Long Beach general thread

[quote author="morekaos" date=1253662596]I rather like the fact that people always look at you sideways when you say you live in "Long Beach". One of the best kept secrets is right there in south Long Beach. It is safe, unique and a wonderful place to raise a family. Also, it is probably the last bastion of affordable, waterfront real estate in civilized California. I hope to keep our little secret a secret before it becomes a spoiled little beach town like Hermosa, Dana and Newport.</blockquote>


Have things really changed that much? I lived in Hermosa 20yrs ago and Dana 15 yrs ago. Both were much nicer than any part of coastal Long Beach (areas that feed into Wilson High) back then. I knew families in Bixby Knoll that sent theirs kids to PV Chadwick and multiple Belmont Shore families that sent their kids to Brethren. I recently re-connected with a high school friend who rents out his South Long Beach house because he considers the neighborhood too dangerous for him (and he is no lily).



I view Long Beach as similar to my hometown of Pasadena: pockets of nice areas juxtaposed with a lot of cr&p.
 
[quote author="OC_Boston_Bay" date=1253669297][quote author="morekaos" date=1253662596]I rather like the fact that people always look at you sideways when you say you live in "Long Beach". One of the best kept secrets is right there in south Long Beach. It is safe, unique and a wonderful place to raise a family. Also, it is probably the last bastion of affordable, waterfront real estate in civilized California. I hope to keep our little secret a secret before it becomes a spoiled little beach town like Hermosa, Dana and Newport.</blockquote>


Have things really changed that much? I lived in Hermosa 20yrs ago and Dana 15 yrs ago. Both were much nicer than any part of coastal Long Beach (areas that feed into Wilson High) back then. I knew families in Bixby Knoll that sent theirs kids to PV Chadwick and multiple Belmont Shore families that sent their kids to Brethren. I recently re-connected with a high school friend who rents out his South Long Beach house because he considers the neighborhood too dangerous for him (and he is no lily).



I view Long Beach as similar to my hometown of Pasadena: pockets of nice areas juxtaposed with a lot of cr&p.</blockquote>


It's a big city. Obviously are there are some rought spots. Overwhelmingly though the eastern half of the city is very nice. Naples, Peninsula, Belmont Shore, El Dorado, Park Estates, Los Altos, etc. Lots of great neighborhoods. I grew up in the southbay. I would choose a lot of LB neighborhoods over Hermosa.



Doesn't matter. You're entitled to your opinion as am I.
 
[quote author="not a realtor" date=1253670497][quote author="OC_Boston_Bay" date=1253669297][quote author="morekaos" date=1253662596]I rather like the fact that people always look at you sideways when you say you live in "Long Beach". One of the best kept secrets is right there in south Long Beach. It is safe, unique and a wonderful place to raise a family. Also, it is probably the last bastion of affordable, waterfront real estate in civilized California. I hope to keep our little secret a secret before it becomes a spoiled little beach town like Hermosa, Dana and Newport.</blockquote>


Have things really changed that much? I lived in Hermosa 20yrs ago and Dana 15 yrs ago. Both were much nicer than any part of coastal Long Beach (areas that feed into Wilson High) back then. I knew families in Bixby Knoll that sent theirs kids to PV Chadwick and multiple Belmont Shore families that sent their kids to Brethren. I recently re-connected with a high school friend who rents out his South Long Beach house because he considers the neighborhood too dangerous for him (and he is no lily).



I view Long Beach as similar to my hometown of Pasadena: pockets of nice areas juxtaposed with a lot of cr&p.</blockquote>


It's a big city. Obviously are there are some rought spots. Overwhelmingly though the eastern half of the city is very nice. Naples, Peninsula, Belmont Shore, El Dorado, Park Estates, Los Altos, etc. Lots of great neighborhoods. I grew up in the southbay. I would choose a lot of LB neighborhoods over Hermosa.



