Just a quick note to let everybody know I've accepted a five-month co-op position in Santa Monica, California beginning in late March. I'm looking forward to exploring the Los Angeles area, and I'll be sure to post plenty of photos. My first visit to LA was for a brief business trip last year and found that I liked the area much better than I was expecting to (the weather certainly didn't suck at all), and Los Angeles is working on some fairly major rail transit projects, including a downtown streetcar. I'll be returning to the Cincinnati area in late August for my thesis year. In the meantime, I'll be sure to keep tabs on things via UrbanOhio and Facebook/Twitter, and you'll still have to deal with me as a moderator.

Congratulations!

Awesome, man!  Have fun!

Man, I wish that I had gotten to do co-ops.

Just a quick note to let everybody know I've accepted a five-month co-op position in Santa Monica, California beginning in late March. I'm looking forward to exploring the Los Angeles area, and I'll be sure to post plenty of photos. My first visit to LA was for a brief business trip last year and found that I liked the area much better than I was expecting to (the weather certainly didn't suck at all), and Los Angeles is working on some fairly major rail transit projects, including a downtown streetcar. I'll be returning to the Cincinnati area in late August for my thesis year. In the meantime, I'll be sure to keep tabs on things via UrbanOhio and Facebook/Twitter, and you'll still have to deal with me as a moderator.

 

Congrats.  Let me know if you have any questions about LA.  In addition there are a few other forumers that also live in LA.  Ask about any neighborhoods, restaurants, or must see items.  Best of luck!

That's awesome.  My sister lives in Santa Monica close to downtown and loves it.  So do I, since I get out to SM about twice a year.  Let me know if you have any questions.  Oh and just because everyone drives cars in LA doesn't mean anyone should avoid transit the Big Blue Bus is a great, quick and cheap way to get around.

That's awesome.  My sister lives in Santa Monica close to downtown and loves it.  So do I, since I get out to SM about twice a year.  Let me know if you have any questions.  Oh and just because everyone drives cars in LA doesn't mean anyone should avoid transit the Big Blue Bus is a great, quick and cheap way to get around.

 

Downtown Santa Monica?  Do you mean the Promenade?

 

I've tried to take the bus.  It's a pain.  In all honesty, I wouldn't suggest it.

Right over by city hall....or "Olde Downtown" along Main...where the locals shop and the tourists don't.  But Santa Monica is big.  Living 5-6 blocks from the promenade is close to downtown.

 

I'm sorry but how is the Santa Monica Bus system a pain?  It's pretty damn straightforward.  I can understand having problems on LA Metro buses since it's a huge system, but a smaller municipal bus system will always take you to the major spots, or at least back home where you started no matter how bad you mess up.  The drivers are always very courteous and helpful too if you need to know where to get off.

Thanks, everybody... Right now my big focus is looking for housing. I have an extended-stay hotel room booked in the Valley, but that's only for about a week while I look for more permanent housing and experience the joy of commuting on the 405 over the Sepulveda Pass. Are there any neighborhoods within a 30-minute commute of Santa Monica that I should specifically look at, or specifically avoid?

I hear good things about Sawtelle.  Between the "action," close to Santa Monica and more affordable.

and Los Angeles is working on some fairly major rail transit projects, including a downtown streetcar.

 

Congrats! And the sheer number of rail transit and intercity rail projects planned or underway is pretty amazing. I have a feeling you'll be spending some time on these sites....

 

http://thetransitcoalition.us/index.htm

http://transittalk.proboards.com/index.cgi

 

I receive their e-mailed newsletter and I'm always astonished at how much activity is going on in SoCal.

I hear good things about Sawtelle.  Between the "action," close to Santa Monica and more affordable.

 

That could be dangerous as the traffic is so heavy in that area.  It sits just west of the express way and I know a lot of people who drive city streets to avoid Wilsher, Santa Monica, Olympic or Pico.  Granted you're so close to westwood you could walk to many things.

Welcome to LA, LIG! I live in Los Feliz now, and really love it! I'm within walking distance of the Vermont/Sunset Red Line stop, which I take to work downtown, and I can walk to tons of restaurants, coffee shops, an independent book store, two indie movie theatres, 2 grocery stores...almost everything I could need.  I love the East Side, but it is a pain to get to Santa Monica, Venice, and the rest of the Westside, so probably not a place that you would like to live if you're working in SM.  Good luck finding a place, and if you need recommendations for restaurants, things to do, neighborhoods to check out, or anything else, don't hesitate to ask!

I've accepted a five-month co-op position in Santa Monica, California beginning in late March. I'm looking forward to exploring the Los Angeles area,

Go to Griffith Observatory and watch the sunset.  The La Brea Tar Pits Museum is fun.  The Southwest Museum, one of my favorite museums of all time, is closed due to an acquistion. http://www.friendsofthesouthwestmuseum.com/

 

There may be some special exhibits, though.  www.theautry.org

Have fun!

