Living on the Westside of Los Angeles
An urban enclave with an eye toward environmental sustainability along the beaches
Los Angeles is a collection of completely different enclaves with unique environments. Los Angeles’ Westside is a case in point with its own collection of neighborhoods that differ greatly from Santa Monica and Venice Beach to Playa Vista and Westchester. Ocean breezes that cool the area are an attraction but so are the many walkable and bikeable streets.
Do commutes in Los Angeles make you shudder with dread?
Another draw to the Westside is the ability to live close to where you work.
“I know so many people who live within two miles of where they work,” says Limor Zamir, a resident in Westchester and a real estate agent.
It’s been twenty years since she and her husband bought their home and during that time Limor changed careers from hospitality with the Marriot Corporation and decided to pursue her love of helping others find homes that fit their lifestyles.
“I drive the streets and neighborhoods in the day and evening so I really experience the ambiance. There’s a friendliness and openness with people in the area. That’s important to me as a mother and a professional.”
Where is the Westside?
I used to think of the Westside as Westwood, around the UCLA campus. But it’s much more.
The area is compact and densely populated from Santa Monica on the north to El Segundo on the southern part.
It’s roughly west of the 405 freeway from the 10 freeway down to just below the 105 freeway and the beginning of what’s known as the South Bay.
It takes in:
- Santa Monica — with Brentwood and Bel Air around UCLA
- Venice
- Marina del Rey
- Playa Vista
- Westchester, home of Loyola Marymount University
How the Westside is Unique
Every area of Los Angeles truly has a unique feel. The Westside itself is a collection of unique neighborhoods with cozy, trendy areas like Abbot Kinney and the beaches of Playa Vista. Santa Monica and Venice are completely different than Marina del Rey and El Segundo.
The weather is typically comfortable throughout the year with the constant flow of air off the ocean.
Tech and entertainment are leading industries with Playa Vista nicknamed Silicon Beach.
There are many venues for entertainment.
Ride a bike from Marina del Rey, north past Venice and to Will Rogers State Beach.
In November 2020, the Rooftop Cinema Club opened at the Santa Monica Airport to show films for all ages, as covered in the Santa Monica Daily Press.
Westside Watchword: Sustainability
Water conservation is a big deal in Playa Vista. According to PlayaVista.com, “it’s a community that integrates innovative water conservation techniques, eco-friendly building materials and public art, smart design and walkability.”
The site notes that 70% of the area’s original design was set aside as parks and preserved open space.
Are there downsides to the Westside?
Driving to downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood or even from Playa Vista to the Valley will cost you at least a half hour of your life, if not more.
So the area isn’t centrally located, although it’s an easy drive to LAX so it’s great for those who fly for business.
Overall, Limor Zamir is one of the residents who believes in the Westside. She’s a native of Israel who attended school in New York. The communities have a New York urban feel and a Mediterranean climate.
For many, the Westside is the best of both worlds.
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