Housing stock mainly consists of bunched together, nondescript, three-story apartments dating form the 1960’s and ‘70s. Many do not have air conditioners, though the temperature never gets all too high with the ocean just around the corner, in the beach community of Santa Monica. Street parking generally is available, and some buildings provide back-alley parking spaces, though many are not gated.
The positives for this Westside location include convenient access to major freeways, including the 10 Santa Monica and the 405 San Diego, and mid- to low- end rental rates. However, what the area certainly makes up for in affordability, it lacks in architectural charm, creating a good choice for people on a budget who want to live in the Westside.
A number of Japanese restaurants and Japanese- owned nurseries can be found on Sawtelle Boulevard, north of Olympic Boulevard. Also worth a visit is the funky Art Deco movie house call the Nuart (on Santa Monica Boulevard just west of the 405 Freeway), which features foreign and alternative films, plus a weekly Saturday midnight showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
Parents will enjoy the green space in Westwood Park, which features two playgrounds, playing fields, and a ton of picnic tables. Shoppers from a ll over come to west LA, the locale of two major malls. The indoor Westside Pavilion mall offers typical shopping amenities. The upscale outdoor Century City Shopping Mall is extremely fashion-conscious and even offers valet parking. The Century City Mall’s movie theater is especially popular with westside residents, and is frequently sold out on weekends. The weekday lunch crowd -- business-suited men and women from the nearby work district (heavy in the entertainment and law fields) -- fills the mall’s food court.
According to recent demographic statistics by the US Census Bureau, the Westside comprises only 35 acres of Los Angeles County’s total land era, yet 7% of the county’s population and 13% of the county’s jobs are in this coveted part of town -- explaining why the bordering 405 San Diego Freeway is such a heavily used (and frequently clogged) thoroughfare. The boundaries run North to Santa Monica Boulevard, East to Beverly Glen Boulevard, South to Pico Boulevard, and West to Centinela Avenue. Public school education is run by the LA Unified School District, 333 South Beaudry Avenue, LA, CA 90017; 213-241-1000; www.lausd.k12.ca.us
Community resources and information include: Westwood Park, 1350 South Sepulveda Blvd.; Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks, 888-LA-PARKS, www.laparks.org; Westside Pavilion Shopping Mall, Overland Avenue and Ayres Avenue; Century City Shopping Mall, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd; UCLA Medical Center, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, 310-825-9111, www.healthcare.ucla.edu; West Los Angeles Division (Police District), 1663 Butler Avenue, 310-575-8402, www.lapd.org
For more information: www.cityofla.org, http://lacounty.info |