I hear good things about Sawtelle.  Between the "action," close to Santa Monica and more affordable.

 

That could be dangerous as the traffic is so heavy in that area.  It sits just west of the express way and I know a lot of people who drive city streets to avoid Wilsher, Santa Monica, Olympic or Pico.  Granted you're so close to westwood you could walk to many things.

 

Getting heavy traffic in Los Angeles is like seeing a sleeping Jewish rabbi on a trashy wooden subway bench in New York.  It's expected.

I've accepted a five-month co-op position in Santa Monica, California beginning in late March. I'm looking forward to exploring the Los Angeles area,

Go to Griffith Observatory and watch the sunset.  The La Brea Tar Pits Museum is fun.  The Southwest Museum, one of my favorite museums of all time, is closed due to an acquistion. http://www.friendsofthesouthwestmuseum.com/

 

There may be some special exhibits, though.  www.theautry.org

Have fun!

 

The Getty and Griffith Observatory are must see's.  But the Tar Pits are the Pits.  The exhibits are old and dusty and not worth the admission.

I hear good things about Sawtelle.  Between the "action," close to Santa Monica and more affordable.

 

That could be dangerous as the traffic is so heavy in that area.  It sits just west of the express way and I know a lot of people who drive city streets to avoid Wilsher, Santa Monica, Olympic or Pico.  Granted you're so close to westwood you could walk to many things.

 

Getting heavy traffic in Los Angeles is like seeing a sleeping Jewish rabbi on a trashy wooden subway bench in New York.  It's expected.

 

I'm not saying you wont have bad traffic, but for a "neighborhood" that is so small they get extra traffic for those getting on/off the expressway trying to avoid the the highway traffic and those going into westwood area/Wilshire Corridor.  I know I usually travel via the "state" (names) streets to avoid the extra traffic and even those streets are like Cleveland's Chester or Carnegie during rush.

Of course the exhibits are old.  They are from the Ice Age.

Is there a reason why you're not looking around SM itself? If you go a little south, like MTS was saying down by Pico, there are affordable places to live, or you might be able to find something affordable in Westwood as they cater to the UCLA students. You really, really want to do whatever you can to avoid a freeway commute if at all possible.

My office is near Pico and 10th, so I'd like to try to get as short a commute as possible for as little rent as possible, while not ending up in a crappy building or neighborhood.

as little rent as possible and short commute are mutually exclusive, I'm afraid. If you want affordable, look in the Valley and plan to commute over Coldwater Canyon each day. Many people do it, and it keeps your driving skills sharp! :) There are a ton of apartments in the neighborhood just over coldwater on the valley side, and it's still not a freeway commute so won't be that bad.

Doesn't living in the valley take away some of LA's climate perks?...... or was that just 'Dramatized' by Entourage?

My office is near Pico and 10th, so I'd like to try to get as short a commute as possible for as little rent as possible, while not ending up in a crappy building or neighborhood.

 

Close to Santa Monica Seafood Co.  Yummy stuff there!

Is there a reason why you're not looking around SM itself? If you go a little south, like MTS was saying down by Pico, there are affordable places to live, or you might be able to find something affordable in Westwood as they cater to the UCLA students. You really, really want to do whatever you can to avoid a freeway commute if at all possible.

I agree.  I purposely do not drive in LA because its to stressful.  Also look at short term rentals.

as little rent as possible and short commute are mutually exclusive, I'm afraid. If you want affordable, look in the Valley and plan to commute over Coldwater Canyon each day. Many people do it, and it keeps your driving skills sharp! :) There are a ton of apartments in the neighborhood just over coldwater on the valley side, and it's still not a freeway commute so won't be that bad.

 

To clarify: As little rent as possible within roughly a 30-minute commute. I think just about anywhere in the Valley would be pretty far outside that window. Some other friends have told me I should look into Culver City and Mar Vista.

I hear the Valley's where they make all that porno, so keep that in mind.

as little rent as possible and short commute are mutually exclusive, I'm afraid. If you want affordable, look in the Valley and plan to commute over Coldwater Canyon each day. Many people do it, and it keeps your driving skills sharp! :) There are a ton of apartments in the neighborhood just over coldwater on the valley side, and it's still not a freeway commute so won't be that bad.

 

To clarify: As little rent as possible within roughly a 30-minute commute. I think just about anywhere in the Valley would be pretty far outside that window. Some other friends have told me I should look into Culver City and Mar Vista.

 

Mar Vista, The Palms, Mar Vista...the areas south of Westwood are still what I think are expensive, for apartments.  Hopefully you'll find a good deal.  Most of West Los Angeles is pretty expensive.

 

I hear the Valley's where they make all that porno, so keep that in mind.

