Hey LA people--advice needed

[Slater]

So there's a good chance my living situation may be changing in the next few weeks, and I'm going to be looking for an apartment somewhere closer to LA. And I'm clueless which areas to avoid.

Here's what I'm looking for:

--No more than 10-15 miles from the studios/Hollywood. Right now I have a 90 mile round trip commute and it's miserable.

--At least semi-safe. I don't want to have to own a gun. No bars on the windows, etc.

--At least semi-affordable. I'm going to be looking for one-bedroom apartments in the 1,500 a month range. Is that enough to keep me out of the shittier neighborhoods?

Ideally, I'd love to find someplace with an Orange County feel. You know, where there are actually a few trees around and you don't have to pay to park at every single place you go. But this is less important than the other three points.

Any suggestions? Any spots I should avoid like the plague?

[harrybeanbag]

Try Sherman Oaks. It's a really nice area right over the hill from LA proper, close to studios and Hollywood, and rent is decent. Failing that, there are other spots in the Valley that are just as affordable.

Also check out places on the Westside adjacent to Santa Monica/Venice/Palms area.

[Tieman]

I've always been able to find good deals in the Palms area. Lived in the area for almost 8 years now. My wife and I have a 2+2 apartment with a good sized living room (great for Wii Sports parties or Guitar Hero) and a balcony for $1500 a month. This seems to be the going rate around here.

Stay the fuck out of Koreatown. Don't let the prices fool you. I lived there for a year and the place is a roach infested shithole.

eta: I also recommend paying to use Westside Rentals (http://www.westsiderentals.com). That site has always worked well for me & my apartment hunting. The only time I didn't use it to move I ended up in the afore-mentioned K-Town.

[harrybeanbag]

Friends of mine who recently moved here from Colorado used Craigslist as an apartment-hunting resource. They had a place (nice 1 bedroom in West Hollywood, La Brea and Santa Monica, $1400) within a day and a half. Keep that feather in your hat too. Good luck!

[Ratty]

Sherman Oaks is a good suggestion. I just moved from there to Encino, which isn't bad, either. It has shitloads of one-bedroom apts in the 1100 to 1500 range and has a lot of restaurants/stores within walking distance.

[Dannychico]

Sherman Oaks is a good place, although it's in the valley. Park La Brea is in mid-city, right by the Grove. It's a gated community with lots of amenities. I bet you could find a 1 bedroom for $1500.

[TCD]

Most of the studios are in the Burbank area, which itself is very close to Hollywood.

So, Burbank would be a good choice. Very safe and clean. So is Toluca Lake which is borders Burbank, and is where I live. It's quiet and and has lovely tree-lined streets (a rarity in L.A.) and a nice little "downtown" area with great little coffee shops, pubs, and cafes.

I pay $925 for a small 1-bedroom (about 800 sq ft), so I can't imagine you'd have trouble finding something comfortable and secure in your price range.

[Trejo]

It sounds like everyone in L.A makes a solid 4 to 5 hundred dollars an hour or something.

I must get in on this.

[harrybeanbag]

Sherman Oaks is a good place, although it's in the valley. Park La Brea is in mid-city, right by the Grove. It's a gated community with lots of amenities. I bet you could find a 1 bedroom for $1500.

Park La Brea is great, but the cheapest I've seen their rent was about $1600.

Also, if you choose Burbank, stay the fuck away from that mall at all costs, as it's nothing short of a gigantic horrifying shrine to American consumerism. That's probably the nicest thing I can manage to say about it, aside from "I'm sure it makes many people happy."

[EdHocken]

I love the fact everyone backs my area, Sherman Oaks. Although there's also the south east section of the valley such as Studio City and the aformentioned Toluca Lake area.

I do want to point out Park La Brea is more Westside. Mid-City is more of the downtown area.

There's also the north east section of Los Angeles which is Eagle Rock, Glendale aka The Armenian Capital of the world and the dreaded Hipster areas of Echo Park and Silver Lake which have been going thru gentrification for the past few years.

[David Oliver]

I second / third / fourth the Palms area. I lived there for 5 out of the 12 years I've been here. It's close to two major studios and two major freeways and the rents are some of the cheapest in town.

[Slater]

Where is Palms? Is that the same as Twentynine Palms? Or Thousand Palms?

[Stormin]

The Valley's pretty much across-the-board good. Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Valley Village, and Burbank are all about a 20 minute drive from Hollywood and have cheap housing. And trees.

[EdHocken]

Where is Palms? Is that the same as Twentynine Palms? Or Thousand Palms?

Oh no, Twentynine Palms is way out in the desert near Palm Springs. Thousand Palms? No idea, although that could be Thousand Oaks and that's over in Ventura County.

Palms if I'm not mistaken is sort of in Southwest LA near Culver City and LAX. Tieman can fill you in on the details.