Doesn't matter. You're entitled to your opinion as am I.</blockquote>


I also grew up in the South Bay. PV, Redondo and Manahattan were all nice garden spots. Hermosa...not so much. Before they blocked off Pier the only two bars down there were The Mermaid and the Poop Deck, both dark and sketchy. The area was very old and somewhat seedy. The above mentioned areas in LB are far from that description.
 
[quote author="morekaos" date=1253674229][quote author="not a realtor" date=1253670497][quote author="OC_Boston_Bay" date=1253669297][quote author="morekaos" date=1253662596]I rather like the fact that people always look at you sideways when you say you live in "Long Beach". One of the best kept secrets is right there in south Long Beach. It is safe, unique and a wonderful place to raise a family. Also, it is probably the last bastion of affordable, waterfront real estate in civilized California. I hope to keep our little secret a secret before it becomes a spoiled little beach town like Hermosa, Dana and Newport.</blockquote>


Have things really changed that much? I lived in Hermosa 20yrs ago and Dana 15 yrs ago. Both were much nicer than any part of coastal Long Beach (areas that feed into Wilson High) back then. I knew families in Bixby Knoll that sent theirs kids to PV Chadwick and multiple Belmont Shore families that sent their kids to Brethren. I recently re-connected with a high school friend who rents out his South Long Beach house because he considers the neighborhood too dangerous for him (and he is no lily).



I view Long Beach as similar to my hometown of Pasadena: pockets of nice areas juxtaposed with a lot of cr&p.</blockquote>


It's a big city. Obviously are there are some rought spots. Overwhelmingly though the eastern half of the city is very nice. Naples, Peninsula, Belmont Shore, El Dorado, Park Estates, Los Altos, etc. Lots of great neighborhoods. I grew up in the southbay. I would choose a lot of LB neighborhoods over Hermosa.



Doesn't matter. You're entitled to your opinion as am I.</blockquote>


I also grew up in the South Bay. PV, Redondo and Manahattan were all nice garden spots. Hermosa...not so much. Before they blocked off Pier the only two bars down there were The Mermaid and the Poop Deck, both dark and sketchy. The area was very old and somewhat seedy. The above mentioned areas in LB are far from that description.</blockquote>


I guess I need to check out LB. Sounds like it's gotten a lot nicer and eliminated a lot of crime compared to 20 yrs ago.



Redondo was always the lowest area on the totem pole from what I recall. Hermosa, with the greenbelt along Valley/Ardmore and the neighborhood feel was a great place then, and seems to be even nicer now. I could never envision someone choosing LB over Hermosa, especially if they had a family.
 
[quote author="OC_Boston_Bay" date=1253677818][quote author="morekaos" date=1253674229][quote author="not a realtor" date=1253670497][quote author="OC_Boston_Bay" date=1253669297][quote author="morekaos" date=1253662596]I rather like the fact that people always look at you sideways when you say you live in "Long Beach". One of the best kept secrets is right there in south Long Beach. It is safe, unique and a wonderful place to raise a family. Also, it is probably the last bastion of affordable, waterfront real estate in civilized California. I hope to keep our little secret a secret before it becomes a spoiled little beach town like Hermosa, Dana and Newport.</blockquote>


Have things really changed that much? I lived in Hermosa 20yrs ago and Dana 15 yrs ago. Both were much nicer than any part of coastal Long Beach (areas that feed into Wilson High) back then. I knew families in Bixby Knoll that sent theirs kids to PV Chadwick and multiple Belmont Shore families that sent their kids to Brethren. I recently re-connected with a high school friend who rents out his South Long Beach house because he considers the neighborhood too dangerous for him (and he is no lily).



I view Long Beach as similar to my hometown of Pasadena: pockets of nice areas juxtaposed with a lot of cr&p.</blockquote>


It's a big city. Obviously are there are some rought spots. Overwhelmingly though the eastern half of the city is very nice. Naples, Peninsula, Belmont Shore, El Dorado, Park Estates, Los Altos, etc. Lots of great neighborhoods. I grew up in the southbay. I would choose a lot of LB neighborhoods over Hermosa.



