Good walkable neighborhood for job in West LA

[BRinSM]

since nobody else appears to have mentioned this, you're not really going to find a chicago or nyc lifestyle in LA, they are just very different. the few places with similar densities are either almost entirely populated by working class immigrants or are too far from your office. for your own sanity, i highly recommend that you live west of your office. bus commuting may be an option, but probably unlikely. however, you can keep a short driving commute to work then come home to a walkable neighborhood. As mentioned, venice is an option, but you may also consider the ocean park area of santa monica or anywhere along wilshire or montana. santa monica is not very diverse as far as color of skin, but considering how expensive it is to live there, the economic diversity is quite great. anyways, i would say that anywhere within a few blocks of the coast will be a good option for you including parts of marina del rey. you may also like parts of culver city and maybe even brentwood. there are plenty of good options east of your office, but that commute would be so terrible that I won't even bother.

[rubhaul]

Thanks, very helpful comments.

It seems like West LA neighborhood is out of my price range. I can't really go more than $1300 a month, and that's pushing it a bit.

Koreatown looks cool, as does East Hollywood. Am I looking at like 45 mins - hr commute by car?

[BRinSM]

check out the palms neighborhood, you'll be able to find an apartment for that price if you look hard enough.

[rubhaul]

Given my office location, do you think East Hollywood or Koreatown would be a bad idea?

[BRinSM]

unless you don't mind a minimum 30 minute commute (probably closer to 45 minutes each way), i think it's a bad idea.

[King0fthehill]

Pictures and commentary of the places in mention:

prettyugly.: Hollywood
prettyugly.: koreatown
prettyugly.: Venice

I don't really shoot much of SM..most of the time I'm there, I'm headed to Venice.

prettyugly.: santa monica (http://devanwells.blogspot.com/2008/11/santa-monica.html - broken link)

[uptown_urbanist]

Hollywood and East Hollywood are great, but I did that commute once for a brief temp job, and it took forever. I went by bus (and I took a book, so it wasn't too bad for the short-term) but I think driving would be bad, too. I think you'd be better off for sanity's sake finding an interesting neighborhood closer to work.

[rubhaul]

30-45 minute commute is fine for me. I did about 50 minutes both ways on the train for a long time in Chicago. I realize driving is a lot more annoying, but I would be able to deal with it fine. Besides my job, a huge priority in my life is living somewhere urban, lively, with cool old buildings, and lots of busy life going on around me. I really don't like spaciousness. I used to live right next to the El tracks in Chicago. Other people HATED it. I thought it was the most awesome thing in the world.

Oh, @kingofthehill -> I love your blog! thanks for the links

[uptown_urbanist]

Many of the areas over in that side of town are still pretty dense, and you can find urban and lively (with old buildings) even on the west side. You may find the commute worth it in the end (although I'd say 30 minutes would be on a really good day) but I'd suggest holding off making up your mind before you visit, just in case you do find something to your liking closer.