Do L.A.'s "suburbs" actually feel like suburbs to you? (Riverside: cul-de-sac, apartments)

[Chicano3000X]

With some exception of south Central(hardly been there), I been to other areas and it really doesnt feel that way.

I been other parts of the country like the midwest and other parts of california. Clean, cookie cutter housing within the outskirts of a small city such as temecula, those feel subruban. Whenever they are walled or gated off, they feel suburban.

However, walking around my neighborhood, I see a corner store, warehouses lining up the side of one of the streets, apartments mixed with houses. Doesnt feel clean, doesnt feel 100% safe. Houses all look different and there is a train passing by every day. I look out from my house and see buildings in the distance and our front yards are concrete. There are several buisinesses around the block such as a restraunt, a store, and a little market.

Several Pics:

[Cream1]

Some do. All of Ventura County, Porter Ranch, Northridge, and Chatsworth have a suburban feel.

The pics you posted are not typical suburbia.

[BRinSM]

i live in the valley, but still in the city of LA. i'm not far from ventura blvd, but my neighborhood feels pretty suburban. only a few things within walking distance, but those include a park, post office, gas stations, 7-11, and trader joe's. when i lived in MDR and santa monica, i wasn't in the city of LA, but those areas are considerably more urban than where i live now. when it comes to LA, there are a lot of gray areas regarding urban vs suburban, it's obviously not a typical city by any means.

[munchitup]

I wouldn't really consider Atwater Village to be suburban. It's more of a streetcar suburb or one of the inner ring suburbs that most older cities have.

Places like Lakewood and Northridge feel more suburban to me. Still, being California suburban areas, they are still at a high density (higher than most American cities) and not like suburbs in the south or east.

[s0nginmyheart]

Growing up in the South Bay never felt like suburbia to me, especially when certain areas felt as gritty as L.A. proper. I always thought you had to drive out as far as Riverside before it felt like true track-home suburbs lol.

[disgruntled la native]

YOu're posting pictures of the city of LA, not suburbia. Nothing in the city of La is a suburb. Santa monica, culver city, beverly hills, west hollywood are own small cities and not suburb since they are more urban dense than most parts of city of LA.

[DynamoLA]

Originally Posted by Chicano3000X

With some exception of south Central(hardly been there), I been to other areas and it really doesnt feel that way.

I been other parts of the country like the midwest and other parts of california. Clean, cookie cutter housing within the outskirts of a small city such as temecula, those feel subruban. Whenever they are walled or gated off, they feel suburban.

However, walking around my neighborhood, I see a corner store, warehouses lining up the side of one of the streets, apartments mixed with houses. Doesnt feel clean, doesnt feel 100% safe. Houses all look different and there is a train passing by every day. I look out from my house and see buildings in the distance and our front yards are concrete. There are several buisinesses around the block such as a restraunt, a store, and a little market.

Several Pics:

Atwater Village is not a "suburb" in any real sense of the word. Yes, it's mostly residential, but it's only about 5 miles from downtown, and most of it was built out in the 1920s and 1930s. Having lived there for many years, I am pretty sure that there are many other places in L.A. that would look like the traditional "suburb" you are imagining (Porter Ranch, La Canada, most anywhere in OC)...

[CaliSon]

South Gate, Huntington Park, Maywood, feel suburban and urban at the same time, btw Atwater village looks like south central so don't know why you singled south central out.

[genjy]

Originally Posted by s0nginmyheart

Growing up in the South Bay never felt like suburbia to me, especially when certain areas felt as gritty as L.A. proper. I always thought you had to drive out as far as Riverside before it felt like true track-home suburbs lol.

Most newer developments have a true suburban feel to them--like Santa Clarita, Chino Hills, and Rancho Cucamonga--maze-like subdivisions, huge lots, cul-de-sacs, cookie-cutters, etc.

Most of the ~100 year old towns and cities in the LA metro area have some urban features like small lots, modest houses, walkable town centers, and grid street plans. Many of them had street cars running through them, effectively connecting them to areas like DTLA, Pasadena, etc.

[bhcompy]

Inner core? No. Lakewood? Yes.