Where should I live?

The following options are apparently open to Dr. Schweitzer.

1. West Adams, local neighborhood surrounding USC.
–could walk to work.
–will undoubtedly grow in value over time.

–going to work more often is not necessarily a good thing

2. Long Beach, cute seaside community
–cute seaside community
–seems to have a very dog-friendly yet urban environment
–the only even remotely affordable ocean area left in southern California
–housing stock appears to be in much better shape


3. Staying where I am at: DTLA
2. I already know the community
3. There are some nice condos (though not many)

2. It’s a PITA to have to take the dogs outside
3. I don’t love it here.
4. I pay way too much rent.



Fairly obvious.


2. I hate moving.

3. It’s cold other places.



4 thoughts on “Where should I live?

  1. I vote West Adams. If you are there for a long time, any housing market problems will correct themselves.

  2. I would vote for West Adams too.

    Option number 3 shouldn’t even be considered (“I hate not having a garden” and “I don’t love it here” and “I pay way too much rent”).

  3. I don’t know if you read Matthew Kahn’s “Climatopolis” yet. But in the book he argues that as a result of Global Climate change,the climate models predict the climate in Southern California is going to be a lot more like Jacksonville Florida, filled with hotter more humid summers. But he also goes on to say that if you look at the microclimates in the Los Angeles region those areas right along the coast should be the least impacted. This means that these coastal areas are going to be in even shorter supply and comparatively more valuable.

    Additionally Mia Birk, the bike planner who led Portland’s very successful bike plan has pointed out that new high quality bike facilities like Portland’s Bike Boulevards have been very successful in raising property values as they are implemented. There area also network effects where the more people who use the bike network, the more valuable the bike infrastructure is to local residents. Given that Long Beach has best current bike network in Southern California and seems to have the most aggressive plans for rapidly expanding it, I would vote for Long Beach.

    As you talk to most long term residents of Southern California, there biggest regret generally involves not buying in an ocean adjacent neighborhood when they still had the opportunity to do so.

    Lastly if you have any intent of staying at USC long term, its time to confront your fear of freeways. Spend some time watching Reyner Banham Loves Los Angeles below.


    Los Angeles is like no other large city in the world. Avoiding the freeways in Los Angeles is like avoiding the subway in New York. If you do it too much, you loose access to too many interesting things and you have less fulfilling life.

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