Doesn't matter. You're entitled to your opinion as am I.</blockquote>


I also grew up in the South Bay. PV, Redondo and Manahattan were all nice garden spots. Hermosa...not so much. Before they blocked off Pier the only two bars down there were The Mermaid and the Poop Deck, both dark and sketchy. The area was very old and somewhat seedy. The above mentioned areas in LB are far from that description.</blockquote>


I guess I need to check out LB. Sounds like it's gotten a lot nicer and eliminated a lot of crime compared to 20 yrs ago.



Redondo was always the lowest area on the totem pole from what I recall. Hermosa, with the greenbelt along Valley/Ardmore and the neighborhood feel was a great place then, and seems to be even nicer now. I could never envision someone choosing LB over Hermosa, especially if they had a family.</blockquote>


Hermosa is basically a party town especially since they closed down the mainstreet and added all the bars. I don't know that many families choose to live there. South Redondon, PV and even MB have a lot more families.



LB has everything. Family, suburban, urban, estate, coastal, etc. Some of the best family neighborhoods in socal are in LB. Most people don't know because they don't spend time there and all they read/hear is the news from the west side and central areas. But again, it's a very big city. It would be like combining newport, irvine and santa ana into one city.
 
<a href="http://www.redfin.com/CA/Long-Beach/205-Santa-Ana-Ave-90803/home/7597106"><img src="http://media.cdn-redfin.com/photo/46/bigphoto/561/P670561_1.jpg" alt="" /></a>



Did anyone else saw this cute little cottage on the shore? I would consider it if it were under $500,000... It's on a quieter part of 2nd street, it's the first house from 2nd, also it's on a alley way... But I'm sure you can still hear the Harley (biker gangs/clubs) hanging out at the Starbucks... Small house, but has potential... I would almost immediately tear everything down, take a floor-plan from Woodbury and relocate it to Belmont Shore... good idea?



The wife and I lived on Livingston, right across the Lutheran Church, we had fond memories of the church bells ringing at 9am, 12, and 6; really laid back city, almost everyone will say hello, unlike Irvine. The wife walked everyday to the Belmont Athletic Club, she pets the same cats, pass the same beach bums (millionaires) sitting outside Coffee Bean...



I miss the cool ocean breeze, La Crepe Cafe and the which ever way you walked, north, south, east or west you will hit water... I love the LBC, I would almost say that it's a self-contained city; within it's city boundaries you have everything, freeways, airport, marina, pier, downtown, Asian (Vietnamese/Cambodia), other ethnic parts, the ghetto (snoop dog), an Island, and lots of middle class pockets...



The two years we lived in the LBC, we never had to leave it's borders to have fun, eat and live adventures... The LBC has one of the most water front surface-area homes & properties...



Marian Pacifica, Shoreline Village, the Aquarium, Downtown, Queen Mary, taking the Passport, 2nd Street, Naples during Christmas, Los Alamitos Bay, renting a electric duffy, taking a romantic gondola ride, paddling a canoe in the nature preserve, watching the kite surfers on a Saturday, having a drink at the Sky Bar...



The LBC will always have special place in my heart...
 
LBC memories part II



The wife and I were just connecting right now... and here are some more memories...



We wander into a gay/alt lifestyle bar on Broadway by accident, to our surprise we actually hanged a bit and enjoyed some good music... eating at Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles around midnight (now that is something you will never see in Irvine); hanging out at the Long Beach Museum of Arts on a Saturday; rollerblading on the beach; 4th of July at the Queen Mary & Bluff Park; Walking and Boating down Spinnaker Bay; listening to a summer concert on a duffy tethered to five other boats in the Marine Stadium; watching the X-Games at the Stadium; Golfing at Colorado Lagoon Park; walking Naples canal during the Christmas Boat parade; crossing the only real suspension bridge in LA to work; hiking Signal Hill and visiting the open houses there; watching the haute dog costume parade on Easter; parking the car on Friday and not touching it until Monday morning; and proposing to my wife at the end of the Peninsula and celebrating with dinner at Parker's Lighthouse.
 
