated, on the other hand, it's suburban in a more modern sense of the word in that the major thoroughfares are like freeways, and walking along them is stressful. Have you tried walking along Wilshire, Santa Monica Blvd, sunset etc? There are just too many cars zooming by and it's stressful.

Compare that to the major thoroughfares in the San Gabriel Valley. Colorado Blvd doesn't have the same amount of congestion and has a lower traffic capacity than the major thoroughfares you find throughout LA. Ditto Atlantic Lake Blvd, Huntington dr etc. The San Gabriel valley is built at a smaller scale than most of LA and makes it more pleasant to walk or bike. Of course it's not an Amsterdam or NYC, but it's a good balance. Walking and bicycling is just more pleasant in the SGV because of the small scale. THe public transit system isn't as comprehensive as other parts of LA however, but the western half is serviced by the gold line. It's all about balance and the SGV is more balanced than other parts of LA.

I can understand how some may consider the SGV as boring. But for me, I am not intro clubbing or going to trendy bars. I am more into bookstores and coffee shops and the SGV is able to fulfill my preferences. Also, I enjoy the varied architecture from the early 20th century buildings in old town to the mid-century modern architecture.

[VillageLife]

Originally Posted by jzt83

Agreed for the most part. I enjoy the preponderance of mid-century modern ranch houses in the area. It feels like what I'd call "old school" suburbia where there are lots of single family homes, yet it's still walkable in many areas with long commercial strips.

Most of LA feels like it's in limbo. On one hand many of the areas are very urbanized and very densely populated, on the other hand, it's suburban in a more modern sense of the word in that the major thoroughfares are like freeways, and walking along them is stressful. Have you tried walking along Wilshire, Santa Monica Blvd, sunset etc? There are just too many cars zooming by and it's stressful.

Compare that to the major thoroughfares in the San Gabriel Valley. Colorado Blvd doesn't have the same amount of congestion and has a lower traffic capacity than the major thoroughfares you find throughout LA. Ditto Atlantic Lake Blvd, Huntington dr etc. The San Gabriel valley is built at a smaller scale than most of LA and makes it more pleasant to walk or bike. Of course it's not an Amsterdam or NYC, but it's a good balance. Walking and bicycling is just more pleasant in the SGV because of the small scale. THe public transit system isn't as comprehensive as other parts of LA however, but the western half is serviced by the gold line. It's all about balance and the SGV is more balanced than other parts of LA.

I can understand how some may consider the SGV as boring. But for me, I am not intro clubbing or going to trendy bars. I am more into bookstores and coffee shops and the SGV is able to fulfill my preferences. Also, I enjoy the varied architecture from the early 20th century buildings in old town to the mid-century modern architecture.

I also think that you can save a lot more money.Just the lunch specials are between $5 -$8

[Tiger Beer]

Great thread!

I'm caucasian with an Asian wife...plus I lived in Japan/Korea for 8-9 years.

I've went back to the U.S. twice...once to NYC and once to SF...while both had a sizeable Asian population, it certainly wasn't to the degree that I'd hoped. It seems SGV and perhaps HNL would be the two BEST areas in the U.S. for someone who certainly wants to be around Asian culture and to be back in the U.S.!

I also have a son to be born nearly anyday...wife is 9 months pregnant. I'm currently living in Japan, but I would like to go back to the U.S. again, and I certainly want my son to be very exposed to Asian culture and to be in the U.S. where I can teach him MY culture as well, if that makes sense. Bi-cultural.

If ONLY SGV wasn't so expensive! The cost of living of California in general is too much, but I still like this thread to entertain the possibilities.

By the way, how is Alhambra, Monterey Park, etc...high Asian areas of SGV for living?

[VillageLife]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Great thread!

I'm caucasian with an Asian wife...plus I lived in Japan/Korea for 8-9 years.

I've went back to the U.S. twice...once to NYC and once to SF...while both had a sizeable Asian population, it certainly wasn't to the degree that I'd hoped. It seems SGV and perhaps HNL would be the two BEST areas in the U.S. for someone who certainly wants to be around Asian culture and to be back in the U.S.!

