Need info on Downey and South Gate! (Lynwood, Pico Rivera: middle-class, section 8)

[halee4221]

I am currently considering moving into Downey or South Gate.

I've heard that many parts of Downey are quite ran down than they used to be in the past whereas South Gate is pretty much a ghetto.

I am currently considering a place on Florence Avenue, Downey (near Haledon Ave. and Arrington Ave.) and a place on Imperial Highway (near Old School River Road).

Any thoughts on these locations would be highly appreciated

[behindthescreen]

Florence is a way better area. Imperial/Old School River is almost Lynwood and near Bell Gardens.

[mrsltd]

Originally Posted by halee4221

I am currently considering moving into Downey or South Gate.

I've heard that many parts of Downey are quite ran down than they used to be in the past whereas South Gate is pretty much a ghetto.

I am currently considering a place on Florence Avenue, Downey (near Haledon Ave. and Arrington Ave.) and a place on Imperial Highway (near Old School River Road).

Any thoughts on these locations would be highly appreciated

If it must be sight unseen, then I would say Downey, hands down. More DIVERSITY on many levels there.

I have had Hispanic people (immigrants, even) living in South Gate complaining to me about the place. That is, about things such as multiple families to a house and people using their garages as housing for one or even two families apiece.

I don't have much personal experience in SG myself but from what I have heard and read, what used to be a solid, working-class diverse city (whites, Hispanics (many of Cuban extraction), a sprinkling of blacks and Asians) has become, in many of its areas, a warehouse for illegal immigrants from Latin American countries.

Still, check out both for yourself. Nothing like catching the vibe of a neighborhood (day AND night) yourself.

You can use Google Earth various parts of these cities as well to get visual cues, at least.

[genjy]

I think Downey is a relatively more upscale and safer city than SG and all other South LA areas.

Downey also has a large Cuban population... it has a Porto's Bakery and quite a few other Cuban restaurants.

[halee4221]

Thank you all for your opinions!

[jorge112597]

downey is a gret neighbor hood its very impresive you wouldnt expect to find million dollar mansions in the middle of south LA with hispanic celebrities living in them.

[ferretkona]

Downey gets better as you get north. The south part is bordered on South Gate and Paramont.

[marumut]

go to the florence neighborhood, much better than the old river area

[Pennychaser11]

Not all South part of downey is bad. Area bordering bellflower is pretty nice. I agree area near 710(bordering paramount, SG) is pretty run down. Downey is at a crossroads it can become next SG or it can revive as a nice area depending on how city does to it. But so far it's looking promising.

[Señor Ríos]

Downey has its areas. The area between the 5 freeway and Telegraph is OK. It borders Pico Rivera (Telegraph is the border). Pico Rivera is considered a bad neighborhood. The area between the 5 freeway and Florence is considered the rich neighborhood. Large mansions and upper-middle class homes. The area between Florence and Stewart & Gray is mostly OK, with little areas of bad. You will find middle-class homes and apartments in this area. The area between Stewart & Gray and Gardendale/Foster is bad. Mostly apartments and old houses occupied by people on section 8. Most of the gang activity in Downey takes places in the south side of the city. Robberies and Burglaries are common, but not as bad as surrounding areas.

Downey is bordered on all sides by cities considered to be high-crime areas. Most of the crime in Downey is caused by troublemakers from surrounding cities. Downey has its own Police Department.

South Gate is all bad. A good area in South Gate is worse than a bad area in Downey. The worst area of South Gate is the west side. The Hollydale Park area (South East) is probably your best bet.