Marina Del Rey/ UCLA (Los Angeles, Vista: apartment complex, houses, neighborhood)

[Fael]

Hi Folks,

I'll study in UCLA next fall and im looking for a studio. I dont want to live so close to University n Westwood, in the apartment complex for grads.

Where do you suggest to live?

I search for Brentwood and it seems so expensive. Same to Santa Monica. Dont want to live in Palms, Mar vista or Culver City, neither Sawtelle.

So I'm thinking about Venice or Marina Del Rey. What's it like to live in? About Venice, is the area better than years ago or still schetchy?

How long the commute from MDR to UCLA? Is that Bad?

Thank you so much.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by Fael

I'm thinking about Venice or Marina Del Rey. What's it like to live in? About Venice, is the area better than years ago or still schetchy?

Parts of Venice are much nicer--and more expensive--than they used to be. Most of Marina del Rey is more expensive than Venice. If you don't want to live in Santa Monica, there are other areas of West L.A. in which to live....you don't want to spend all your time commuting to campus.

How Venice Became the Most Expensive Neighborhood in Los Angeles | L.A. Weekly

[saybanana]

It is hard to tell but it seems like you might have more knowledge of the westside areas than most people who might answer.

[Cloudwalker]

What is it that you are looking for in an apartment? Curious to know why you are not interested in Mar Vista, Palms, Sawtelle, or Culver City.

The commute from MDR is not too bad. The fastest way, even in traffic, is usually to get onto the 405 and get off at Wilshire. Generally around 20min. You could also take Culver or Washington to Sawtelle or Sepulveda and then take that north. I'd look in the 90066 zip code west of Centinela, south of Venice Blvd. Bit cheaper than MDR, cheaper and prob safer than Venice.

You should be aware that even though generally things are fairly safe, all parts of the Westside are increasingly dealing with people living on the streets (except perhaps Brentwood and the Palisades).

[Cloudwalker]

Meant to add that it's prob closer to 30 min commute to UCLA during peak hours.

[Fael]

Originally Posted by Cloudwalker

What is it that you are looking for in an apartment? Curious to know why you are not interested in Mar Vista, Palms, Sawtelle, or Culver City.

The commute from MDR is not too bad. The fastest way, even in traffic, is usually to get onto the 405 and get off at Wilshire. Generally around 20min. You could also take Culver or Washington to Sawtelle or Sepulveda and then take that north. I'd look in the 90066 zip code west of Centinela, south of Venice Blvd. Bit cheaper than MDR, cheaper and prob safer than Venice.

You should be aware that even though generally things are fairly safe, all parts of the Westside are increasingly dealing with people living on the streets (except perhaps Brentwood and the Palisades).

Because Mar Vista, Palms, Culver city looks boring, family oriented. I want to walk to good restaurants, gym, bakery, grocerie. And mostly young profesional folks.

[ryanms3030]

Originally Posted by Fael

Because Mar Vista, Palms, Culver city looks boring, family oriented. I want to walk to good restaurants, gym, bakery, grocerie. And mostly young profesional folks.

Then Culver City would probably be a good choice

[Cloudwalker]

What is your budget?

What about looking east, to West Hollywood or the area around West 3rd St (Beverly Grove? mid-City?)? Plenty of great food, bars, music, etc, and prob a similar commute time.

Venice prob has what you are after, but it's pricey too. There'd be parts of Venice that would be fine, but it can be a bit more intense, I think. Smaller houses, closer together, lots of people in a relatively small area, lots of tourists/travelers, lots of homeless, lots of late night business and traffic in certain areas. Depending on where the place is, UCLA could be a little longer from Venice because of more time on surface streets.