Is West Ocean Blvd in Long Beach safe? (Carson, Lakewood: hardwood floors, apartments)

[nicole99]

I am moving from the east coast to Long Beach and I was looking at apartments, I am traveling to CA in a couple weeks to look at The Blackstone Apartments at 330 West Ocean Blvd and I wanted to know if it would be safe for a 21 yr old. woman to live there alone. I don't know much about the city which is why I ask and I would like to only look at apartments that would be safe because I will only be visiting for a short time. If not what are some affordable cities or apartments I should look at?

[BRinSM]

i think you'd be fine, just be smart and odds are you won't have any problems. there's also a lot of dining options right around there that you can walk to. i'd think you would have a good time living there as a 21 year old.

[LA Fan]

I live just a few blocks from this area, its pretty safe. You have the civic center (City Hall, L.B police department, and the fire department, and the main central library) directly across the street. Its a busy area during the day, plus as another poster mentioned there are numerous dinning options within walking distance. Pine Avenue, and then there is The Pike complex (movie theaters, Borders Books, Cold Stone, Laugh Factory, Game Works, and a few others. Across from is the water front, and there is the Mai Tai Bar, Chili's, Outbacks, PF Chang, Bubba Gump's Tokyo Wako, Dave's Famous BBQ, Gladstones. Another few steps down is Shoreline Village, with its many dinning options. Yard House, and The Lighthouse are probably the biggest draw.

Also near Bubba Gump, there is the Long Beach Aquirium, so as you can see there are many options around.

My question is why this apartment building? I heard the rooms are very small, and for the price you may find the Camden a better fit. They are next door, and a fairly new, and modern. It also has a pool, gym, residents movie theater, plus dinning options such as Italian restaurant, Deli, and a Wine Bar. Plus there is a nice coffehouse with free wi-fi, all on the first floor of the building, and there is a nice green space with benches in front of the complex.

You may even be able to find a studio about the same size and price with more amenities. I would also check all along Ocean as there are lot of apartments with beautiful views since you are right at the ocean. Belmont Shores 2nd Street is also a beautiful area, and its only about 10 mins by bus (Passport) and is a very popular spot for young people, and many college students who like to hang out.

[nicole99]

Oh wow thank you so much! A friend mentioned these apartments to me and they were the cheapest I could find that weren't in bad neighborhoods. I have actually never heard of the Camden but I will check that one out as well, it sounds like it has a lot more to offer! I am still searching, I just wanted to make sure the area wasn't too bad before I had my heart set on the area! Thanks again, this helped a lot.

[LA Fan]

You're welcome, by the way sorry for some of the typos in the previous post.

As long as you stay close to the beach area, you're safe. Pretty much anything up to about 3rd Street, and even 4th and 5th (near Carrol Gardens) the further east you head down Ocean. Plus all of the strand all along Ocean Blvd, which is several miles heading east into Belmont Shores, and the neighborhood of Belmont Heights are very good neighborhoods.

Naples is another good one, as well as east Long Beach since there is the huge campus Cal State Long Beach nearby. Los Altos, and around the Traffic Circle, California Heights, and Bixby Knolls are nice as well, but these are a couple miles inland, and away from the beach. One thing to remember is the ocean isn't all that far away from most of these areas.

In Bixby Knolls, Atlantic Blvd is the main commercial area for this neighborhood, so there is enough nearby to not have to travel far, but again all of those neighborhoods I mentioned have plenty of retail nearby. Bixby and California Heights have a lot of decent apartments that are older, but very well kept. These areas are well established, and pretty quiet, with Bixby Knolls being a large jewish area, but still very diverse with with all nationalities of the well to do. Apartments are where the poor folks live (lol). Well not poor, just middle class, but I like to say that because on average the apartment dwellers couldn't afford the homes in the area as they can be quite expensive. Let me repeat, Bixby is a very beautiful neighborhood.

So look around these neighborhoods too, don't rule them out as you can find reasonable rents. Many of the apartments in Bixby Knolls, and California Heights are older, well 1940 through 1960's style apartments, but they are large, and again well kept. You can find a lot with hardwood floors, and leafy treeline streets, with nice courtyards. There are many nice supermarkets around this area, Ralphs, Vons, Trader Joes, and a number of coffehouses, and restaurants all along Atlantic Avenue.

Another spot would be in east Long Beach near the 605 freeway off of Carson Street where the Long Beach Town Center is. North of Carson is the city of Lakewood, and its very quiet on those side streets, plus you have the Town Center near by, and it has everything. Check out the webside for the Long Beach Towne Center, to see what they offer.

I hope this helps in your search.

Anyway if you have any questions, feel free to ask here as there are a few of us locals who can advise about the area. I hope this helps in your search.