NYer looking for LA neighborhood (San Diego, Pasadena: apartment, for rent, neighborhoods)

[queensgrl]

Hi,

Looking for a solidly middle class community with a diverse racial mixture, walkable amenities, including supermarkets, cleaners, laundry, drug stores, parks/beach, restaurants, shops, movie theatres, and most importantly, public transportation options. If anyone knows Astoria or Jackson Heights, Queens, that's what I have in mind.

Thanks!

[mrsltd]

Originally Posted by queensgrl

Hi,

Looking for a solidly middle class community with a diverse racial mixture, walkable amenities, including supermarkets, cleaners, laundry, drug stores, parks/beach, restaurants, shops, movie theatres, and most importantly, public transportation options. If anyone knows Astoria or Jackson Heights, Queens, that's what I have in mind.

Thanks!

Do you know the zip codes for those places in Queens? If you plug those into the C-D search, print out your information and then compare with LA zips.

Since neighborhoods themselves are not broken out with such data as you show up top, zip codes are the best way to START.

[BRinSM]

i'd check out the Palms neighborhood in LA. it's still nothing like astoria from my experiences, but generally has what you're looking for. it's not the most exciting neighborhood, but is nearby many more interesting places and is not too far from the beach (~3 miles) and many bus lines run through the area.

[sh0t]

Hello! I can probably help. I was born and raised in Jamaica, Queens.

I lived in LA for a while, now I'm in San Diego.

I lived in Hollywood right on Cherokee and Hollywood Blvd, worked in Century City.

If you want to replicate Astoria, you probably want to live in West LA. It even has the pot holes to make you feel more at home. Unfortunately, many other people want to live in West LA, and it can be very expensive, plus all the UCLA students.

You are going to have to make some big compromises unless your budget is enormous. You use the phrase "middle class" then describe some things somewhat out of reach for a middle class budget in LA.

[queensgrl]

Let's say I could spend about $2,200 per month for a 1 bdrm apartment. Is there a section of West LA that isn't completely populated by students? No problem with them but I'd like some variety in terms of age.

[Fontucky]

Look at West Hollywood.

Caveat: I wouldn't come here looking for NY. You won't find it.

[BRinSM]

if i had that much for rent i would live in santa monica, preferably in the ocean park neighborhood. i used to live there and when friends from astoria came to visit they really liked it too. fyi, you're probably going to want to get a car no matter where you choose to live. unless you're an avid urban cyclist, have no problems waiting for buses, or are super 'green', a car (or some sort of vehicle like a motorcycle/scooter) will be a necessity.

[uptown_urbanist]

The areas with the most diversity, walkability, great public transportation, and general streetlife tend not to be the solidly middle class areas in LA. There are definitely walkable middle class neighborhoods, and there are definitely walkable, bustling, diverse neighborhoods with lots of amenities, but they don't overlap as much.

You might want also want to consider somewhere like parts of Pasadena (along Colorado Blvd; good bus and light rail access), although it's not near the beach. West Hollywood is a very good suggestion, but only has bus access; the bus service is good, but no subway (if that matters).

[NaplesRes]

Originally Posted by queensgrl

Hi,

Looking for a solidly middle class community with a diverse racial mixture, walkable amenities, including supermarkets, cleaners, laundry, drug stores, parks/beach, restaurants, shops, movie theatres, and most importantly, public transportation options. If anyone knows Astoria or Jackson Heights, Queens, that's what I have in mind.

Thanks!

you might like downtown long beach

[queensgrl]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Look at West Hollywood.

Caveat: I wouldn't come here looking for NY. You won't find it.

Thanks for the tip. I'm not looking for NY. It's on steroids. I still want an urban environment but without all the hype. LA is on the list but I'm also thinking about New Orleans, Houston, or Austin.

BTW, I do have a car but I enjoy bike riding and would have no problem biking to get around. Proximity to the beach isn't terribly important but I would like to have parks, though. Being on a subway or light rail might be a good idea.