PerryChase – both Marina Del Rey and Playa Del Rey can be a little pricey, but both are nice. In Playa Del Rey near Loyola Marymount University and near the bluffs that speedingpullet referred to, there are very nice homes. Westchester borders Playa Del Rey (to the East), and has some nice pockets and less nice pockets. The noise from the planes (now this is from someone who grew up here) is bad when you’re directly in the flight path, but not so bad when you’re removed.
As an example, I live in El Segundo, about five blocks south of LAX, and the noise is not NEARLY as bad as when I lived in Inglewood (about 6 miles east of LAX but directly in the flight path). My sister lives about three blocks south of me, and I rarely notice the noise there. But you weren’t asking about El Segundo (which by the way is where the plant is). My brother lives in Westchester, and they are pretty close to LAX, but I don’t think that they have any ridiculous plane noise either.
You wouldn’t have to deal with airplane noise at all in Marina Del Rey, but as far as I’ve seen, the SFRs aren’t that great. I would probably consider Santa Monica (where I work) any day before Marina Del Rey, but I’d consider Playa Del Rey before both MDR and SM.
I’d agree that the traffic is nothing to be happy about. I am one of the people driving through the wetlands a couple of times a week to get to work. The thing about Playa Del Rey is that there isn’t the most convenient way to get in and out.
Hope that made sense with all the ramblings.
Oh yeah — the traffic of the airport does vary depending on the day and time. The rule about taking off and landing over the ocean at night is not always followed though.
