Help me find a home

June 8, 2006 8:35 PM

Help! My boyfriend and I are moving to LA and need help figuring out where to live neighborhood-wise. It needs to be near a public transit hub and not so far away from USC that I'll kill myself commuting.

I'll be attending USC Law and he'll be working...somewhere at a lab. He's in the midst of applying to jobs all over, but it seems we might not know where he'll be working until time is running out to find a decent apartment. He's disabled and can't drive, but could bike a short distance to a public transit hub. We're both in our early 20s so would like an area that's not too stodgy, I guess.

This is my first post, so I apologize for any mistakes.

posted by wuzandfuzz to travel & transportation (22 comments total)

I went to graduate school at USC myself, just a few years ago, and I didn't have much money. Just so you realize that I know what I'm talking about.

There are no 'public transit hubs' anywhere remotely near USC, and there probably aren't any in the entire city of Los Angeles. It is one of the worst equipped cities for public transportation that you will ever find. There are some disgusting infrequent crowded buses that will not get you close to where you're going the majority of the time. There is a tiny train that doesn't go anywhere near USC.

Also, there are not any areas close to USC that are 'not too stodgy.' USC is a sheltered little oasis in South Central. You either live on campus, or you live far away on the other side of the city, or you live in a ghetto. I, for example, lived in Koreatown (a popular place for poor USC students). I don't recommend it, and without a car it would be just ridiculous.

I wish I had a suggestion that matches your actual criteria, but I think you'll look back on this thread a year from now and realize that I'm telling you the truth. You will need to make arrangements that you haven't considered in your post, e.g. your boyfriend will have to find someone to drive him from your apartment in Silverlake to USC.
posted by bingo at 8:57 PM on June 8, 2006

I'm sorry to say, but bingo is absolutely right. It's hard enough to manage in LA without a car. When your job/school is located where USC is, it might be downright dangerous.

The conventional wisdom is that a car is essential in LA, and while there are exceptions, in your case it's probably true. The alternative is to invision yourself devoting upwards of two hours a day just waiting for, walking to, and switching buses.

The only thing I can think of is if maybe the Law School has considered situations such as yours and has planned for them. They may know something or have some additional option we're unaware of. I'd call the student affairs office ASAP and ask the folks there. Perhaps they have on- or very-near campus housing available through the school.
posted by drpynchon at 9:36 PM on June 8, 2006

Bingo and drpynchon are correct. I would add the suggestion that you arrange some kind of temporary housing until your boyfriend knows for sure where he will be working. Then knowing the location, you can come up with some kind of strategy. There may be special transit accomodations that an employer can offer to a disabled person, such as a shuttle van.
posted by richg at 9:56 PM on June 8, 2006

I haven't lived in LA for the last six years, but Los Feliz south of Los Feliz Bl. might be your best bet. The buses are horrible in LA, but you can take one straight down Vermont to the campus. This is near the Red line too, but I don't know how this will work out for your BF as where he'll be working isn't definite.
posted by brujita at 10:07 PM on June 8, 2006

I live right around one end of the miracle mile, almost bordering Koreatown. My girlfriend, who just graduated from USC, used to take a bus from this apartment to get to school (before I moved in with her). There was only one transfer, and although it wasn't a perfect route, it was very manageable.

I think this is a nice part of the city to live in- it's a good balance of things going on, safety, and distance to everything.

Let me know if you'd like more information on bus routes or location where I'm living (my email address is in my profile).
posted by chimmyc at 10:12 PM on June 8, 2006

The Metrorail Blue Line stops one block from USC. And Silverlake phooey. Visitors are not happy in LA if they can't drive, but if you pick a Metrorail-close place to live, your husband will be able to get around fine. Look what you can see from the Metro.

You don't want to live in the area right next to USC, but you could take the Metrorail direct to "Old Town" Pasadena, a fairly happening shopping-drinking-walking around kind of place, with old restored apartments and lofts.

