Eagle Rock near Yosemite Dr. and Figueroa Street: nice and safe for single female? (Los Angeles: apartment complex)

[zionforsale]

I'm considering moving to Eagle Rock from South Pasadena (which is a very safe, beautiful neighborhood but has become too expensive for me now that my lease ran out). I can pay maximum $1100 for a 1BR, though I wouldn't mind a studio. The crime map bothers me a bit as Eagle Rock seems to be a lot more dangerous than average Los Angeles, so I just want to ask:

1. How safe is Eagle Rock (the east side near Figueroa street and north of Yosemite Dr.)? I enjoy jogging, and I wonder if it would be a safe place for me to jog or run errands on foot (like farmer's market). I'm a single female, so I'm a bit paranoid about safety.

2. Is it located at a convenient distance from Hollywood and the Valley? I'm an actor/writer, and of course would prefer to live close to audition sites and studios. Please feel free to recommend other cities (with specific areas) as well. I don't know LA county that well and would appreciate any input.

At the end of the day, I don't mind an extra 10 minutes in commute if I get to come home to a clean, safe, and quiet place to park my car and cook myself a nice dinner. I put a lot of effort into my home so I hate moving. I like to find a good place and settle there for a few years, which leads me to my final question:

3. Is it better to rent from an apartment complex or a private landlord? People have told me if I want to live somewere for a long time (I hate moving), I'm better off renting from an apartment complex because you never know when you rent from a private property (they might sell it, want their relative to move in, etc.).

Thanks!

[socal88]

1. If you are looking in the Eagle Rock area, I would look further west. Yosemite and Figueroa is right by Highland Park, which isn't that good of an area, especially if you want to do things like jog at night. The area by the interesection of Colorado and Eagle Rock Boulevard is better, which is also close to restaurants and shops. Rents are probably higher there, although I don't know the exact range.

2. With no traffic, Eagle Rock is about a 20-25 minute drive to Hollywood. As far as the Valley, I'm guessing you're referring to the studios in the Burbank area, which is about a 20 minute drive. I'd also look into Glendale, Silver Lake, and Los Feliz, although given your budget, you will have to look into some older units as these areas are getting more expensive. I'd give Glendale an edge as it's safe, centrally located, and relatively quiet but still close to amenities. It just depends on what you can find.

3. I'd stick with an apartment as it's less hassle for some of the reasons you've mentioned. While renting a house can be nice, I've known a couple people that suddenly have to move because the owner decides to sell, wants to move back in, etc.

[zionforsale]

Thanks. I'm never going to go jogging at night, no matter where I am in LA. I usually go jogging during the day. The crime map shows some crime committed during the day, that's why I'm worried. I also hear that there are a couple of gangs in Eagle Rock as well and it's dangerous to live there if you're not Hispanic or Fillipinos (and I'm not)... Is there anyone who lives in the area that can verify this?