<blockquote>...Roscoe?s Chicken & Waffles...</blockquote>


Roscoe's and Lucille's, the only two places this whiteboy ever felt like it was worth the glares to go get some good food.
 
Wow! Why did you ever leave? We lived on the Peninsula for years and have many of the same warm memories. We moved to Irvine from 2002-2006. (Hence my connection to the IHB) My first memories of Irvine was driving down the wrong street and trying to open the wrong garage (it all looked the same to me) We moved back to Naples in 2006. (near Awgee's old house) and have been happily raising our family here ever since. The LBC is a great area
 
[quote author="roundcorners" date=1253702661]<a href="http://www.redfin.com/CA/Long-Beach/205-Santa-Ana-Ave-90803/home/7597106"><img src="http://media.cdn-redfin.com/photo/46/bigphoto/561/P670561_1.jpg" alt="" /></a>



Did anyone else saw this cute little cottage on the shore? I would consider it if it were under $500,000... It's on a quieter part of 2nd street, it's the first house from 2nd, also it's on a alley way... But I'm sure you can still hear the Harley (biker gangs/clubs) hanging out at the Starbucks... Small house, but has potential... I would almost immediately tear everything down, take a floor-plan from Woodbury and relocate it to Belmont Shore... good idea?



The wife and I lived on Livingston, right across the Lutheran Church, we had fond memories of the church bells ringing at 9am, 12, and 6; really laid back city, almost everyone will say hello, unlike Irvine. The wife walked everyday to the Belmont Athletic Club, she pets the same cats, pass the same beach bums (millionaires) sitting outside Coffee Bean...



I miss the cool ocean breeze, La Crepe Cafe and the which ever way you walked, north, south, east or west you will hit water... I love the LBC, I would almost say that it's a self-contained city; within it's city boundaries you have everything, freeways, airport, marina, pier, downtown, Asian (Vietnamese/Cambodia), other ethnic parts, the ghetto (snoop dog), an Island, and lots of middle class pockets...



The two years we lived in the LBC, we never had to leave it's borders to have fun, eat and live adventures... The LBC has one of the most water front surface-area homes & properties...



Marian Pacifica, Shoreline Village, the Aquarium, Downtown, Queen Mary, taking the Passport, 2nd Street, Naples during Christmas, Los Alamitos Bay, renting a electric duffy, taking a romantic gondola ride, paddling a canoe in the nature preserve, watching the kite surfers on a Saturday, having a drink at the Sky Bar...



The LBC will always have special place in my heart...</blockquote>




There is something up with this place. The owners owned the adjacent property and put them both on the market the same day. The other one sold in a few weeks. This one has been on the market for over 200 days. I think it is just too close to 2nd St and all the retail and bars.
 
A bit out of my area but what a bargain!!. Nice morning laugh. This had better have mineral and drilling rights with a pool of oil the size of Kuwait under it. What does one think when setting a price point like this?



<a href="http://www.redfin.com/CA/SEAL-BEACH/30-S-PACIFIC-AVE-90740/unit-C/home/3873371">$/Sq. Ft.: $2,423 </a>
 
The wife wants to check out this <a href="http://www.redfin.com/search?search_location=Long+beach&x=70&y=20&min;_price=&max;_price=&num;_beds=&num;_baths=#lat=33.765190044385506&long;=-118.13068628311157&market=socal&status=1&v=5&zoomLevel=17">house </a>today... Belmont Park is quiet like Irvine...



I personally like a little <a href="http://www.redfin.com/search?search_location=Long+beach&x=70&y=20&min;_price=&max;_price=&num;_beds=&num;_baths=#lat=33.76854356810946&long;=-118.12511801719666&market=socal&status=1&v=5&zoomLevel=17">newer </a> $90 hoa is a steal with Irvine standards...
 