Or the nascent arts village part of downtown Long Beach (where I live), at the other end of the Blue Line. Long Beach public buses are squeaky clean, on time, and go everywhere in Long Beach. And there's a bike park and ride.

If your husband does biotech work, he should definitely check out the USC jobs board. There is a shuttle from Union Station (Red Line) to the health sciences campus every half-hour.

Another neighborhood you might like on the Metrorail line -- North Hollywood.

Welcome to LA!
posted by Methylviolet at 10:35 PM on June 8, 2006

Public transportation in LA is regarded as a service for the underclass and is just barely good enough and not likely to improve.

One guy I knew used it to commute from West LA to Malibu. He would regale us with stories of his co-commuters (mainly hispanic house maids) and the underground economy they were operating out of the bus.
posted by MonkeySaltedNuts at 11:03 PM on June 8, 2006

Just so you know:

That Blue Line stop that's supposedly one block from USC is actually about 1.6 miles from the law building on the south side of campus along Exposition. And it's an unpleasant walk with a lot of stop lights. For a quick walker, that's about 30-40 minutes walking daily in addition to the time required just to make it to that stop on the rail. Don't let looking at maps fool you. If you're looking at the Metrorail option it just seems unrealistic based on the distance from the nearest stop to the law school.

If there is indeed a bus line along Vermont, then this actually sounds like a workable solution. The neighborhoods around Los Feliz (north from campus on Vermont toward Hollywood) are very nice. But finding a decent apartment that also happens to be within reasonable distance from that bus stop will take serious effort.
posted by drpynchon at 11:31 PM on June 8, 2006

Oops, looks like I need to clarify:

I'll be driving to USC, and I don't really care how far I commute. Its my boyfriend who doesn't know where he'll be commuting to and will be using public transit. Essentially, we're trying to find someplace we could live that would ensure that he could somehow get anywhere on public trans. From what you guys are saying that seems like too much to hope for, bah.

Thanks for all the comments.
posted by wuzandfuzz at 11:47 PM on June 8, 2006

Yeesh, I just looked at my post and that so wasn't clear. Sorry guys, newbie mistake.
posted by wuzandfuzz at 11:48 PM on June 8, 2006

USC is a sheltered little oasis in South Central. You either live on campus, or you live far away on the other side of the city, or you live in a ghetto.

Truer words have never been spoken. Realize that the entire area surrounding USC is an enormously high crime area. Even if you do find some public transportation options that take you to cool places like Pasadena ... you're riding public transportation into and out of South Central. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
posted by frogan at 11:51 PM on June 8, 2006

Oh. In that case the easiest solution is for him to either find work at SC (of which there should be no shortage) so you can carpool, or for you guys to defer on longterm housing until he knows where he's going to work, and then find a place to live accordingly.
posted by drpynchon at 11:56 PM on June 8, 2006

I'd hold off on getting long-term housing until you know where he'll be working. As everyone has said, public transportation in L.A. is pretty bad - but manageable, in some cases. Try looking for temporary sublets either near USC or in Los Feliz, and when you find out where your bf will be working, then you can choose a suitable apartment. He might be able to get around easily if his job is in an area serviced by the Metrorail. Buses are... iffy, as people have said.
posted by bedhead at 1:58 AM on June 9, 2006

I spent about 8 years living at (roughly) the intersection of Wilshire & Fairfax. Absolutely loved it. It's a great location, in that you're not too far from anything. It's a walkable neighborhood with plenty to do shopping/eating/bar hopping wise. There were busses at that intersection that traversed east-west on Wilshire, and busses that went north-south on Fairfax. Bit of a drive to USC (30 min?), but that's gonna be true in lots of places (can't imagine the North Hollywood to USC commute).

