Best Places to Live and Launch 2008: No. 4, Marina del Rey, Calif.
From James, Davenport, IA I cannot believe any city in California would be on some positive business list! High taxes and a government on the brink of defaulting! Please explain.
From Igor, Marina Del Rey, 90292, CA Large apartments, low construction activities, vivid & spctacular nightlife,healthy dining, a lot of fresh air on the beach
From Mike Pagani, Austin, TX Are you nuts? I lived in MDR for 10 years. It's in Los Angeles AND CA. Very oppressive tax structure. Alternates include Culver City (next door)and El Segundo, which has no business personal property tax.
That said, CA is NOT very business friendly at all. I relocated to Austin, TX and it's an amazingly pro-business city and state.
From William Segal West Los Angeles I had a boat there for 10 years so I know the area
its rental residential and the recession has not hit MDR
traffic is real bad . There is only one north south
thru way and 2 east west. There is LAX within 6 miles
and the business prospects are tremendous. The popular is upward mobile business wise its the hottest place in LA County there is a major hospital,
Santa Monica is close and Santa Monica airport within 3 or 4 miles has Twin jet business jets available for
charter and purchase .They operate out of there 24 hours a day.MDR holds 5000 Yachts and support for that is a growing business on 1 to 10 scale 10
being best I would rate conservatively 9.0
From V, Playa del Rey, CA How is it a small town if you're shoulder to shoulder to every other town/city? Space in LA has always been at a premium, hence soul-less developers mowing down the Ballona Wetlands to spawn Playa Vista. There was already enough congestion, lack of parking, and urban mess. LA has been unfriendly to businesses for years. If you're a yuppy who will fork over half your paycheck for rent, you're the ones making this congestion ridiculous and profitable.
From Dani, PDR, CA Marina del Rey used to be your typical half-decent quiet marina: a little touristy, with a few good restaurants, and nice locals. Its situation was convenient and the old PDR community was close-knit. This ALL changed when developers attempted to upgrade the marina to compete with Newport and mowed over Ballona to build the Playa Vista monstrosities full of out-of-state people with no sense of community or what this area USED to be about. I grew up on the front hill and now every time I go back I am astonished to see how lame everyone has become. Those pseudo-yuppies should stay in AZ or get a house in Santa Monica where their attitudes will be better tolerated.
From Flyover Land Fred, Dallas Texas It's California – it's not a good place for business – high taxes, crazy rules, high prices.
From Sheldon Kookla I lived most of the '70's on the Marina Peninsula, which is the part of the MDR/Venice area that is between the Ocean and the Marina. I also have numerous friends that still live there. And based on what I know to be fact. For MDR to be included 4th on this list of 100 best places to live and launch a business, either Kelsey Abbott and Mina Kimes, who are the writers given credit for the little synopsis on MDR, are idiots or they never have actually been there.
From Marina del Rey CA Marina del Rey is a wonderful relief from the intense urban environment of LA.It's casual, quiet, breezy and relaxed. The previous writer is talking about Venice, not Marina del Rey, which is one of the safest communities in LA.(policed by LA COunty Sheriffs, not LAPD). People I know here have been here for 25+ years and would never think of leaving!
From Estella Marina del rey CA Marina del rey is not a place to live this add is not correct expensive, beggers in every conner, neighbords are not friendly. I do not recommend this city at all.
From Scott, Sausalito I certainly would pick Marina del Rey before I'd even consider the other recommendations. Lifestyle is everything…work hard, play hard, in the sun!
From Larry Rose Wendell North Carolina This may be a very nice place to live but I am not so sure about some of the business practices used by one of your locals. The business is called DC Propulsions and the gentelman who runs it Mr. C. Johnson seems to make a habit of getting his parts by scamming people. He is working on a new type of DC motor and car and is using antique technology coupled with new technology to do this. I know because he bought a Model T Ford transmission from me to use in one of these carts but he failed to pay for it. After several attempt and several excuses he still has not paid for it. I sure hope this is not the normal way of doing business in the Marina Del Rey area.