[Andre Dellamorte]

If you're working for a specific studio it might be worth it to target accordingly. Burbank to Santa Monica can take an hour. If you're doing this there's really no place you could live that wouldn't be safe if you do a little research. Burbank is probably your best bet though.

[EdHocken]

Despite the already mentioned mall (Where there are three AMC theaters at one intersection) Burbank is a pretty nice area from what I can tell. Not to mention you have easy access to cheap furniture via the nearby IKEA.

[Slater]

If you're working for a specific studio it might be worth it to target accordingly.

Not really. I visit Fox and Paramount more than the others, but not enough to justify renting an apartment nearby. Especially since I despise that section of town.

I've found a handful of spots in Burbank that seem convenient and reasonably priced, so that's probably in the lead right now. But keep the suggestions coming...they're much appreciated.

[Tim N.]

Hey everyone, when you're done helping Slater with his L.A. living business, I need to find a goddamn roommate. Or a big sack o' cash.

[Fazer]

slater i lived in the westside for 4 years of my life. Stay the hell out of it. It is not what you are looking for.

parking is a bitch and its expensive as fuck. I think I know you pretty well, and I don't think the westside LA lifestyle is what you are looking for.

When I make it back to LA 5 years down the road, I am gonna want to re-settle in the Pasadena area. I think it will give you exactly what you are looking for. Pasadena is quite expensive, but South Pasadena off of Fair Oaks avenue is probably exactly what you are looking for.

Safe, affordable, parking is plentiful. Good place to raise kids etc etc.

I would second the avoiding of echo park/silver lake. Its totally going through gentrification, so its not completely safe, but its full of hipsters.

If not there, then Glendale is always good and closer to the studios.

Oh and Palms is basically Culver City...its a great place if you are going to commute to the west side, but want to live cheaper. It has gotten really crowded recently though.

Burbank is also a fantastic place, and cheaper than the Pasadena area, but its also a bit more industrial and less "orange county" like. Both cities have easy access to the 210 freeway which is far easier way to get around north LA. Burbank airport is closeby, which is the only fucking way to fly in and out of LA...fuck LAX and fuck el segundo.

Sherman oaks is good too, but its a little too into the valley for my taste.

I think Burbank or Pasadena are your best bets. I also really like Los Feliz, which is a little south of Hollywood, but its also hipster central and parking is still difficult there.

[HunterRose]

I like the Culver City/Palms area. Technically I live in "Los Angeles" but I'm about 1.5 miles from the Venice/Culver intersection and I live in a nice, quiet, orthodox Jewish neighborhood. It's got it's own, dare I say 'quaint' feel developing right now and has been recently dubbed the new 'restaurant mecca' of LA.

I lived in Glendale and hated it for many reasons, but I know some people that like it and the Eagle Rock area. When I was living there, I was working for an animation company on Sunset/Vine and though I was only 6 miles away, it took me about 45 min to get to work everyday.

I currently commute to Playa Del Ray for work, and it takes about 20 minutes. It's a lot cooler (temperature)here than Hollywood and East.

I pay $1595/mo for a 2 br 2 ba apt.

Pasadena is really nice, just far away.

[Tieman]

Where is Palms? Is that the same as Twentynine Palms? Or Thousand Palms?
Palms is usually considered the area north of Venice Blvd. until the 10 Fwy, between the 405 Fwy. on the west and National Blvd on the east. Both Fox and Sony studios are a stone's throw from the community.
Most of the residences in the area are apartments, so Fazer is correct that the parking is less than ideal. Usually your apartment will come with one spot, but it can suck when you want visitors. Just taking a quick glance at the listings right now, it looks like the one bedroom places around here are going for between $850-$1000 a month, which is a lot better than a lot of the other parts of the city.
I have a lot of friends and family that live in the valley, which also has pretty good prices, but I find that the ocean breeze on the westside really makes a huge difference during the hot summer months and in relation to air quality.

[Vader]

When I was living there, I was working for an animation company on Sunset/Vine and though I was only 6 miles away, it took me about 45 min to get to work everyday.




Did you work at Klasky/Csupo?

[Slater]

If anyone cares, I found a decent 1-bedroom in North Hollywood for $1,000 on Craigslist. Moving in this week.

Thanks again for the advice, y'all.

[HunterRose]

Did you work at Klasky/Csupo?

Nope, ACME animation - which is post Klasky/Csupo IIRC.

[Vader]

Awesome....both of you.

[Russ Fischer]

Glad to hear it, Slater.

[HunterRose]

Awesome....both of you.

Did you work for Klasky? I'm at Rhythm & Hues now.

[Vader]

I always got a kick out of the Rhythm & Hues name. Always made me giggle.


Nah, my school took over the Klasky building and while it was not being used us students would explore it. The Simpsons and Rugrats staff left tons of crap that's been pillaged by us.

But there's still about 200 boxes of Rugrats calendars stored in a garage somewhere near the parking structure.
It's also probably the worst building to have a bad drug trip in.