City of Redondo Beach

Parking is enforced EVERYDAY including HOLIDAYS… The City doesn’t post enforcement period signs in the area that I parked only a sign indicating when parking is prohibited.

I love this city, but forcing businesses to have valet when their only parking lot is directly in front of the business and is never full is an indirect slap in the face, and an unethical tax on the residents. The cheesecake factory near the harbor always had the $ 4 valet from what I can remember, but now Joe’s Crab Shack (they said it’s because of the city) has this ridiculous valet box in front of the only entrance to the parking lot, with cones blocking the only exit. Pay $ 4 for parking my car literally a few ft away directly in front of the restaurant? No thanks, I’d rather boycott than have to deal with this highway robbery.

This is my beloved hometown. Redondo Beach, along with sister cities Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach, have a laid back vibe. The people here are awesome, and it is a very family friendly place. The cities are clean, safe, and well run.
The cops here do not joke around, and I’m glad for it. People will speak negatively about them, but I have never had a bad run in with the cops here. It’s simple really, don’t look suspicious or act stupid, and you’re fine.
Redondo Beach has two main regions: North RB is bordered by Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach to the west, and Hawthorne to the north and east. South RB is bordered by the PV peninsula to the south, the ocean to the west, Torrance to the east, and Hermosa Beach to the north.
The three beach cities feed the two high schools: Redondo Union and Mira Costa.
The beach extends from the start of the PV peninsula to the RB pier. If you like to run on the sand like I do, it will make for a very good workout. Early evening and early mornings are best, as the days see quite a bit of people (especially on weekends and holidays). You might run into a few kids hanging out and smoking the green on a lifeguard tower at night, but cops crack down on that often.
The beach is great to relax or enjoy a beach run. But surfing is best done in the OC, Manhattan Beach, or Malibu.
Things to do: visit the Riviera Village, hang out at the beach, visit the RB pier.
That’s all, folks. Enjoy RB, and keep it classy ;-)

The City of Redondo Beach is awesome!
I went to City Hall and the staff is helpful. They refer you to the right direction instead of the red tape run-​around.
I had seen a series of road potholes in the neighborhood and within mere days (not even a week) they were filled.
I saw a street sign that was dislocated off it’s post that also could be a pedestrian hazard and within the next day, it was fixed.
I’d once had an active beehive and the LA Vector (not sure if associated with the City of Redondo Beach) removed the hive and kindly transported the bees (not exterminating them) for FREE.
At least with the City of Redondo Beach, I can see my taxpayer money go to action and the results are visible as well as appreciated.
The people in charge and that do the work are very active in keeping the city beautiful.
The South Bay Beach Cities is the best region to live in, within So Cal since the weather is more cool than the hot spots of the Valley and points inland and in-​between. You get the coastal breezes and access to the beach. (Disclaimer: It’s been especially unique for Aug-​Sept-​Oct 2015 with the heat wave ‘tho! …but imagine if you lived anywhere else in So Cal, you’d be adding 10+ degrees to your heat stroke!)
As for properties, I keep seeing older homes and properties turn what used to be termed «ReCondo Beach» turn into either really nice townhomes or single family dwellings with facelifts and overall aesthetic construction. I think home prices compared to the other beach cities offers more value in Redondo Beach and more ideal as an investment at the end of the day too.
The general temperament of the residents are typically a little bit more laid back. Drivers are more defensive than offensive with a bit more courtesy.
The culture of the area is a melting pot of ethnicities and religions in the surrounding area has a blend of varied socio-​economic profiles from between Lawndale, Inglewood, Gardena, Torrance and Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes and the Hollywood Riviera.
Look at the Crime Watch /​Blotter in the local papers and a lot are just crimes of opportunity or avoidable such as victim neglect (leaving your property exposed or doors open) or being out at the wrong place and wrong time (don’t walk alone at 2am), and minor shoplifting offenses. The neighborhood watch and community support is fantastic with neighbors having each other’s backs for that «stranger danger» observation and involvement acting upon potential problems. There is UNITY in the COMMUNITY here.
The schools are award winning and I’ve not seen issues of delinquency in the area nor any groups converging in any gang like spirit. I see a lot of healthy kids running along the strand, summer Lifeguard schools and overall what seems to be good kids who are being raised to be great adults in the area.
The city and surrounding area seems to be rejuvenated by retail renovation too, where a person can be born, live and die in the area with all of the necessities and luxuries within near walking if not short driving distance too. Redondo Beach is also in a geographically desirable location with access to local freeways like the 405 and the 91 to then the 105 and 110 and from this central point anyone can travel to the Valley, Inland, East, or Orange County with relative ease and not a lot of street driving just to get to the freeway.
Of all of the Beach Cities, Redondo is #1

Our Public Works in Redondo Beach are top notch… Thank you Tony Funaki for all you do and your crews!!!

