If "Money Isn't An Object" Is West LA The Ideal Place To Live? (Los Angeles: crime, neighborhood)

[BarcelonaFan]

Originally Posted by Nightscape

Los Feliz, Silverlake, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, DTLA, or north WeHo is more in tune for you based on age/interests.

This.

Any of these neighborhoods and you will be having a blast in LA. Any place where you can scurry around DTLA, to Los Feliz, Silverlake or Hollywood and the border near Fairfax is where you would be happy.

There will not be a dull moment.

[disgruntled la native]

I think westside is the ideal place to live. Probably Santa Monica. Very safe, beautiful, close to the beach, excellent city services (way better than city of LA) and while it's a little isolated you have everything you need (nightlife, restaurants, shops) right there so you dont' really have to go east.

[ccm123]

I would prefer Malibu, very isolated and safe. La Canada, La Crescenta or Bradbury are also excellent areas - not much in the way of nightlife, but excellent living.

[Carlite]

I'd agree with Nightscape's suggestions. If you live on the Westside, it can take you a long time to get into Downtown to go to Staples Center, or to go to Echo Park, or whatever. The Westside has better air quality, because ocean breezes tend to blow smog east into other neighborhoods! The Westside, especially Santa Monica, also tends to have cooler temperatures in summer. You haven't mentioned religion, so I assume that's not a big factor, if it were certain religions tend to be more common in certain areas (although one could certainly live outside those).

[genjy]

I am not a beach person at all. The sand, the murky water, and the salt breeze just aren't my things.

I personally think Pasadena is the best place to live in SoCal.

Pasadena has its pros and cons, and the pros are awesome.

[BarcelonaFan]

Pasadena does rock!

[wall st kid]

Manhattan Beach.

Beverly Hills

[JohnG72]

???????

Most of Westside isn't even a blip on the radar if money is no object.

Much more upscale areas of LA than most of the westside(Holmby Hills, Brentwood, Malibu, Palisades excepted)

For starters...PV, San Marino, Manhatten Beach, Beverly Hills. And then theres a bizillion other places with very very upscale small enclaves....such as LOTS of VERY wealthy celebrities live in Tolucca Lake. And then theres a strip of mansions along Chandler Bl in Sherman Oaks and Valley Village. And check out Pasadena in the area surrounding the Huntington Library....HUGE mansions on large estates...not Mcmansions either, but the classical old style mansions. And then some places you've never heard of either like Friendly Hills and Bradbury(probably the wealthiest neighborhood in LA County).

Thats why in the past my posts have been LOL at meh communities like Santa Monica. Paying millions for a home in a community that is definitively not upscale looking is just kinda a waste IMO.

Personally, I'd live on the water in Newport Beach with a dock and boat, but thats just me.

[BarcelonaFan]

As far as the Valley goes, Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, Studio City and Toluca Lake are tops. I remember eating at a little open cafe in Sherman Oaks and for a moment I felt like I was in Europe eating at a small Southern French cafe.

[greggd1]

Go with Hollywood. Close to Staples Center, Close to Music, and centrally located for a person who will not have a commute.

West LA will place you far away from Staples and limit the live music to a very few places. Things will shut down early and the 9-5 rules will apply.