From Gail, Marina Del Rey, CA MDR is a great place to rent short term and get your fill of living near the beautiful beaches of the Santa Monica area. Rent something within walking distance or it's not worth it. I wouldn't buy here — it's over a million for a total dump fixer upper tiny 2 bedroom in a bad area. There are a lot of good restaurants and good access to beach bike trails and great access to many great museums and things to do in LA. CNN — you really should do your research though! This would be a TERRIBLE place to try to start a business — California has gone crazy with taxes and fees on businesses and property owners! Half of Los Angeles doesn't pay any taxes at all, so you can only guess how much the other half has to come up with!!!!
From Craig Marina Del Rey CA. MDR was very nice about 30 years ago. There were great places to eat, fun clubs to go too. There was no traffic, It was a great place to live. ( Now ) If you want to spend 800.000.00 for a 2 bedroom 40 year old condo and 400 a month HOA Go a head and move there!! There is nothing like going to a store in MDR and having 3 bums asking you for money. Right down the street in Venice is gang banger heven. Maybe you can get a place in the Marina City Club cheap, There is only 10 years left on the city lease.
From D. Gray Well, bjth, you moved from the middle of LA to MDR? Sounds like a very small improvement to go along with your "see no evil, smell no evil" joyously emotional attitude. Good for you. Keep closing your eyes, ears and smell-cells"…. –D.Gray, Whidbey Island, WA
From bjth Wow,do we live in the same Marina? I'm right on the edge of the MDR/Mar Vista border. I open up the patio door in the morning and look out and see beautiful trees. In the afternoon, a cool ocean breeze wafts through the apartment…my utility bills are very low. I stroll to several markets, with a stop for good coffee and a browse through well-stocked B&N. Two cineplexes. Access to 3 different bus systems within a few minutes, just in case the car doesn't start and gas gets over $5.00 per gallon. Jet noise? Now and then, but not bothersome. I lived in the middle of Los Angeles and heard worse (liked it there too). Guess if you're essentially a happy person, you can find happiness anywhere. I love MDR! So goodbye to those who are moving…we'll miss ya. Hope you find your best place.
From Denis, Madison, WI As a former LA resident, I can concur that parts of LA are a 3D scratch-N-sniff dump.
But, I dare say, that oft' nights I lay awake (here in green Wisconsin) with the memory of the sour smell of the slow bucolic wind blowing from the Hyperion plant. It takes me right back to 1973, cheap plastic palm trees, bad hair, and clothing, visiting the drunken divorced swerve driving dad in the apartment that shuddered with 747s 100 ft overhead and stunk daintily with the crude goo of the plant next door. The smell was sort of a cover for any other savage Human mal-odor or misshap. I miss the Hyperion plant only as much as I miss the genetically damaged seagulls, and crabgrass that somehow survive there.
From Ben There You must be kidding? Marina Del Rey is an overcrowded dump like the rest of LA. (smell-A)
From resident, Culver City I live near MDR. The traffic is horrible and won't get better. The increase in high-density, overpriced condos has made the area look ugly, feel overcrowded, and demolished whatever laid back feeling this once open space provided. Beaches are often brown and smelly from El Segundo hyperion plant. Once upon a time MDR must've been truly lovely. Once upon a time.
From Alan Senseman Lake Wales Florida I owned a small carpet cleaning business in the outer La area , the city of La tried to city tax me $55,550.00 after spending 410 = HRs fighting them I won . But it cost me $10,000.00 in lost revenue for the time i spent fighting them , also state fund workmen's comp is the worst, I am still paying .Also bought a new TV $10.00 disposal fee when you buy a new one .and $30.00 to dump old one at dump . California motto should be screw you now screw later & in between. Sold my biz and left that dump
From Name, City and State withheld Luvely when the sewage comes down the canal. And the trash washes on the shore. Just down the way from the Hyperion Plant. Marina Del Rey was the nosiest place I'd ever lived, there were jack hammers, loud TV blasting neighbors, Garbage trucks, Cigar smokers. If it wasn't for the AUDI that rear ended me (stopped at the light on Washington) while looking for the music cd he dropped and forgot he was driving that almost crippled me I might still be there. I prefer tranquility and am withholding my Name, City and State so others won't find my simple life I moved to.