[quote author="roundcorners" date=1253744546]The wife wants to check out this <a href="http://www.redfin.com/search?search_location=Long+beach&x=70&y=20&min;_price=&max;_price=&num;_beds=&num;_baths=#lat=33.765190044385506&long;=-118.13068628311157&market=socal&status=1&v=5&zoomLevel=17">house </a>today... Belmont Park is quiet like Irvine...



I personally like a little <a href="http://www.redfin.com/search?search_location=Long+beach&x=70&y=20&min;_price=&max;_price=&num;_beds=&num;_baths=#lat=33.76854356810946&long;=-118.12511801719666&market=socal&status=1&v=5&zoomLevel=17">newer </a> $90 hoa is a steal with Irvine standards...</blockquote>


I dont live there, but Belmont Park is amazing. I love that neighborhood. I will probably never move but if I did I would definitely look at belmont park. quiet, but close to 2nd, bigger lots, lots of character in the homes, outdoor lifestyle. its great.
 
[quote author="roundcorners" date=1253744546]The wife wants to check out this <a href="http://www.redfin.com/search?search_location=Long+beach&x=70&y=20&min;_price=&max;_price=&num;_beds=&num;_baths=#lat=33.765190044385506&long;=-118.13068628311157&market=socal&status=1&v=5&zoomLevel=17">house </a>today... Belmont Park is quiet like Irvine...



I personally like a little <a href="http://www.redfin.com/search?search_location=Long+beach&x=70&y=20&min;_price=&max;_price=&num;_beds=&num;_baths=#lat=33.76854356810946&long;=-118.12511801719666&market=socal&status=1&v=5&zoomLevel=17">newer </a> $90 hoa is a steal with Irvine standards...</blockquote>


Hi roundcorners,



That Vista property your wife wants to check out is interesting. It was purchased in '93 for $225k--yet somehow, someway it's a short sale at <strong>$729,000</strong>. The only logical reason? HELOC and cash-out refi panty party, of course! And clearly none of that dough made its way into the house because it's a "fixer."



Good looking exterior, amazing neighborhood, but this seller must have a grow room in there if he thinks someone will overpay for his greed-faced indiscretions.



<a href="http://longbeachhousingblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/for-love-of-money.html">http://longbeachhousingblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/for-love-of-money.html</a>
 
What part of Long Beach had the trouble in 2007 with the racially charged hate crime allegations? BTW, I did a little digging and my Naples friend was murdered in 1993 while riding his bike home from his part time job at Gondola Getaways. The killer was re-tried and reconvicted in 2004 due to some alleged heavy handed work by the LBPD. Bing "1993 Long Beach murder 26 yr old man on bicycle" to find more details. He grew up his whole life in Naples and likely felt it was as safe as those who live there now. Long Beach is a big place and violence can accompany the accidental collisions of differrent socio-economic strata.



I'm sure LB is a nice place, but as the 2007 incident showed, things haven't changed that much in 16 years.
 
[quote author="OC_Boston_Bay" date=1253760406]What part of Long Beach had the trouble in 2007 with the racially charged hate crime allegations? BTW, I did a little digging and my Naples friend was murdered in 1993 while riding his bike home from his part time job at Gondola Getaways. The killer was re-tried and reconvicted in 2004 due to some alleged heavy handed work by the LBPD. Bing "1993 Long Beach murder 26 yr old man on bicycle" to find more details. He grew up his whole life in Naples and likely felt it was as safe as those who live there now. Long Beach is a big place and violence can accompany the accidental collisions of differrent socio-economic strata.



I'm sure LB is a nice place, but as the 2007 incident showed, things haven't changed that much in 16 years.</blockquote>


it doesnt show anything other than no place is perfect and 100% without crime. a burned body was found in Irvine a couple weeks ago and last month 5 gang members were aressted in san jua capistrano for bashing cars as payback for events that happened in San Clemente. does that mean these cities are full of crime?



