We're converging on South Pasadena: good schools and safe: check surprisingly good commute to USC on city streets: check hills and open space: check lower property taxes than city of LA: check a few minutes quicker to get out of town for climbing: check
Here are some website tools that I've used extensively in the last 6 months:
*cool older houses
*schools best in area (not sure that is saying much?
*downtown is kinda nice
*excellent farmers market thurs eve?
*close to rose bowl and hills above for road biking
***mt biking the san gabriel mtn front range = world class singletrack
when you land, let's gather Pasadena- based ST'ers for beer. T Yeary, 10b4me, Reilly, KSolem, myself, others?
I was born and raised in Venice Beach and I moved up to Central Cal a few years ago. Its a chore when I have to go visit family back in LA. I would recommend not moving to LA if you have the choice. When it comes down to it, that place just screws with the mind. Too many people, not enough trees, or at least not enough native ones. Silver Lake and Echo Park are definitely no exception, in fact in the last few years they have been getting extremely popular along with Venice among the LA "hipsters". Its nauseating. Expect hipsters eating their arugula and prosciutto burritos on the ground in their Louis Vuitton overalls because is all the new craze. If you have to move to LA, I recommend the area around Malibu/Thousand Oaks. I grew up surfing the area, and the most down to earth people and best scenery is in that area. Not to mention some fun climbing. Echo cliffs has some nice sport.
Good luck!!
-Scruffy
Nut... good choice. My Boss lives there and cummutes into Chatsworth (Stoney Point :>) every day. He tells me its quick each way, cause the 118 FWY hardley ever jams up unless some mishap goes down. So if your schedule lets you off in the afternoon you will be able to get home after bouldering, in the evening, quickley.
South Pasadena does have a great farmers market. Very kid friendly and good food trucks to choose from! Used to go all the time when we lived closer to it.
Lived in LA for many years in the late 60s and 70s. The air was pretty bad then, especially in the valley. Have to admit I hated it and didn't return for a long time. Last trip I was surprised how much it seemed to have improved. The traffic was miserable but the air seemed cleaner than I ever remembered it. What LA has is great access to the mountains and the beach and in some places a terrific kind of social energy.
Car towed because an angry neighbor had their driveway blocked by ~12 inches. It did not block their ability to leave. Community spirit alive and well! It's a dog-eat-dog neighborhood when it comes to fighting over parking spaces for blocks around, especially on Thursdays or Fridays.
Cancer? Get a clue dude. LA county has one of the lowest rates of cancer of all CA counties. It's lower than all those Bay Area counties, and WAY lower than the worst county in CA (Tuolomne). Anf given that CA has one of the lowest rates of any state in the country...well, you're just talking out of your ass now, aren't you.
I lived in SO Pas for 10 years. Great place for the family.
Must place to hit is Busters on Mission. Cross the street from the Gold line station.
The secrete for housing in this area. Check out Cal trans owned homes. If you buying you can get a deal. Rentals are even a better deal from Cal Trans.
Anyone read Bright Shining Morning? It's a novel that takes place in LA - with short historical anecdotes at the beginning of each chapter. I liked it, being from LA. When I was in high school in LA I read a book for a report about the 1890s depression in Seattle......and it's still depressed! HahA!
good schools and safe: check
Let us know!