Had not seen this disorganized voting scene till today. Went to one voting station (part of precinct 555 0012A), but they couldn’t find my name. It turns out a bunch of ppl behind me didn’t know where to vote either, and the poll workers had hard time directing them to the right stations. Upon looking at the only voting station map (small map with hard to see street names), I realized that there are more stations this time or it seems. Meanwhile this station has 10 poll workers, 5 on each side idling while trying to figure out where to send ppl.
Then I went to the right one for me in Parras Middle School library, but there were only one couple manning the station. The male poll worker clearly had some issues. He was rude to ppl and was condescending to his wife (the other poll worker): «I know how to do my job!» Caught me staring at him, he snapped at me: «you don’t look happy», haha. When I came back with the ballot, he just stared at me without taking my ballot from me at first, lol. Never seen this kind of ludicrous behavior exhibit from any poll workers paid or volunteers before, the guy was an ass! Had I got enough sleep the night before, I’d have enough energy to talk some sense to him. I thought they are volunteers until his wife said that they are paid poll workers. Well, at least the stations I went to today were set up to vote. How was your vote experience today?

I lived here for 17 years. LOVE the cooler weather, healthier air and family type atmosphere. Filled with the highest amount of 30 somethings making an average or $ 120K per year, who can complain?!

The city makes Redondo Beach attractive, except to the homeowners who live here. We can’t even enjoy our own beaches as everyone comes here from other cities. Furthermore, try and find a place to park. The city refuses to ensure the safety and well being of their homeowners as they can’t control parking on the streets within the neighborhoods. Disappointed in the direction the city is headed, but we are glad we have a new Mayor, hopefully it will turn around.

A great city with lots of fun stuff to do all the time. From the beach, to the parks, to the shopping, Redondo has it all.

My favorite beach city to live in, and my favorite beach, just stay away from the beach by the pier and head south, closer to the peninsula. From Riviera Village on the south end to the Performing Arts Center on the north, two libraries, wonderful parks including a dog park, excellent schools, and an active chamber of commerce, Redondo Beach is a great place to live, raise a family, and work. I grew up here, then moved away for a few years, but never stopped missing the South Bay. SO happy to be back here.

Redondo Beach is a wonderful city to visit, and I am so glad I chose it as my new home 5 years ago
When I was researching where to live, I knew these things: Beach, California, Dog Friendly… two out of three ain’t bad, right?
While the city of Redondo Beach is not very dog friendly (only one dog park, with dogs being BANNED from any other park space anywhere in the city), it is a beautiful, relaxed, fun place to call home.
I love that I can walk to the beach, play skee-​ball on the pier, grab a drink or some food, do some shopping in Riviera Village, and even see some touring bands play at The Brixton on the pier… all without leaving my beach town.
It’s the perfect place for me to call home!

Beautiful!
Great picture opportunities.

I moved away from this place last year and I will never do it again! So now I’m back and I still love this city!

Beautiful city! Looking forward to living there!

Redondo Beach is a wonderful place to live. Having lived her for 26 years and selling homes here for 7 I have learned the lifestyle, ocean view homes, school districts, restaurants, and quaint shops are the best of all the beach cities. I highly recommend considering living here if you are in debate of where to live in the South Bay. You will not have any regrets. Please feel free to visit my website at
for a review of Redondo Beach and it’s surrounding cities.

Quaint

Best Place to Live!

