Central LA Neighborhoods?
February 11, 2011 5:57 PM Subscribe
Where to live in Central LA? Been away for a long time and looking for input on neighborhoods.
After a 13 year absence, I'm finally moving back to my favorite city (Los Angeles). I've been checking out neighborhoods in person, online, etc but any additional perspective is useful. My focus is on Central LA [at least as defined by LA Times mapping project] -- the main places I've been looking are Mid-Wilshire, Fairfax, Hollywood, Hancock Park, etc. Since I'm coming from SF my budget appears to be fine for pretty much any of these areas (up to $2500/mo for 2-3 bedrooms). I'm a single straight man in my mid 30's. Ideally I'd have a place that was quietish but near fun things (bars, clubs, shopping, whatever). The best options I've seen are the west end of Miracle Mile and parts of Melrose (like between Fairfax and Highland). But I've only visited these areas for clubbing and shopping and such, I'd love to hear what it's like to live there and any other areas in the vicinity I should check out / things I should look out for. Reasonable access to the 10 is important (both for work and some friends outside that area), but I never drive anywhere during rush hour.
After a 13 year absence, I'm finally moving back to my favorite city (Los Angeles). I've been checking out neighborhoods in person, online, etc but any additional perspective is useful. My focus is on Central LA [at least as defined by LA Times mapping project] -- the main places I've been looking are Mid-Wilshire, Fairfax, Hollywood, Hancock Park, etc. Since I'm coming from SF my budget appears to be fine for pretty much any of these areas (up to $2500/mo for 2-3 bedrooms). I'm a single straight man in my mid 30's. Ideally I'd have a place that was quietish but near fun things (bars, clubs, shopping, whatever). The best options I've seen are the west end of Miracle Mile and parts of Melrose (like between Fairfax and Highland). But I've only visited these areas for clubbing and shopping and such, I'd love to hear what it's like to live there and any other areas in the vicinity I should check out / things I should look out for. Reasonable access to the 10 is important (both for work and some friends outside that area), but I never drive anywhere during rush hour.
Pico-Robertson is near the west end of the Miracle Mile and it's pretty much exactly what you're describing. You could get a lot for $2500. Incredibly quiet but only 10-15 minutes from Melrose, West Hollywood, etc, as well as 10 minutes from the 10. One of my friends lives there and we've even walked from his place to WeHo on Halloween.
posted by synchronia at 7:06 PM on February 11, 2011
posted by synchronia at 7:06 PM on February 11, 2011
Ha, I'd just typed out a response recommending *against* Pico Robertson (where I also live) -- mainly because it's very residential. But it IS very centrally located, with super-easy access to the 10, unlike Silverlake (not Silverlake-ist!).
If I had your budget I'd probably settle around Carthay (closer to Olympic and Crescent Heights) or to the neighborhoods north/west of that. Traffic there is only horrendous during rush hour, so you'd be in clear as far as that goes.
posted by estherbester at 7:10 PM on February 11, 2011
If I had your budget I'd probably settle around Carthay (closer to Olympic and Crescent Heights) or to the neighborhoods north/west of that. Traffic there is only horrendous during rush hour, so you'd be in clear as far as that goes.
posted by estherbester at 7:10 PM on February 11, 2011
Best answer: I love living near Melrose and Fairfax. I can routinely walk to bars/restaurants and it's relatively close to everything. A jaunt down Fairfax or Crescent Heights puts me on the 10. For 2500/mo. you can get something pretty awesome around here. I would say between Fairfax and La Brea to the east and west and Beverly and Santa Monica to the north and south. I've been in LA for 11 years and this is my favorite area so far.
posted by buzzkillington at 8:02 PM on February 11, 2011
posted by buzzkillington at 8:02 PM on February 11, 2011
Mid-wilshire might work for you. It is close to Fairfax and is fairly easily accessible to the 10. A good central location to Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Ktown, and Hollywood. Or you might consider Koreatown- it is has a lot of nightlife. I lived there for four years and really enjoyed it. I would nix Hancock Park as it is very residential. Personally Melrose is way too busy for my tastes.
