Commute from Sherman Oaks and Calabasas to Westwood (Thousand Oaks, Santa Monica: apartments, living in)

[kerrit22]

Hi,

I recently moved to LA and my husband and I live in Sherman Oaks. He works in Calabasas and I work in Encino. Right now the commute is relatively easy. Starting 3/1 we are moving to Westwood because we really want to check out another area of LA but still not be too far from the valley for work. Please give me some details on the commute from Encino or Calabasas to Westwood. Is it really as bad as people say? Also we will be coming to the valley in the mornings and heading back to Westwood in the evenings and I heard the real trouble is the other way around. Please be as detailed as possible. Thanks.

PS. We really like Westwood, and really just wanna live somewhere else other than the valley.

[BRinSM]

encino won't be bad as it's just over the hill, but your husband's commute to calabasas won't be fun. the 101 out in the west valley is bad in both directions due to the number of jobs in woodland hills as well as thousand oaks. he could take the canyon roads from PCH. this will be more scenic, but will also probably take longer.

[Island_OnThe_Land]

I don't blame you guys for wanting to live in Westwood as it is certainly more interesting than the Valley (disclaimer: I grew up in the SF Valley so I get it).

To the extent there is a "reverse" commute in LA you will benefit from the direction you are heading. That said, BrinSM's comment above is accurate, IMO. The west 101 can get bad in the mornings given the job density in Warner Center/Woodland Hills and Thousand Oaks. Again, there are people that do the Calabasas to Westwood commute DAILY and this is WORSE than what your husband is planning to do (i.e., the opposite direction).

So I say go for it and enjoy living in Westwood. People endure far worse commutes. You might as well live where you want to live. In Westwood, the summers are pleasant, air quality is BETTER, and nightlife/cultural activties far more varied than the SF Valley.

[kerrit22]

Thanks for the input, I was looking at apartments at 3 locations, is one any better than the other?

Kelton and Santa Monica and
Corinth and Tennesee or
Beloit and Ohio

[BRinSM]

the second and third options are a bit too close to the freeway for me, but are walking distance from all of the japanese shops/restaurants on sawtelle if you're into that kind of thing. there's not much on santa monica near kelton, so you'd be driving everywhere, but there is easy freeway access for your commutes.

[Ponder This]

Originally Posted by kerrit22

I recently moved to LA and my husband and I live in Sherman Oaks. He works in Calabasas and I work in Encino. Right now the commute is relatively easy.

Out of curiosity, how long is your commute to Encino and your husband's commute to Calabasas right now from Sherman Oaks? I'm relocating later this year and took a 9-5 job in Woodland Hills--trying to gauge how far I can live with a tolerable commute. Thanks!

[kerrit22]

Oh that commute is a breeze, I have to be at work in Encino at 7:30, I leave at 7:00 in the morning and I stop for coffee at 7/11, and I'm always early, my husband's commute to Calabasas from Sherman Oaks is also pretty easy if he leaves before the 7:30/8:00 rush. I used to drive him every morning leaving around 7 and getting to Calabasas and back was a breeze. Woodland Hills is even closer so if you got a place as far as Studio City you would have a fairly easy commute. Happy Searching.