You continue take single incidents and apply them as the norm. When something happens in Naples or Park Estates or any other of the great neighborhoods in LB it is news because its rare. and then you say contradictory things like LB is a nice place but it used to be bad and it hasnt changed. I think the deal is you simply dont know what youre talking about.



http://www.ocregister.com/articles/police-body-woman-2554351-business-area



http://www.ocregister.com/articles/san-gang-injunction-2541914-juan-clemente
 
[quote author="OC_Boston_Bay" date=1253760406]What part of Long Beach had the trouble in 2007 with the racially charged hate crime allegations? BTW, I did a little digging and my Naples friend was murdered in 1993 while riding his bike home from his part time job at Gondola Getaways. The killer was re-tried and reconvicted in 2004 due to some alleged heavy handed work by the LBPD. Bing "1993 Long Beach murder 26 yr old man on bicycle" to find more details. He grew up his whole life in Naples and likely felt it was as safe as those who live there now. Long Beach is a big place and violence can accompany the accidental collisions of differrent socio-economic strata.



I'm sure LB is a nice place, but as the 2007 incident showed, things haven't changed that much in 16 years.</blockquote>


The area was in Bixby Knolls in 2006. It was when a bunch of kids bussed in from the inner city were at an annual trick or treat activity put on by the Bixby residents. A gang of non-white kids beat up 3 white local girls. Needless to say that ended that little tradition. Nice, but unusual.



<a href="http://www.presstelegram.com/justice/ci_9327712">Bixby Knolls on Halloween night 2006</a>



It has been more than a year since the Long Beach Juvenile Court judge made headlines after imposing house arrest and probation on a group of black youths who beat three white women in Bixby Knolls on Halloween night 2006.
 
What do you guys think of <a href="http://www.redfin.com/search#lat=33.78424808534328&long;=-118.08302879333496&market=socal&status=1&v=5&zoomLevel=15">Rossmoor</a>? I had a classmate that loves that place...
 
[quote author="roundcorners" date=1253790466]What do you guys think of <a href="http://www.redfin.com/search#lat=33.78424808534328&long;=-118.08302879333496&market=socal&status=1&v=5&zoomLevel=15">Rossmoor</a>? I had a classmate that loves that place...</blockquote>


it is ok. it is basically a upper middle class suburb. People like it for the backyard. though if that is what I was going for I would choose Belmont Park. you get everything rossmoor has and nicer houses, more character, and walkable to 2nd street. If I like the seclusion of rossmoor and didnt care about walking to stuff I would choose Park Estates or El Dorado Park depending on my price range. Park Estates is like living in an old money east coast suburb. very nice. El dorado has the benefit of being close to the park and all those amenities.
 
[quote author="not a realtor" date=1253762569][quote author="OC_Boston_Bay" date=1253760406]What part of Long Beach had the trouble in 2007 with the racially charged hate crime allegations? BTW, I did a little digging and my Naples friend was murdered in 1993 while riding his bike home from his part time job at Gondola Getaways. The killer was re-tried and reconvicted in 2004 due to some alleged heavy handed work by the LBPD. Bing "1993 Long Beach murder 26 yr old man on bicycle" to find more details. He grew up his whole life in Naples and likely felt it was as safe as those who live there now. Long Beach is a big place and violence can accompany the accidental collisions of differrent socio-economic strata.



I'm sure LB is a nice place, but as the 2007 incident showed, things haven't changed that much in 16 years.</blockquote>


it doesnt show anything other than no place is perfect and 100% without crime. a burned body was found in Irvine a couple weeks ago and last month 5 gang members were aressted in san jua capistrano for bashing cars as payback for events that happened in San Clemente. does that mean these cities are full of crime?



You continue take single incidents and apply them as the norm. When something happens in Naples or Park Estates or any other of the great neighborhoods in LB it is news because its rare. and then you say contradictory things like LB is a nice place but it used to be bad and it hasnt changed. I think the deal is you simply dont know what youre talking about.



http://www.ocregister.com/articles/police-body-woman-2554351-business-area



http://www.ocregister.com/articles/san-gang-injunction-2541914-juan-clemente</blockquote>


You make a good point. San Clemente and San Juan have rough areas - kind of like mini Long Beaches.
 
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