I also have a son to be born nearly anyday...wife is 9 months pregnant. I'm currently living in Japan, but I would like to go back to the U.S. again, and I certainly want my son to be very exposed to Asian culture and to be in the U.S. where I can teach him MY culture as well, if that makes sense. Bi-cultural.

If ONLY SGV wasn't so expensive! The cost of living of California in general is too much, but I still like this thread to entertain the possibilities.

By the way, how is Alhambra, Monterey Park, etc...high Asian areas of SGV for living?

Congrats to you and your wife!
It depends on the area. Alhambra has many affordable housing. Monterey Park has 3 hills,the flat areas are less expensive. Renting or buying?
There is South San Gabriel,Rosemead,Whittier,Montebello,these are less expensive.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

It seems like it's the kind of place where maybe with the possible exception of Pasadena there isn't really much of a logical reason to move there unless if you're from there.

We moved from Pasadena to the east SGV because of housing prices and the fact that we would've had to send our kids to private schools if we'd stayed. This is definitely not as exciting as the west side, IMO (having lived there eons ago). However, it's less expensive, probably safer, and a lot more predictable.

Am I "off" on my thinking? Please let me know. How do most people in the SGV "make it"? Where do they work?

My neighbors work in Pasadena, Pomona, Claremont, Rancho, Azusa, Industry, etc. You're right; not too many commute to downtown L.A. and I don't know anyone who drives further west than that. Twenty years ago you could do it but the traffic is prohibitive now.

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

We moved from Pasadena to the east SGV because of housing prices and the fact that we would've had to send our kids to private schools if we'd stayed. This is definitely not as exciting as the west side, IMO (having lived there eons ago). However, it's less expensive, probably safer, and a lot more predictable.



My neighbors work in Pasadena, Pomona, Claremont, Rancho, Azusa, Industry, etc. You're right; not too many commute to downtown L.A. and I don't know anyone who drives further west than that. Twenty years ago you could do it but the traffic is prohibitive now.

How long would you estimate it takes to drive from say, West Covina to downtown Pasadena during rush hour traffic in the morning?

I haven't explored all of Pasadena-- what parts of the city are people saying are unsafe (recurring theme on these posts here)?

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

How long would you estimate it takes to drive from say, West Covina to downtown Pasadena during rush hour traffic in the morning?

If you leave at 6 am, about 20 minutes. If you leave at 6:30 am, about 35-45 minutes. Between 6:30 and 8:45 am, well over an hour, depending on the day of the week.

[VillageLife]

Driving on the 210 freeway from west covina to downtown Pasadena during rush hour may take 20 min.
You can also take the streets. There is a street called Arrow Hwy,it will take you through Irwindale to Monrovia,then go North on Duarte Rd then to Colorado Street. It is faster and easier.

You may want to visit Alhambra,Monterey Park,etc. Nice Chinese Shopping and authentic chinese food!

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by VillageLife

Driving on the 210 freeway from west covina to downtown Pasadena during rush hour may take 20 min.
You can also take the streets. There is a street called Arrow Hwy,it will take you through Irwindale to Monrovia,then go North on Duarte Rd then to Colorado Street. It is faster and easier.

Interesting; the previous poster said well over an hour, you say 20 minutes. Is the 210 a faster moving freeway than the 10?

Does anybody cross valley commute from the SGV to the SFV (Burbank, Glendale, Warner Center, Universal City, etc) using the 210/134? I wonder how long that takes. And btw... purpose of all these questions-- I'm almost certainly moving out of LA in 4 months anyway, but I still really want to explore and get all the facts first and entertain all the possible scenarios just so I settle the "what if?" factor, and for curiosity's sake.

Is the entire SGV blanketed with thick smog in the summer? Are there any microspots where the air quality is relatively better?

How do you think the SGV compares with San Bernardino county to the east (Ontario, Rancho Cuc., Upland, SB, Fontana, etc)? I've heard some BAD things about the latter two.

You may want to visit Alhambra,Monterey Park,etc. Nice Chinese Shopping and authentic chinese food!

A while back my friend (not Asian, but he heard about it) took me to this place in Alhambra called "King Hua" for dim sum. I've never been to China so I don't really know how "authentic" that's considered, but it sure seemed pretty authentic to me.