I have lived in Redondo my whole life, and I can say that in these 27 years Redondo has changed drastically, and not always for the best. So I give Redondo 4 stars.
Redondo, used to be a laid back beach city so did Hermosa and Manhattan. It is truly no longer a casual laid back beach town where kids play in the street, and during the summer everyone has block parties.
When I was growing up here we used to ride our bikes to the beach or where ever we wanted to go, we played in the streets, new our neighbors, and there was space … between each house.
I cannot stand (how others put it, the yuppies) the musical chairs that goes on. People move in for a year or two then there’s someone new. No I am not talking about apartments, I mean houses.
Everyone has like 5 cars to a house and are scared to park in their own driveway so they park all 5 cars on the street so if you have guests over they have to park a block away.
Oh, then they call the city if you leave your car on the street in the same spot for more than 24 hrs. Strange, because I see their cars there for days on end.
There used to be single houses on the lots now there are two or in some cases three houses on a single lot, you can see what your neighbor is having for dinner.
The schools are pretty good, very high standards at my daughters elementary school.
As far as the wana be gang members, sorry to say but even with the «$ 800,000» home prices they aren’t going anywhere. They have been here for generations, and you might be surprised to know that there families own property here although they might not.
That’s kind of the problem here in Redondo, before everyone coexisted in peace. No one thought they were better than anyone else.
Then you get these new people who think that just because they qualified for a mortgage that made it possible for them to be able to live in Redondo that they are better than everyone.
Let me tell you are not better than the rest of us, because you have that $ 800,000 mortgage the rest of us have $ 800,000 in equity. Ha ha ha. Plus if you were really more well off then the rest of us you would be living in Hermosa, Manhattan, or on the hill, not in Redondo. So stop acting like you’re so great… and get over yourself.

I moved to Redondo about 13 years ago when my son was about 2 years old and I had to get over the shock of moving from Orange County’s Newport Beach and Huntington Beach. It is strange how moving from one beach to another is so different but it is.
Redondo Beach
Pros:
Great community programs including volunteer programs with fire department as well as police department. They also have a great teen center and senior center.
About 15 miles from Downtown LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. About 5 miles to LAX depending on if you live in North Redondo or South Redondo (Redondo is quite big)
Redonodo has it’s own school district which means it is NOT part of Los Angeles Unified and their school’s API’s are 9 out of 10… not perfect but not bad.
We have a dog park too.
Cons:
We have some wanna be teen gangsters… not many but 1 is too many and do have some trailer trash types too… again not many but with the average home price being around $ 800,000 those people will be gone soon.
The pier and the beach just south of the pier get low life inlanders coming to hang out.
It’s not Hermosa or Manhattan.
Edited to add: It took about a year or so to get over the shock of moving from OC to LA but I never look back now. Matter of fact since I recently quit working at Disney in Anaheim I have no reason to pass the Orange Curtain… unless to go to Angotei… mmm Angotei… I am SO ADD.

In a word: charming. Soon to be my new place of residence. It’s one of the «Beach Cities» which include neighboring Manhatttan Beach and adjacent Hermosa Beach, to the north. Redondo is reputed to be the quietest of the three, almost sleepy at times. Fine with me.
All the street signs are adorned with sailboats… feels like a vacation spot. At the south end of RB, nestled in the shadow of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, sits Riviera Village — an ample collection of shops, boutiques & restaurants. I am told that everything a person needs can be found there and I can walk there from home.
The stretch of RB between Pacific Coast Hwy. and the ocean is an ecclectic mix of new condos and older beach houses. There are vintage Craftsman and some glorious Victorians. An assortment of seedier beachouses dotted around town just adds flavor. I am beyond fortunate to be moving to this neighborhood.
The streets are wide and although this area borders the beach, I always see plenty of available street parking, unheard of in L.A. (It might be different in the height of summer.)
The beaches here are mostly uncrowded and scenic. A walking path along the bluffs provides views of the Redondo Pier, the Santa Monica Mountains to the north, the Palos Verdes Peninsula with its dramatic tall bluffs, and offshore Catalina Island — easily accessible by ferry (or jet catamaran, hang onto your hat). I can’t wait to explore it.
Hey, thanks, Unilocal!,for providing yet another opportunity to tell about my adventures. I usually choose to travel solo, so ‘reviewing’ fills the need for sharing. ‘Yelp!ing’ has rapidly become an important part of my life. At the risk of sounding even sappier: watching and contributing to the evolution of Unilocal!is a rare & wondrous privilege.