From J. Z. I enjoyed working and living in Marina del Rey. As AAAAHHHHnuld says "don't be a girly-mun". Nothing in S. California is a cake walk, but this is the closest I came. I learned to sail. I went to Catalina for scuba (brrrr). I had good Asian food – often! I made early days at work so I could hit southern beaches for night surfing. If I wanted breakfast at 2 AM I went to beautiful Manhattan Beach … If I wanted the best seafood I went into LA … O come on – it is NOT so bad! People are flaky – yes! Welcome to California!
From Mike, MDR, CA Are you kidding!
We have been trying to leave MDR for years. The traffic is backed up on all the surrounding streets day and night. High density housing is the flavor of the decade around here with the Playa Vista mega rabbit hutch development down the street. People are angry and mean cos there's just too many people in a small space. The competiton for everything makes people nasty to each other. All is fair in love an parking here. Who want's to live like that.
Los Angeles is a terrible place to live.
From dennis irvine, ca scary surrounding area, you dont want to be around after dark. not for the faint hearted or unaware.
From Jay Schroeder Beaches in MDR? Not that 100 feet of sand behind a hotel. The writers might want to visit MDR before writing about the beaches.
From David Martorano, Los Angeles, CA We live in the Palisades, used to live in the Marina, moved after three months. It's full of strip malls, a desultory beach, old movie theaters, and mediocre restaurants. No feeling of community at all.
From John, LA City, CA Yes. There is no "small" town feeling but it is nontheless small compared to LA City. I never said small town feeling. However, I completely agree with you in MDR not making the top 10 list. MDR is overcrowded, compact, and noisy due to traffic from LA City, Airport and the new community development in Playa del Rey called Playa Vista. Since 1993 I have lived here, the traffic and air pollution in LA City and MDR has continued to deteriorate and that alone should have prevented MDR from making the top 10 list of best places to live. Also note, MDR is not incorporated and thus relies on LA County for it's police and fire protection, among other things. Thank you.
From Kelly, MDREY, CA There is no small town feel at all. MDR should not be on this list and space is at a premium. I have lived on the water for 3.5 years and it is not a good place to be. When I move, it is for good. Very noisy from LAX jets as well. Especially at night
From John, LA City, CA. I live close to the borders of Marina Del Rey; just off the 90 FWY. I frequent MDR and for the visitors, it is difficult to determine where MDR starts and LA City ends. I am surprised that MDR made it to your top 10 list. Granted it is beutiful, but, most of the people that live in MDR are transients. Statistics have shown that majority of people who live there are renters who eventually move out within 10 years or less. In addition, MDR is very small to be considered a city but rather a town. It is encapsulated within a major U.S. metropolitan which is LA City. To the north is Venice and to the south is Playa Del Rey which is incorporated in LA City. As for beaches, MDR has only one called Mother's Beach. Be advised MDR has a marina, thus it's name. The surrounding beaches to the north and to the south of MDR are adjacent to LA City; ie: Venice Beach and Dockweiler Beach. Next time, you vote a town or city, please speak to someone in the local government or even law enforcement who knows the area and it's city or town BORDERS. Thank you.
From Sarah Dallas TX I started, owned and sold a company in MDR, and still own and rent a house there. It is convenient to the airport, has a nice beach feel, and is much more friendly than other areas in LA county. Throw in the beach, and it is a winner!
From Cindy,Los Angeles, CA Know your areas a little better. The unemployed of Los Angeles do NOT live in Marina del Rey, or anywhere near. And with no public transportation, these people cannot come to work.
From scowley Have you found the town supportive of local businesses?
California!!! Give me a break. My brother has a small graphic arts business in a suburb of LA (employs 12 people). He is moving to Nevada. Six of his employees are going with him. Two are going to try to telecommute. The rest they are on their own. Between property and income taxes AND the fees (hidden taxes) he sees NV as having a 35% advantage!!! Only a fool would start a business in California. As for me I live in CT. Not quite as bad as CA, but getting there. I too own a small business (technical consulting – 2 employees). If it were not for family close by I would move. Southern NH looks real tempting!