The Hidden Gem That Makes Culver City such a Great Place to Live – Its Residents!
by Mike King on January 20, 2012As a resident of Culver City for the last 16 years, I have come to know the ins and outs, the nooks and crannies, the wrinkles and the small things that go to make up our terrific community of 50,000 or so.
Over the years I’ve had the honor of being on many fundraising committees for the various schools my children have attended, and I’ve attended many local events, such as the Culver City Car Show which will be held this year on Saturday May 12th.
As a real estate agent I get to talk to a lot of prospective buyers about what makes this community so attractive. I tell them about the obvious things, such as out great schools and the improvements they’ve made in their API scores. I can inform them of all the 
new restaurants and boutique stores that are plentiful in our wonderful downtown area. It is also a plus to be able to tell them that we have control over our own Police and Fire departments and that we have our own City Council right here. These are, of course, features that prospective tenants and buyers can “Google” on their own and find a deluge of material to satisfy their needs and decide if they would like to buy a home or rent a home here.
I have found though, over more recent years that I spend a lot of time explaining to just about anyone that is willing to listen, how great the people are and how they really care about Culver City and that residents really care about their neighbors.
My recent experience as a member of the Fiesta La Ballona organizing committee is a testament to how the life blood of a thriving community is the every day folks who live and work there. There are probably close to 30 members of this years committee charged with continuing a great Culver City tradition, the Fiesta was start in the early 1950′s (the early ones were a whole week long, according to Julie Lugo Cerra of the Culver City Historical Society), some of the members have volunteered at the Fiesta every year for literally decades!
It’s the people that make a community, or city, what it is, no amount of Google coverage can provide the inside scoop on such an important factor that makes Culver City, such a fantastic place to live, work and raise ones children. That is hard to put a price on.
Great article as usual Mike, I agree as well Culver City has become one of the best cities to live and work in. I remember however, in the early 90′s before the transformation of the downtown are etc. that it was not as great, who is responsible for the fantastic change for the better would you say?