Good luck w/ 1L. Just finished it myself. Shame you got there too late to catch Chimerinsky (sp?) while he was at U.S.C. -- that man's hornbook taught me ConLaw and is invaluable. Enjoy LA!
posted by herc at 5:02 AM on June 9, 2006

I should add that the Wilshire bus hits Beverly Hills, Westwood, and Santa Monica, so pretty large chunks of LA are accessible by the same (if memory serves me correctly) 720 bus.
posted by herc at 5:03 AM on June 9, 2006

I second renting month to month until you have figured out an ideal location. Your husband can bike short distances; can you bike to school? Here's a bike map of LA [large pdf]
posted by billtron at 8:00 AM on June 9, 2006

USC is not in South Central, it is in West Adams, which is a once-ritzy neighborhood that is on a minor upswing due to the fine remaining homes and a creative class that's moving in. South Central is to the south.

West Adams is not a great neighborhood by any stretch, and it could desperately use some more trees on the main drags, but to describe USC as being in South Central, which a certain sort of Angeleno recognizes as code for "the desolate burned out husk where the scary brown poor people live and kill each other," is misleading. The city's museums, including sprawling rose gardens, are right next to the school. The most beautiful Auto Club office in town, right there.

And wuzandfuzz, I thought your post was perfectly clear. You'll probably need to seek temporary living quarters and wait to see where your honey is working, because there is no place in town where he'll be able to get to unknown spot A easily by public transportation, but once you know where he'll be, there will likely be options.

Good luck, and welcome!
posted by Scram at 8:14 AM on June 9, 2006

since using public transportation to usc is not an issue, i would definitely go with the people that recommend finding short-term housing until you know where your boyfriend will need to end up. once you've got that, finding places to live based on the transportation options will be much easier.

for what it's worth, there are a number of usc students who live in the downtown area, and it is a growing residential area.

(and i've lived for about three years in los angeles with no problem. there are parts of the city i don't travel to easily, like the westside, but i just don't go there. i don't miss it.)
posted by jimw at 11:01 AM on June 9, 2006

South Central is to the south.

That's true. More specifically, it's about 50 feet to the south, on the other side of Exposition Boulevard.

Anyway, now that the situation is clearer, I join the chorus of people suggesting that you find a place to live as close as possible to wherever your boyfriend gets a job. I hope that you choose a clean, safe neighborhood with secure parking.
posted by bingo at 11:23 AM on June 9, 2006

Thanks a lot everyone, you've been truely helpful. I guess the LA Public Transit website's slickness tricked me into thinking it might not really be all that bad. We'll definitely hold off on housing for as long as possible then.
posted by wuzandfuzz at 11:45 AM on June 9, 2006

South Pasadena is more affordable than the Old Town Pasadena area. When I went to USC (med school), I lived in Monterey Hills, which is a single large street lined with condos and apartments, just southwest of South Pas proper. It was a 10 minute drive (no freeway) to the USC medical campus, and a 20 minute drive on the 110 freeway to get to the main USC libraries where I used to study. Caltech is a 15 minute drive away in the other direction.

It is a dull area, and the opposite of scenic, but quite safe (the L.A. Chief of Police lived there when I did, and there is a private security patrol too) and not terribly expensive, and South Pas and Pasadena proper are 5 and 10 minutes drive away, respectively. You can also get to Alhambra and Temple City with a 5 minute drive.

It's also easy to get on the 110, 10, 710 and 210 freeways from there without too much effort.

Public transit in L.A. is not what it is in other cities. People who have lived in places like San Francisco, Seattle or New York don't realize how huge the L.A. basin is and how poorly suited the current transit system is. There is no hub, nor anything like it.
posted by ikkyu2 at 2:50 PM on June 9, 2006

USC is not in South Central, it is in West Adams ... on a minor upswing due to the fine remaining homes and a creative class ... The city's museums, including sprawling rose gardens, are right next to the school. The most beautiful Auto Club office in town...

wuzandfuzz, please watch out for these kinds of people when you move to L.A. ... there's a ton of them ... they're the ones that insist that the worst neighborhoods in town "aren't so bad once you get to know them." L.A. is far, far crazier than these people would like to believe. I feel safer in literally any neighborhood in NYC than I do in huge, massive swaths of the greater L.A. area.
posted by frogan at 3:47 PM on June 9, 2006