Sort of OT - Relocating to So-Cal - Need Advice

Two more towns you might consider... Lakewood and Bellflower are the true home of drag racing and hot rodding. Lots cheaper than Torrance.

 

It's just Carlsbad. Cardiff by the Sea is the next town down the coast....In SOCAL

 

There were a couple of houses for rent, North of the 405 and West of Western. I'll keep an eye out and let you know if I see anything.

 

My chick used to work right by there. Lots of good japanese restaurants in the area for lunch! Its true, if work is paying for it look south and west of the 405. Gardena is an ok area, its cheaper but sometimes it can be hit or miss. certain areas will be cool, and other can be a nightmare. If they are getiing you a house, thats good because at least you will have a driveway and a yard etc. If you find anything you are really interested in, maybe have someone here check out the neighborhood before you commit to anything. Good luck!

 

Wife works at Honda R&D, just south of you "other guys" we live in Long Beach near Lakewood Blvd. a mile south of the 405. Wife makes it the 14 miles in about 20 minutes I think. framedragger(?) works at Toyota and lives in the LB Bixby Knowles area. That's the area West of the LB airport. both "good" neghborhoods.

 

My youngest son just moved from Virginia to Escondido and loves it. Life there looks pretty good to me

 

It is what you make it. I have lived in VA, Ga, SC, FLA, TX, IL,CO and LA. Spent a few years in OK also.
I made the move out here back in 06 finally getting back to the west. I lived in San Diego back in the 70's. Being a Navy brat I lived all over the world.
Yeah The sticker shock is STICKER SHOCK. But it is what you make it.
ODDROD has a house and garagemahal that most would just spouge themselves to see.
No where can I surf, road race and drag race all in one weekend. Oh yeah and the mountains are my playground for my cars and my motorcycle.
So they will have to drag me outta here kicking and and clawing....which ain't gonna be easy.
It is to dry for some. I like the lack of humidity. My cars don't RUST!

 

Alright! Forget what the haters are sayin'! I've lived in the Midwest most of my life then moved to out West and eventually landed here in Southern California. I LOVE it here and it's worth whatever financial sacrifices you'll have to make. Especially if you enjoy the car scene. There is something to do every weekend and sometimes it's even hard to decide WHICH event to go to. As mentioned already, tons of HAMB friendly stuff!

Torrance is close to the Redondo Beach area. I always liked Redondo. No idea about quality of the area or how it is car stuff wise though. You would be close to quite a bit either way.

As for the air quality stuff, true in some respects, but the closer you live to the coast the less you see.

 

Yeah my view didn't suck this morning either. It is kinda like looking down on the world up here.

 

Just throwing this back up for some fresh eyes.

Wanted to say thanks to everyone who's responded both here and via PM.

Looks like it's running about 50-50 between those who love it and those who hate.

Truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

Again, this is only a temporary assignment for me and my bills aren't out of pocket.

It's not like I'm giving up my rural heritage!

If you have an opinion, let me know.

- RBR

 

I think you should leave AJ with Denise in DTown. They'd never get up to any trouble, would they?

Enjoy the sun bud, make sure you post something in the dead of winter to drive us snow mexicans nuts.

Flatman

 

Gonna throw this back up one more time.

I'd appreciate any advice locals could give me on decent areas to live in the Torrance area for gearheads.

I know there will be differences of opinions including 'stay away' and 'you'll regret it'. Although I do appreciate the warnings, I've lived in CA before although it was in San Diego.

I'm looking for more nuts and bolts tips and advice about the South Bay area in paticular.

Thanks, in advance.

- Roby

 

Hey check out Hawthorne, it's pretty close to where you'll be working, and while it does have some rough areas its also got some pretty decent ones. The South Bay area in general has a lot of working class neighborhoods, so while neighbors are always luck of the draw, you're odds are better than in say southern orange county. One thing to keep in mind, though you probably already learned it from living in San Diego, don't judge distance by mileage. A 10 mile trip up the freeway can be an hour at the wrong time.

You'll have fun out here, there's pretty much a cruise nite almost every nite of the week if you look hard enough. Bands of all types playing every weekend. Long Beach swap meet every month(about 20 minutes from Torrance). Pomona swap meet every now and again. We've got dragstrips, the Peterson museum, beaches, mountians, anything you're looking for. Yes traffic sucks. The air can be bad, but generally isn't really an issue if you live anywhere near coast. It is crowded, like any big city area. In the Torrance/southbay area you're close enough to the coast to not have to worry about the heat really either. It only gets hot as you move more inland.

Don't worry about the haters, there's a lot more to So Cal than Los Angeles. I'm 20 minutes from LAX and i almost never go to LA anymore and i never miss it.

Let us loCals know when you get here, i'm sure we can show you a good time and help a Kentucky boy feel welcome.

 

Can't beat the South Bay, get a good realator to help you with the areas. Torrance, Lomita, Gardena and San Pedro are all good but also have areas with higher crime rates. Large garage, we all want that. Lots of places to take your car, the first Friday of every m0nth to Ricky & Ronnies (250 or so cars, $700 -$900 50/50 drawing), also every Friday Rubys in Redondo from about March to October ($200 50/50). There are a lot of other regular stuff within about 30 miles as well. Then there are two or mare car shows every weekend from March through October, Mooneyes BBQ and Xmas party, etc. It's car guy heaven.

 

Yeah, Its Cardiff By The Sea... dork.

Btw, I like Escondido. It has a lot of run down areas... but where I live it isn't. Plus its better than Ohio ANY day.

 

My move is getting a little closer so I thought I'd bring this back up for any new thoughts.