Yep.  Porno and weed farms.

as little rent as possible and short commute are mutually exclusive, I'm afraid. If you want affordable, look in the Valley and plan to commute over Coldwater Canyon each day. Many people do it, and it keeps your driving skills sharp! :) There are a ton of apartments in the neighborhood just over coldwater on the valley side, and it's still not a freeway commute so won't be that bad.

 

To clarify: As little rent as possible within roughly a 30-minute commute. I think just about anywhere in the Valley would be pretty far outside that window. Some other friends have told me I should look into Culver City and Mar Vista.

 

As weird as it sounds, I would also suggest checking out Brentwood.  The homes there are huge and extremely expensive, but I have a few friends who live there and pay about the same as I do ($1100 1 bedroom). 

 

Westsiderentals.com is a really good service to find apartments, and totally worth money, imo.

Thanks... I've already bookmarked the website of one apartment complex in Brentwood (500 block of South Barrington Ave) that has studios in my price range, offers short-term leases, and has pretty good reviews online. They'll probably be one of the first places I check out when I arrive.

 

Others have recommended westsiderentals.com as well. I'll sign up as soon as I have a few extra dollars in my checking account.

Gonna need a white Bronco in Brentwood.

Gonna need a white Bronco in Brentwood.

That was wrong.  So wrong!

Looks like I could save about $400/month in rent by living in Atwater Village, for a comparable apartment as the place in Brentwood. Even with the added fuel cost factored in (about $160 a month assuming my Jeep is getting 15 MPG and gas costs $4.00/gal), that would still save me about $240 a month. Looking at SigAlert at various times over the past few weeks, it looks like my daily commute each way could range anywhere from 30 minutes if there's little or no traffic, up to 80 minutes if traffic is bad. Think it's worth it?

Other factors to consider: the place in Atwater is available furnished, which would save me a trip to IKEA and a few hundred dollars. (I'm not bringing any furniture with me from Cincinnati; just the rental fee for a U-Haul trailer would be $1000 each way.) Also, my work hours will be from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM with every other Friday off, and a strong possibility that I'll be working late many nights, which would push my evening commute outside of the usual rush hour window.

 

Although a >30-minute commute would be ideal, I've had long commutes before and have managed to deal with it. The first year I worked in downtown Chicago, my commute was about 2 hours each way, and I've had hour-long commutes in Boston, Chicago, and NYC. And if I'm meeting friends or going to events in Hollywood, downtown LA, or Silver Lake in the evening, at least those areas would be on my way home.

I think you'll kill yourself if you are working in Santa Monica and living in Atwater Village.  Commuting in LA via automobile is hell.  But if could do that 2 hour Chicago commute, you can do anything.

I think you'll kill yourself if you are working in Santa Monica and living in Atwater Village.  Commuting in LA via automobile is hell.  But if could do that 2 hour Chicago commute, you can do anything.

 

I completely agree.  I commute from Westwood to Hollywood and that wreks my nerves and makes me want to smoke crack to calm down.  Atwater to SM would be 10 times worse. 

I thought you were going to Portland. Anyway, Congrats, and please send photos.

Thanks... Portland didn't work out, so I'm headed to La-La Land instead.

Love Atwater Village, but as others have mentioned, the commute to SM would be awful.  Hour+ commutes are really pretty normal in LA, but I personally would never choose to subject myself to the 405 on a daily basis...

I wouldn't be using the 405. The commute would be the 5 south (3 miles) to 110 south (4 miles) to 10 west (13 miles). I've been checking SigAlert pretty regularly during rush hours, and it looks like the normal commute time would be about an hour when traffic is heavy. During off-peak periods when traffic is light, the trip would take about 25 minutes.

JMO but I would pay more money and live in Brentwood. My ex's mother lived in that block on Barrington and it's very quiet/nice. Lots of retirees.

Thanks for the info about that block... I'll keep it in mind. I've also bookmarked the website of a place near Culver City that looks fairly promising. A new light rail line between downtown LA and Culver City will soon be opening, and while it won't help me with my daily commute, it could be useful for when I want to head into DTLA.

I wouldn't be using the 405. The commute would be the 5 south (3 miles) to 110 south (4 miles) to 10 west (13 miles). I've been checking SigAlert pretty regularly during rush hours, and it looks like the normal commute time would be about an hour when traffic is heavy. During off-peak periods when traffic is light, the trip would take about 25 minutes.

 

You could do that, or you could reach the 101 by cutting through Los Feliz, take it to the 405, and then take San Vicente to SM.  Either commute is not ideal, but doable.  I'd definitely recommend Culver City...hopefully the Expo Line will open soon...

Atwater Village to SM??  This should really not even be a consideration.  It's worth it to pay the extra money and save 2-3 hrs of commute time a day.  I live right smack in the middle of everything (as far as LA goes) in a neighborhood called Windsor Village right across Wilshire Blvd. from Hancock Park (10 min from downtown LA, 10 min from Hollywood, 10 min from Culver City), but even there I would never go to Santa Monica anytime during rush hour.