posted by teamnap at 8:13 PM on February 11, 2011
posted by teamnap at 8:13 PM on February 11, 2011
I think the Larchmont Village area is nice, but I'm really fond of Los Feliz.
posted by HotPatatta at 8:24 PM on February 11, 2011
posted by HotPatatta at 8:24 PM on February 11, 2011
I used to live in the same neighborhood as buzzkillington (Genesee Ave, represent!) and agree that it would fit your needs quite nicely. Parking can be a drag, so make sure your apartment comes with a parking space. Northbound Fairfax between Pico & Olympic can be a traffic nightmare at any time of the day, but once you learn the alternate routes, getting up there isn't too bad.
posted by mogget at 8:54 PM on February 11, 2011
posted by mogget at 8:54 PM on February 11, 2011
Estherbester, the part of Pico-Robertson I was thinking of is actually the part closest to Carthay :). Yes, the closer you can get to LACMA/The Grove/Pan Pacific Park/etc., the better!
posted by synchronia at 9:47 PM on February 11, 2011
posted by synchronia at 9:47 PM on February 11, 2011
Best answer: I live one block North of Melrose, between Fairfax and LaBrea. It rocks - not just because of Melrose, but because it's really close to Sunset and the whole strip, and West Hollywood along Santa Monica Blvd., while going East along SMB you've got a ton of little theaters, clubs and cafes all the way to Hollywood Forever, and just South of Melrose/Fairfax you got TheGrove/Farmer's Market, Miracle Mile, etc. Basically, it's pretty close to everywhere. Centrally located - more clubs, restaurants and bars than just about anywhere else in LA... I just got back from the Silent Movie Theater on Fairfax - walking home along Melrose after midnight and there are restaurants and bars open - it's great.
posted by VikingSword at 12:42 AM on February 12, 2011
posted by VikingSword at 12:42 AM on February 12, 2011
What's your feeling on yuppies vs hipsters? Does the idea of being able to take the subway excite you? For me the interesting stuff is more E. Hollywood/Los Feliz/Silver Lake/Echo Park/DTLA. If I had your budget and didn't care about living near the red line, I'd probably head to the hills of Los Feliz/Silver Lake.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 1:32 AM on February 12, 2011
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 1:32 AM on February 12, 2011
Los Feliz is the place for you. If I was moving back to la and I had your budget, that's where I'd live, no question.
posted by pazazygeek at 8:22 AM on February 12, 2011
posted by pazazygeek at 8:22 AM on February 12, 2011
Hancock Park/Larchmont and the corridor around Highland are popular with the Orthodox Jewish community since you left, not that this might matter, but there's not a huge amount of easily reached basics--Larchmont Blvd. lost its one supermarket, but has lots of cute shops and the weekly Farmer's Market. West Hollywood boomed. The area around Farmers' Market and The Grove (aka Park-LaBrea) is also more popular, and there's a Whole Foods.
Silver Lake and Los Feliz are popular, but if you really want to walk everywhere, you're limited in choices. Atwater Village is farther out, but has sorta kinda gentrified.
Miracle Mile area is very walkable, lots of services. Not cutesy trendy, but livable.
posted by Ideefixe at 8:35 AM on February 12, 2011
Silver Lake and Los Feliz are popular, but if you really want to walk everywhere, you're limited in choices. Atwater Village is farther out, but has sorta kinda gentrified.
Miracle Mile area is very walkable, lots of services. Not cutesy trendy, but livable.
posted by Ideefixe at 8:35 AM on February 12, 2011
Response by poster: Last couple weeks have been crazy so I'm just getting back to updating this, but I did read all of your answers, thank you!
I ended up getting a place in Fairfax near Melrose. Moving there in a few weeks!
posted by wildcrdj at 10:31 PM on February 20, 2011
I ended up getting a place in Fairfax near Melrose. Moving there in a few weeks!
posted by wildcrdj at 10:31 PM on February 20, 2011
Congrats, neighbor! I AM on Genesee Ave - representing! Perhaps a meetup on Melrose is in order?
posted by buzzkillington at 10:32 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by buzzkillington at 10:32 PM on February 22, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by gbentz at 6:12 PM on February 11, 2011