I've been wondering how the banking snafu has affected rental properties in the area.

As I've said several times before, I appreciate any and all advice that those in the know can give.

Good or bad, it's all appreciated.

- RBR

 

...I'm thinking housing is getting cheaper by the second out there. You ought to be able to score yourself quite a place depending on the allowance.

 

Torrance is an expensive area to buy in. However, the north end and east end are more affordable. If you're a car guy, Lomita has some excellant properties that were once farm houses. One lady has a barn that is so big, she rents it out to store motorhomes, boats, trailers, etc....Lomita also has an old town feel.

 

I dig Old Torrance. You do have to take in consideration where you are to The Plant. It will take years off your life and your kids lives. It is just a fact you need to be aware of and consider. A lot of cancer there, but not as bad a Long Beach with all the respiratory problems with kids. Don't deny the truth, you just have to weigh it and decide if it is worth it to you.

If you don't want to be in the hood, stay away from the Harbor Gateway area, by The 110. Torrance does have a lot of hood contrary to popular belief.

Lomita and Pedro can be cool, but don't rent a place without spending fri and sat night walking around the hood at 12-2am. Lomita does have a Harbor Freight on the pch.

I would live in Redondo Beach. If you are in so-cal you might as will live somewhere nice walking distance to the beach, even if it has to be small. A short commute for you.
Start surfing.
I still can't understand how and why anyone would live in LA and not be by the beach, and not surfing a couple times a week.
But that is just me. Maybe it is the great whites and freezing water.

The big question is what your company will spend. For around $3,000 - $4,000 a month you can rent a 1200 square foot house be The Aves in Redondo Beach with a little garage. Maybe on the other side of PCH. Look say 5 blocks from the water on Ave G in Redondo Beach. You need to drive it. There are some apartments close to the water on Ave H that would be nice, probably $2500 a month? right on the water side of PCH. That area is The Aves / Hollywood Riviera. The thing is, a crappy part of LA is just as or almost as expensive, so might as well live somewhere nice, not in Hell-A.

You must sign up with www.westsiderentals.com, also check craigslist.
Oh yeah, don't trust the realtors. If you get one make sure it is a friend of a friend, LA realtors are scum of the earth, even before lawyers and doctors. Know what hospitals to go to, and which ones will amputate your leg instead of pulling your tooth while you were asleep. Really, one hopital by the shop in Hawthorne (don't recommend the area at all) is getting shut down and kills people actually all the time.

I also liked living in El Segundo. It is the closest thing you will find to the US of A in LA. Walk around Main Street. It has my favorite car show in LA by far, but again that is me. Also there is a car show in The Gundo now by Gasoline. El Segundo. California Screaming. Just don't speed or screw off in The Gundo, the motto is "come on vacation, leave on probation." I like it, but then again that is me and I don't see why everywhere else chooses to put up with moron drivers and people etc..

Good luck
Wil
www.sakowskimotors.com

 

from a south bay local...
just to reiterate what some of these guys are saying....

the so. bay is wide and varied.
if you want a house and a garage and food, the beach cities are not for you.
north torrance is a good start.
depending where in torrance you are going to be working there are parts of central torrance/carson/rancho dominguez that are quite attractive.
lawndale is pretty decent for the most part, espescially along the redondo and torrance borders but the lots are mostly small and the streets are narrow.
i'm a big hawthorne fan...but only where i live!
I live in the Bodger Park Tract (the maze) its nice. DelAire is a nice section of town too. stay away from Moneta Gardens. really anything between praire ave and crenshaw blvd (east and west), and rosecrans ave and el segundo blvd (north and south)
El Camino Village is like a mirror image of Bodger Park.
Gardena is nice around El Camino College and all along the torrance border.
El Segundo is nice but its right next to the airport, and its expensive.

if you need, you can PM me with address and i'll give you an objective and honest opinion of the area. i've been here my whole life and i love it!

 

The best thing about Hawthorne is The Pizza Show on Hawthorne, Blvd.
FYI: Alteredpiolet is a good guy to hook up with, and knows the areas well.
Wil

 

I just moved to Oceanside six weeks ago from Michigan. What a trip! I've visted for years to Burbank area of LA and Carlsbad. I love it here, its a hustle to make it work out here. I scored a good place and its a blast. I'm renting and got a good deal but its a bit of a fixer upper.. but a two car garage, large yard, ocean view and two girls who have no interest in the garage.... SCORE!!!!

Come join the fun already!

 

Love it!!!!----------All you guys have just described the main reason I moved from SO-CAL to C.O. (Central Oregon). Born in Inglewood 1932,--to 1958-- Torrance for 10 yrs.--- Westlake Village 10 yrs.--Bend, Oregon since 1984,---NO, wouldn't move back, EVER!! I have to cringe over what has transpired in the state of CA. during the last 50 yrs.!! Still have family living there, but always anxious to return here after 1 week! Prop.13 was a great inovation back then, but when our voting ballots came in 3 languages,---I pulled the plug!!!----As far as today's Torrance, & moving there, read all the previous posts!-----------------Don

 

I heard Hawaiian Gardens is a mojestic sounding place!!

 

If you like guns better leave them home they are very hard on gun owners in the Republik

 

Pizza Show RULES! sausage and mushroom til i DIE!

Wil is a great judge of character! Hope NC treats him as well as he deserves!

 

Haha, Hawaiian Gardens, such an odd place as it has neither gardens, nor anything related to Hawaii.

 

Roby-

I don't have any advice but I do know that Andria and I will be in Vegas April 10-12 you guys should be there too.

Well now I guess I got a reason to visit California.