Living in Downtown Los Angeles is not for everyone.
For some people, the idea of living in a high-rise apartment, looking out over the LA skyline and having restaurants, shops, entertainment and public transport on your doorstep sounds perfect.
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For others, Downtown's reputation can be enough to put them off completely.
But DTLA is a huge area, and where you choose to live can make a massive difference to your day-to-day experience.
If you are considering making Downtown LA your home, South Park is the area we would look at first.
Why South Park stands out
South Park sits in the southern part of Downtown LA, around the Crypto.com Arena, L.A. LIVE and Los Angeles Convention Center.
It has developed into one of DTLA's main residential districts, with a large concentration of modern apartment towers and condominium buildings.
That makes it feel quite different from some of the older parts of Downtown.
You have newer buildings, staffed lobbies, rooftop pools, gyms, resident lounges and secure parking, with many of the everyday conveniences you would expect from modern city living.
It is also extremely walkable, with restaurants, coffee shops, supermarkets and entertainment all within relatively easy reach.
Is South Park safe?
It is important not to pretend that Downtown LA is completely free of problems.
South Park still has homelessness, street crime, traffic and the general unpredictability that comes with living in a major American city.
However, the neighbourhood has a large residential population and an established business improvement district with Clean and Safety Ambassadors working throughout the area.
The South Park Social District also operates a Safe Walk service for people who would prefer an escort when walking home late at night.
For us, the bigger point is that the individual building matters almost as much as the neighbourhood.
A well-managed high-rise with controlled access, a staffed lobby, secure parking and good lighting can give you a very different experience from living in an older building on a quieter side street.
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What is it like actually living there?
This is where South Park can be a really attractive option.
You can wake up in a high-rise apartment with views across Los Angeles, walk downstairs for coffee, grab groceries and be at L.A. LIVE or Crypto.com Arena within minutes.
There is also a surprisingly good amount of green space for such a dense part of the city, including Grand Hope Park.
The neighbourhood is particularly lively when there is a Lakers, Clippers, Kings or other major event at Crypto.com Arena.
That can mean crowds and traffic, but it also means you have some of the biggest entertainment in Los Angeles effectively on your doorstep.
Buildings like Olympic + Hill
One of the buildings that gives you a good idea of what South Park living can look like is Olympic + Hill at 230 W Olympic Boulevard.
The building has a rooftop pool and spa, fitness centre, outdoor spaces and other resident amenities, while its location puts residents within walking distance of L.A. LIVE, Crypto.com Arena, FIGat7th and Grand Hope Park.
It is the sort of building we would look at if your priority is modern high-rise living rather than the historic loft experience you get elsewhere in Downtown.
And there are plenty of other buildings worth looking at around the same area.
Other South Park buildings to consider
South Park has a surprisingly wide range of apartment and condominium buildings.
You could look at places such as 888 at Grand Hope Park, 825 South Hill, EVO South, TEN50, 717 Olympic and South Park by Windsor, depending on your budget and whether you are looking to rent or buy.
The buildings vary considerably, so it is worth visiting several rather than assuming that every luxury tower offers the same experience.
Pay particular attention to the lobby, parking arrangements, security, elevators, noise levels and what the surrounding streets feel like after dark.
A spectacular apartment is not much use if you hate walking outside the building.
What about the rest of Downtown LA?
South Park is not the only place worth considering.
The Arts District is popular for its restaurants, bars, galleries and loft-style living, while the Historic Core has some beautiful older buildings and a more traditional Downtown atmosphere.
The Financial District and Bunker Hill can also work well if you want to be closer to offices, restaurants and some of DTLA's cultural attractions.
But Downtown changes dramatically from one block to another.
That is why we would not simply search for "Downtown LA apartments" and choose the nicest-looking building online.
Visit the neighbourhood first.
Walk the surrounding blocks.
Visit during the day and again in the evening.
See where you would actually walk to get coffee, groceries or dinner.
And, ideally, speak to residents before signing a lease.
The biggest advantage of living in DTLA
The biggest selling point is simple: you get a genuine city lifestyle.
Los Angeles is normally associated with driving everywhere, but South Park is one of the parts of the city where you can realistically build a routine around walking and public transport.
Olympic + Hill, for example, advertises a 97 Walk Score and 100 Transit Score, while the neighbourhood has easy access to the 7th Street/Metro Center area.
You can still have a car, of course.
But you do not necessarily need to use it for every single thing.
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