Looking to move to an area close to Downtown. (Leimert Park / Jefferson Park / Exposition Park) (Los Angeles: for sale)

[elsub1994]

I'm a long time Long Beach resident and I now work in Downtown Los Angeles. I'm in the market to buy a home and found a few great craftsman style houses in the Leimert Park / Jefferson Park / Exposition Park area that fit my budget. Can anyone help me get a better picture of what the area is like? I've driven through various times and the main streets don't look too welcoming. I do like the look and feel of many of the residential streets and it seems as though many of the homes there are being restored. Is the area going through a revitalization? If so, how long has this revitalization been going on? Is it safe to assume that it will continue?

I'm interested in a home 3 blocks from the Western/Exposition metro station and was wondering if it would be safe for me to commute via metro to work and back every day. I sometimes commute via blue line to downtown so I'm not a complete metro-newbie, but I can't assume that the areas are completely comparable. I'm mostly concerned about a stretch of Western (south of exposition) that looks like it has seen better days. Is the area walkable for women and children?

I grew up in very diverse neighborhood so I'm not one to scare too easily. Since buying a home would make my move semi-permanent, I would like to know what to expect or what to avoid. Any information or advice would help. Thanks!

[pwright1]

My brother and his wife bought a house in Leimert Park about a year and a half ago and they absolutely love it and so does their daughter. When I moved to LA from Seattle I stayed with them for a month. The neighborhood is nice and quiet and I use to walk their dog throughtout Leimert Park. I like the fact that its pretty close to all the major spots around LA. Not that its a big deal but to my surprise a white gay couple moved into the house on my brother's street that was for sale.

[Miss Pip]

Originally Posted by pwright1

My brother and his wife bought a house in Leimert Park about a year and a half ago and they absolutely love it and so does their daughter. When I moved to LA from Seattle I stayed with them for a month. The neighborhood is nice and quiet and I use to walk their dog throughtout Leimert Park. I like the fact that its pretty close to all the major spots around LA. Not that its a big deal but to my surprise a white gay couple moved into the house on my brother's street that was for sale.

I wonder what Leimert Park will be like in 10 years time. It's interesting how neighbourhoods change.

[rob3gd]

As long as you stay away from the jungles you will be good in the crenshaw plaza mall is dirty and nasty. Other than that there are nice homes in the area but beware of a lot of black military activity that goes on there

[R-Tistic]

I wouldn't consider Jefferson or Exposition park, but Leimert has a lot of nice houses and the apartments are cool.

Not sure what you consider "Leimert" though...to me, I'm speaking of the east of Crenshaw, West of Arlington, between maybe Stocker but really MLK and then to Rodeo...streets like Degnan, Westside, and Hepburn where I visit pretty often. Very nice, I think Ali even had a house there back in the day. The two story homes start at Hepburn and go for a few blocks east from what I remember.

[pwright1]

Originally Posted by Miss Pip

I wonder what Leimert Park will be like in 10 years time. It's interesting how neighbourhoods change.

I was wondering the same thing! It will be interesting to see.