West Hollywood: the pro's and the con's (Santa Monica: apartment, renting)

[Feybie]

My husband and I like the look of West Hollywood. We're moving to LA in a few months and we're investigating the possibility of living in this area.

So I want to hear what you guys think. Give me the pro's, give me the con's.

Do you love it, do you hate it, why/why not?

[BRinSM]

the location is good, the amenities are good, but it is rather expensive and is also the most 'gay' neighborhood in LA. from what i hear, it is much more 'straight' than it used to be, but still much of the city caters to the large gay population, especially along santa monica blvd. at the same time the sunset strip is in west hollywood, and that is anything but gay. i would check it out first and find areas you like and see if it could be a fit for you.

[Feybie]

The 'gay' thing is no problem whatsoever.

Apart from being expensive, any con's?

[Fontucky]

Cons: Traffic, parking

[BRinSM]

parking is terrible in WeHo. make sure you get an off street spot where you live. but even going to the market or out to dinner can be a hassle sometimes because of parking. get used to dropping $5-$10 for valets when dining and waiting for parking spots at different grocery stores and shops. however, if you pick the right area, you should be able to walk to many places for your daily needs. i recommend living by one of the trader joe's in the area.

[Roo20]

I live in West Hollywood and I absolutely love it. I can walk to everything, I rarely drive my car anywhere on the weekends to run errands since everything is so close. I think it's pretty diverse, but a lot does depend on the areas you frequent, like the previous poster pointed out. For me the big draw aside from the great location (you are pretty much in the middle of everything) is that the city is super dog friendly. You can take your dog almost anywhere here, stores, outdoor cafes, you name it and being a dog person that is a huge plus to live somewhere that caters to them as this city does.

The only downside is that it really is an expensive area to live in, people are shocked when I tell them how much I pay for my apartment. My advice would be to make sure when looking at places to find out if it has a parking space, because street parking can be difficult here, despite the fact it's mostly permit parking.

Good luck with your search!

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by Roo20

people are shocked when I tell them how much I pay for my apartment.

Shock us, please.

[californio sur]

Originally Posted by Roo20

I live in West Hollywood and I absolutely love it. I can walk to everything, I rarely drive my car anywhere on the weekends to run errands since everything is so close. I think it's pretty diverse, but a lot does depend on the areas you frequent, like the previous poster pointed out. For me the big draw aside from the great location (you are pretty much in the middle of everything) is that the city is super dog friendly. You can take your dog almost anywhere here, stores, outdoor cafes, you name it and being a dog person that is a huge plus to live somewhere that caters to them as this city does.

The only downside is that it really is an expensive area to live in, people are shocked when I tell them how much I pay for my apartment. My advice would be to make sure when looking at places to find out if it has a parking space, because street parking can be difficult here, despite the fact it's mostly permit parking.

Good luck with your search!

Aren't some of the street super steep to walk very often [i.e. La Cienega between Santa Monica & Sunset blvds]?

[Feybie]

Originally Posted by Roo20

I live in West Hollywood and I absolutely love it. I can walk to everything, I rarely drive my car anywhere on the weekends to run errands since everything is so close. I think it's pretty diverse, but a lot does depend on the areas you frequent, like the previous poster pointed out. For me the big draw aside from the great location (you are pretty much in the middle of everything) is that the city is super dog friendly. You can take your dog almost anywhere here, stores, outdoor cafes, you name it and being a dog person that is a huge plus to live somewhere that caters to them as this city does.

The only downside is that it really is an expensive area to live in, people are shocked when I tell them how much I pay for my apartment. My advice would be to make sure when looking at places to find out if it has a parking space, because street parking can be difficult here, despite the fact it's mostly permit parking.

Good luck with your search!

I have two dogs, so dog friendly is a must.

I've been scouring Craigslist for apartment prices etc and while some are incredibly expensive, there is definitely a whole stack within our price range.

I like the idea of being able to walk everywhere, and I really like the proximity to Runyon Canyon.

My only other question would be, because its an 'expensive' area to live, is the nightlight (dining, bars etc) also ludicrously expensive?

[Roo20]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Shock us, please.

I have a 2 bedroom 2 bath that originally was renting for $2400 - with the economy being the way it is I was able to get it a little bit cheaper. I do have a view, parking, and a washer/dryer in the apartment, so I don't think it's bad at all.

My apartment is reasonable compared to some others in the area - there are a couple of buildings on my street that charge around $2800 and up for a one bedroom - craziness!