SFV going downhill (low income, real estate market, apartments)

[SandyCo]

The Valley is a pretty big area, encompassing many neighborhoods of Los Angeles and incorporated cities. There was an article on this just last week in the L.A. Times that says there is a wide disparity between the east Valley and west Valley (with the 405 being the dividing line between east and west). Areas like Calabasas and Woodland Hills are very nice. Areas like Pacoima and North Hills - not so nice. As usual, the most expensive cities/neighborhoods to live in are also the safest and cleanest. No surprises!

I can only talk about Sherman Oaks, since I live here. The area itself has held up pretty well over the past five or six years. My apartment complex hasn't, though. We have an owner who doesn't care who he rents to as long as they pass the credit check, and the only way a tenant ever gets evicted is if they don't pay their rent. If I could afford to rent a house around here, though, it would be a much better life for me and my kids. I can only dream...!

[greggd]

Originally Posted by Mai

And where exactly are the few bad areas?

They are all over:

off the top of my head:

Van nuys courthouse and police station, in all directions, five to six blocks
Northern Area bordered by 405 to west, sepulveda to east, nordoff to north, sherman way to south. Orion st especially, although its improved due to crackdowns on drug dealers and gangs.
Area between roscoe & parthenia from the 405 on the west to van nuys blvd.
West Valley: area around lanark park, especially on Lanark facing the park. ?

many pockets all over the entire valley, northern section appears worse than the southern though.

[jsavella]

Good areas i can think of are:
Woodland Hills
Encino
Tarzana
Chatsworth (near the 118)
Northridge
Mission Hills
Granada Hills
Basically N, NE, and NW side of the valley

Bad:
Pacoima
Arleta
SUn Valley near the junkyards
parts of panorama
van nuys
North Hills (sepulveda)

I would say Pacoima is one of the bad areas of the valley

Woodland Hills is really getting better with the addition of Topanga Mall extension. Encino is the most expensive neighborhood.

I agree with celebrities living in the SFV. I use to work for HomeDepot in WH and i saw celebrities walk in and out of the stores all the time (vivica j fox and a baseball player that played for the dodgers, i forgot the name, were the recent spotting)

[fastfilm]

Panorama City (betwixt North Hills and Van Nuys) is the only area in the Valley to earn a gang-i n j u nction from the city of L.A., which is hard to get. I should take some photos for posters here of Blythe St., to illustrate the disparity of the nice little homes that used to constitute good blue collar affordability in a bedroom community that actually masks one of the most vicious gang areas in all L.A. Appearances are so deceiving in Lalaland.

[montevista1]

What is wild about Van Nuys and Panorama is that homes run there usually 450-700.

This is insane if you could afford a home in this range why would you live in Van Nuys or Panorama.

I live in Woodland Hills and its nice, I used to live in N. Hollywood & that is preety bad.

[montevista1]

You can sort of get the Valley Girl movie lifestyle in Santa Clarita.

[shannon94]

Originally Posted by newportbeachsmostwanted

Watch the 1983 movie, Valley Girl, and then tell me if it looks like SFV has changed much..

It's sad what happened to the Galleria Mall (where alot of it was filmed) Use to be a favorite of mine.

[Dennis P]

Originally Posted by shannon94

It's sad what happened to the Galleria Mall (where alot of it was filmed) Use to be a favorite of mine.

There were a number of movies made at the Sherman Oaks Galleria. Besides "Valley Girl" another one I can think of right off is "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." Also, the first part of "Commando" was made there (starred Governor Arnold), as well as a low-budget horror flick, "Chopping Mall".

[aween]

Ok I am a
'Valley Girl" I have lived here for 41 years and fast times was filmed at my highschool when I was 17. Anywho...my take on the valley is this-
The hills and mountians that surround the valley, are where the nicer homes are and down in the valley is when the not so nicer homes are. Also..West valley is still pretty nice, but the further east you go, it slowly turns into the slums. The Sanfernando valley is looking more like Mexico everyday. Driving down a typical street you will see lots of shopping carts,furniture,trash,illegals on bikes everywhere,lots of billboards in Spanish and lots of stores(clothing and grocery) that cater to spanish speaking individuals. Lots of check cashing places on every corner and lots of street venders walking up and down the streets(honking their horns) selling hispanic type food and drinks.
I am in the minority being blond and european looking, so I feel a little out of place. The valley is going downhill fast!!!!!!! I am so ready to move away. It's not my town anymore and there is nothing I can do to make it better.

[dusesean1986]

Originally Posted by montevista1

What is wild about Van Nuys and Panorama is that homes run there usually 450-700.

This is insane if you could afford a home in this range why would you live in Van Nuys or Panorama.

I live in Woodland Hills and its nice, I used to live in N. Hollywood & that is preety bad.

Why are homes more expensive in Los Angeles County than 98% of the Country. Two words: jobs and weather