Where to live in LA with a family? (Glendale, Pasadena: apartments, rent to own)

[mihrih]

Hello,
My husband was just offered a job in downtown LA, and we are looking at moving there. Even though I have spent my whole life less than an hour away from downtown I have very little idea of where to move to!
Budget: $2000 per month excluding utilities.
Background: For the last 30 years we have lived in beach communities (ventura, hollywood beach, and malibu). I'm a stay at home mom with our 4 month old baby and 2 german shepherd mixes. We love to go on daily walks. I cloth diaper (I need somewhere to hang dry the diapers), and we try to buy local organic foods too!
Wants: A place that is within 20 minutes to Union Station. Close to public transportation for my husband. Allows dogs. Has washer and dryer hook-ups, Preferably has a yard (balcony will be ok), Minimum of 800 square feet (one bedroom is ok). An area that has a community family vibe and is safe. Feel free to give me a reality check if this is unattainable.
We have discussed places such as Culver City, Pasadena, University Hills (El Sereno), Echo Park, and Silverlake. Of those the only place I found in our budget was El Sereno.
Thank you for any advice you might have!

[ccm123]

South Pasadena (91030) is a great neighborhood. It has a Gold Line Station (Mission Station) and is close to DT (of course, traffic will make the commute longer). Neighborhood is walkable, especially around the Gold Line Station.

[mihrih]

Any recommendations on where to look for housing in south pas besides craigslist?

[ccm123]

Try the RE websites: Trulia, Zillow, etc. Also, drive around the area.

[Lumerian Feast]

I'm going to throw my hat in the ring and say La Crescenta. People are always surprised to find out that it's only 15 minutes from downtown (LOVE the 2). Schools are good. Plenty of parks (CV Park, Deukmejian, Dunsmore) to take dogs. CV Park actually has an enclosed dog area, but it's cool if you want to take them around the main park too. Mostly houses instead of apartments. And downtown Montrose is cute, with shops and restaurants -- but you can also be in downtown, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, or Pasadena in 15 minutes if you want more.

[AnonCommenter]

People who live in lacresenta are said to be unable to get into lacanada. Lots of Koreans moving to lacresenta who can't get into lacanada. Lots of white folks cashing out selling to the Koreans and moving down to south OC. It's all white flight.

[HyperionGap]

That doesn't surprise me in the least. I only go to Montrose to go to La Cabanita (definitely one of the best Mexican restaurants in the SGV) so I don't know the residential neighborhoods that well, but there were definitely a lot of Koreans on the CV swim team when I was in HS.


I would probably second South Pas over La Crescenta, but some of that definitely comes down to how much home you want to get for $2000. South Pas has the gold line and a very quaint walkable downtown area, but you won't get as much property.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by AnonCommenter

People who live in lacresenta are said to be unable to get into lacanada. Lots of Koreans moving to lacresenta who can't get into lacanada. Lots of white folks cashing out selling to the Koreans and moving down to south OC. It's all white flight.

So is there Jim Crow going on in La Canada-Flintridge?

There are still accusations of formal segregation being officially tolerated in certain areas in L.A. Rumors exist of official tolerance of discrimination in Pacific Palisades and occasionally Brentwood. I haven't heard of segregation going on in that area in post-civil rights times, but in the old days there was a lot of discrimination there.

La Crescenta, La Canada, and Montrose are places I'd recommend for someone with kids. Glendale also. Not Pasadena, however - PUSD is troubled, much like LAUSD.

[kharken]

Looking forward to working in LA. Is it a good place to work? I'm currently living in Delano and job opportunities within the area are kinda low (especially technology jobs, graduate of electronics engineering). What areas in LA are good places to stay in? Where are tech companies located?

This may help.
- Renting but would be buying in the future (possibly rent to own if there are)
- suburban (though rural may be quieter)
- availability of public transportation (but can drive)
- absolutely a no-no to heavy traffic
- low cost of living than in other major cities
- recreational parks
- quiet

[HyperionGap]

Originally Posted by kharken

Looking forward to working in LA. Is it a good place to work? I'm currently living in Delano and job opportunities within the area are kinda low (especially technology jobs, graduate of electronics engineering). What areas in LA are good places to stay in? Where are tech companies located?

This may help.
- Renting but would be buying in the future (possibly rent to own if there are)
- suburban (though rural may be quieter)
- availability of public transportation (but can drive)
- absolutely a no-no to heavy traffic
- low cost of living than in other major cities
- recreational parks
- quiet

I've heard Montana is nice.