Anyone Live Downtown?
 

In the future (next 2 years or so) I plan on moving to downtown LA. I'm currently looking at lofts in the south park area.

My question deals with my car...I've never had to deal with cars in a downtown setting before, how expensive is parking etc...?

Is there anyone who has lived downtown LA, CHI, or NY or anywhere else that could shed some light on the troubles of car ownership in the city (specifically porsche ownership).

Thanks

sammy

SO CAL without a car? U must be joking....Nobody walks in LA, and the transit system is for the *****s.

when your living in Downtown LA, U can stop at the Mission to get a bowl of soup with the bums and hangout at the Greyhound Bus station trying to pick up the latest little Gloria off the Bus who is gona be a movie star in a week or two.

We have an underground space for one car included with my condo. We rarely drive during the week, so we got rid of the second car. If we need an extra car for a few hours, we can rent a Zip car or Flexi car. The Porsche lives in another garage in the close-in 'burbs. I can reach it by car or by Metro train. It's worked out well, so far. Parking in the city, is roughly $250/mo for an underground space. I'm not sure what surface spaces cost.

Never had any trouble with Porsche ownership/parking in downtown Chicago. I had an indoor heated space I owned. Maybe not as big a deal in a warm climate.

The biggest problem is no where to work on your car. Most condo associations do not allow for car maintenance in the garage. Otherwise, my $16K 911 wasn't a big deal compared to the $50K, $75K, $100K+ cars roaming the city.

Well....there are the $500 cars that like to blow red lights... :)

OK, step away from the bong.

Live in downtown L.A.? Are you nuckin' futs?

They couldn't pay ME to live downtown. I'm done with that city. Forever. Long Beach, O.C., hell pretty much anywhere else around here is fine. I'll never live in L.A. ever again. Never ever. I can't think of a single redeeming quality or benefit to doing that. If that's your thing, fine I guess but I think you've got to be outta' your tree.

Maybe look into a motorcycle.

I've lived in downtown Seattle for a number of years, in a number of places. Underground parking with securtiy features is a must. When I say security, I also mean securing your car from dings. If possible, ask to view the garage and try to choose a spot that you believe is safe. Parking garages are notoriously tight, so try to get an end spot, and park as close to the wall as possible. Alternatively, choose a spot with at least one concrete post on either side of the car. This helps with the distance betwen the cars. Chances are, your car will be one of the oldest vehicles in the garage, so as far as theft, the $70k BMW probably has more to worry about than you.

I work in downtown LA and prices on parking vary widely. When we go to little Tokyo for sushi I park in a high rise for $4.00 but that is not peak hours. Parked at Union station all day Sunday $14.00 (also not peak hours)

My recommendation would be try to get a loft that has parking.
If you can't do that my next idea would be to get monthly parking in a high rise.

I don't know if your work is near a metro station but the train can be very convenient if you live and work near the stations.

Also some parts of downtown have groups of nice restaurants if you can find a loft near them you won't have to drive to get dinner.

Downtown LA is very surreal... you go down one street and there are expensive restaurants, clubs, and office buildings... go around the corner and you got skid row with people sleeping on the sidewalk.

Why on earth do you want to live there? You're a youngin, right? I take it you have a well off family?

Parking SUCKS downtown.

Dunno, downtown has a certain energy... some people really dig it and obviously some don't. It might not be so bad if you lived and worked there and didn't have to commute in and out of the city. In a fantasy world it might be fun to live in one of the million dollar condos next to the music center and be able to stroll across the street to see concerts and plays... or in the middle of little Tokyo and be on a first name basis with all the sushi chefs. But in a real world if I had that kind of money I wouldn't be shopping downtown, more like central coast.

Back to the point, some people love living in the city, I can only take it in small doses but there are people here at work that really like it.

Whatever floats your boat.
SmileWavy

Sounds like my neighborhood. After living here six months, I still can't figure out if I live in a nice area or if it's a high-priced ghetto (most likely).

Thats fantastic. Your opinion helped out so much. Why don't you pat yourself on the back for making a great contribution to this post. ;)

Thanks, well put. I live currently near Vermont and Expedition for school. It's technically South Central (i believe) but being so near to SC, the homies don't really mess. Living there the past months has given me perspective, and I've gotten to know many of my neighbors. They told me where and where not to roam, basically stay close to the university and Dtown. My father wants to buy a loft and have me pay him a discounted rental rate. After 5 years or so he would debate selling it to me fully when I'm completely in the work force or just keep renting it out to whomever. We are currently looking at the biscuit company lofts http://www.biscuitcompanylofts.com/, or the met lofts http://www.metlofts.com:80/templates/template_metlofts/default.asp?w=metlofts&c=forestcity.onesite.realpa ge.com&e=1050775&s=1250001&t=template_metlofts. I don't regulary do any wrench work on the 78 (besides changing the oil, filters, minor maint). Both of those loft companies provide one parking space.
As far as LA, I've lived and breathed LA for my whole life. For some reason I'm just in love with my city. I went to high school in the pico union, (Loyola High School) and learned much about the city. I don't like the suburbs and the mom's driving their hummers, always on the freakin cellphone etc... Dtown has a nice aura, and yes I dig it.

btw whats with all the negative comments on ppot. I thought forums were designed to help people. I asked a question, and I didn't expect to see all these negative useless coments (tabs, porsche-o-phile etc...). When was the last time I attacked any of your threads for self indulgence. great crowd.

thanks to the ones that helped thought, I appreciate it.

You'll love it, man. It's a great area. Cool old homes. Excellent food. Homies and vatos or whatever - I'd be more frightened to live in the Hollywood Hills next to a bunch of drugged out new-money white trash.

dd74,

where are you located exactly?

I wasn't kidding about the motorcycle thing. That actually is some damn near priceless advice.

thanks but no thanks

Why ask for opinions and then reject them ??????

Look at the context of his response. He didn't ask for opinion on whether or not to move to downtown. He was asking about his car. The opinion did not correspond to the subject matter.

I interpreted the response to mean downtown LA wasn't amiable with a car you cared about hence the suggestion to get a motorcycle.

I think you will be very happy there and I wouldn't think twice about leaving my car overnight on the street.
There, do I get a pat on the back?