TOP 5 most condensed walkable areas of the L.A. area? (Los Angeles: rentals, condo)

[Tiger Beer]

If you were to live the TOP 5 condensed most walkable areas of the Los Angeles area, which would you list in order?

[CESpeed]

There aren't any "liveable/walkable" places in LA, but there is some walkable shopping near homes. In no particular order: The Grove/Fairfax District, 3rd Street Promenade and Larchmont Village. This isn't L.A., but downtown Long Beach has created a walkable Mall and Glendale just opened the Americana at Brand which is another Grove.

[calipoppy]

Agree with the above and want to add Santa Monica, Pasadena and South Pasadena....since you said the Los Angeles area.

[HockeyFan]

Agreed with Glendale -- the most traditional mix of retail, residential, office space, restaurants, etc., that I've found in SoCal. It isn't a boutique downtown or a destination-only downtown -- people actually live all facets of their life there.

[Tiger Beer]

Thanks. I'll have to research Glendale more. That sounds like somewhere I'd be more interested in.

[stilldirrty]

Glendale is also the place for the largest Armenian Community in America. Which is why many of the places are walkable. Suitable for the Armenian culture.

But out of any of the places in L.A I have to say Glendale is the most walkable. And Pasadena.

[laysayfair]

Ventura Blvd. in Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys and Encino.
Also Melrose Avenue and the Larchmont area

[Sorcerer68]

Old Pasadena
South Pasadena
Burbank Town Center
Glendale (even more so with the recent addition of Americana)
(The above you can live, work and shop...all walkable urban villages)

I have to throw in the Fairfax district, it's genuine and not created as an outdoor mall.

[Tiger Beer]

I'm gonna list all of the answers:

The Grove/Fairfax District
3rd Street Promenade
Larchment Village
Glendale
Santa Monica
Pasadena
South Pasadena
Ventura Blvd in Studio City
Sherman Oaks
Van Nuys
Encino
Melrose Blvd
Burbank Town Center
Long Beach

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Just trying to narrow things down. Which areas are just way too expensive for someone who ISN'T of a well-paying professional/wealthier background?

[singlus]

Tiger Beer: I'm moving to LA and I also asked that question. After scouting several areas, I would probably say that most of the walkable areas have a lot of rentals, so you should probably start there.

If you're looking to buy, you'll have to fork over a large chunk of change... we really liked Old Town Pasadena, but to buy a single family home in the area that was within walking distance meant that we would have to spend an astronomical amount of money. You could probably buy a condo in the area; but for the same price, you could easily get a small single family home in a less-walkable area.

Another option you have is to live near a Metro station and then take that to where you need to be. But what I've learned is that a lot of people drive to the walkable areas, park, and then walk the area all day. LA is notorious for that very reason.