Help! Where to live near Downey, CA (Norwalk, Whittier: gardens, park)

[dmojames]

Leal elementary in Cerritos looks like a great school but the only issue is there is no after care or late pick up. Ill have to pick up the kids most likely and we need a school with aftercare or at least some after school option. We dont have friends in the area to ask about helping to pick them up and we can't afford a nanny. Im not sure what others do when both parents work and there are no late pick up options. I'll look into thr Fullerton area too.

[HarryKerryJr]

I'm sorry, but I don't like Downey these days. Great chunks of it are ugly now with low income folks and problems while smaller numbers of the affluent still call Downey home. Further, Downey is a heck of a place for commuting. The city itself is bisected by freeways and rivers and it is VERY difficult to get around during the busy times with tons of street traffic and legions exiting the freeway because of slowing or accidents. The last time we tried to get out of Downey during the rush, it took us FOREVER. UHHHH! Also, the Mid-cites or Gateway Cities of LA County (where Downey is located) is among the most ugly, flat areas of southern cal where travesties of 1950's and 1960's architecture reign.

I agree, there are nearby cities with an easy commute to Downey that would be preferred. Cerritos was a good suggestion. Also, La Mirada or even Whittier offer better neighborhoods and schools and an easy drive commute. Heck, at odd hours, even Fullerton is an easy commute to Downey using streets. If your hours are odd, then you may have an easier commute from further away, and perhaps you ought to live closer to Hollywood for your hubbie's work. What would your hours be because the freeways open up after 8PM until about 6AM.

However, the big problem is going to be the HELL of your husband's commute from that general area of Mid-Cities/Gateway Cites area to Hollywood. If your hubby has traditional 8-5 like hours, then he could commute using Metrolink commuter rail to Union Station , and then transferring to Metro Red line subway to Hollywood. A pretty easy and fast commute.

He would use the Metrolink Orange County Line or the 91 Line to get to Union Station. Both of those lines serve stations near your work/living area with stations in Buena Park and Nowalk/Santa Fe Springs, although the latter requires permits to park at that station. His Metrolink ticket or pass also provides FREE transfer to Red Line subway all day, so no extra fare for subway.

Please refer to these sites for more info:

www-dot-mta-dot-net (Metro bus, subway, and light rail including subway to Hollywood)

www-dot-metrolinktrains-dot-com (Metrolink commuter rail serving 5 county LA area. Orange County and 91 Lines serving stations near your work/live area.

[the one]

Alhambra, Mntry Park or South Pas might be good options for a nice enough neighborhood with decent schools. the commute might still be tough, but its do-able.

[HarryKerryJr]

Originally Posted by the one

Alhambra, Mntry Park or South Pas might be good options for a nice enough neighborhood with decent schools. the commute might still be tough, but its do-able.

To Hollywood, not too bad of a drive the back way (although Los Feliz is an absolute nightmare at the rush) with Gold Line providing transit to Union Station to subway, but NOT to Downey.

[hjt123]

South Pasadena is your best option

[marumut]

Originally Posted by HarryKerryJr

I'm sorry, but I don't like Downey these days. Great chunks of it are ugly now with low income folks and problems while smaller numbers of the affluent still call Downey home. Further, Downey is a heck of a place for commuting. The city itself is bisected by freeways and rivers and it is VERY difficult to get around during the busy times with tons of street traffic and legions exiting the freeway because of slowing or accidents. The last time we tried to get out of Downey during the rush, it took us FOREVER. UHHHH! Also, the Mid-cites or Gateway Cities of LA County (where Downey is located) is among the most ugly, flat areas of southern cal where travesties of 1950's and 1960's architecture reign.

I agree, there are nearby cities with an easy commute to Downey that would be preferred. Cerritos was a good suggestion. Also, La Mirada or even Whittier offer better neighborhoods and schools and an easy drive commute. Heck, at odd hours, even Fullerton is an easy commute to Downey using streets. If your hours are odd, then you may have an easier commute from further away, and perhaps you ought to live closer to Hollywood for your hubbie's work. What would your hours be because the freeways open up after 8PM until about 6AM.

However, the big problem is going to be the HELL of your husband's commute from that general area of Mid-Cities/Gateway Cites area to Hollywood. If your hubby has traditional 8-5 like hours, then he could commute using Metrolink commuter rail to Union Station , and then transferring to Metro Red line subway to Hollywood. A pretty easy and fast commute.

He would use the Metrolink Orange County Line or the 91 Line to get to Union Station. Both of those lines serve stations near your work/living area with stations in Buena Park and Nowalk/Santa Fe Springs, although the latter requires permits to park at that station. His Metrolink ticket or pass also provides FREE transfer to Red Line subway all day, so no extra fare for subway.

Please refer to these sites for more info:

www-dot-mta-dot-net (Metro bus, subway, and light rail including subway to Hollywood)

www-dot-metrolinktrains-dot-com (Metrolink commuter rail serving 5 county LA area. Orange County and 91 Lines serving stations near your work/live area.

low income and problems? where?

[Marv101]

In the mid-seventies and throughout the eighties it was clean, quiet, & very safe, but it has certainly gone downhill since then.

My top two choices would be Cerritos (if you can afford it) and Lakewood.

[marumut]

Originally Posted by Marv101

In the mid-seventies and throughout the eighties it was clean, quiet, & very safe, but it has certainly gone downhill since then.

My top two choices would be Cerritos (if you can afford it) and Lakewood.

maybe south downey and the apartment areas, but other than that it's just a plain old boring suburban neighborhood

[MissMaggieC]

Originally Posted by Marv101

In the mid-seventies and throughout the eighties it was clean, quiet, & very safe, but it has certainly gone downhill since then.

My top two choices would be Cerritos (if you can afford it) and Lakewood.

This!! I've lived and worked in both, and highly recommend each for safe, family friendly neighborhoods. In Lakewood, keep in the 90713 area code.

[astroia 34567]

Just a quick question - based solely from seeing the Google Maps and what I have read on the forums, would Bixby Knolls be an option? It looks very nice an I have read good things BUT it also seems quite affluent.