Being part of Olive View means living and working in Los Angeles. Residents enjoy all that LA has to offer. Meanwhile Olive View’s location has some nice benefits too.
A Little LA Geography
Olive View-UCLA Medical Center is located in Sylmar, a neighborhood at the north end of the City of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. It is near the 5-and-210 freeway interchange, providing easy access from the 5, 210, 405, 14, and 118 Freeways.
Life in LA
A large metropolitan area of nearly 13 million people, Los Angeles provides an endless supply of world-class restaurants, musical venues, theatrical performances, and sporting events. The year-round warm weather also gives residents the unique ability to enjoy a nice day at the beach or to hit the snowy slopes of the nearby mountains.
Leisurely Favorites:
- Hiking: Griffith Park, Santa Monica Mountains, San Gabriel Mountains
- Beaches: Malibu, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach
- Museums: Getty Center, Griffith Observatory, LACMA, Broad Museum, Expo Park
Spectacles:
- Theater: venues throughout Hollywood and Downtown, including Pantages Theater, Ahmanson Theater
- Music: venues across LA, including Hollywood Bowl, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Staples Center, Nokia Theater, Wiltern
- Professional Sports: Lakers, Clippers, Dodgers, Kings, Rams, Chargers, Galaxy
Quick Getaways:
- Inland: Joshua Tree National Park, Coachella Music Festival, Palm Springs
- Up the Coast: Wine Tasting in Paso Robles, Sunbathing in Santa Barbara
- Down the Coast: Surfing in San Diego, Disneyland
Housing in and around LA
The urban and suburban sprawl also means there’s a variety of communities to live in.
The immediate surrounding areas of the hospital are pleasant middle class communities. Housing for rent or purchase is available close to the hospital at a lower cost compared to the west side of Los Angeles.
The majority of housestaff and faculty live on the west side of Los Angeles (Westwood, Brentwood, Santa Monica) and in the south San Fernando Valley (Sherman Oaks, Studio City, North Hollywood). Other housestaff choose to live in the Pasadena, Glendale, or downtown Los Angeles areas.
As UCLA housestaff, residents receive a competitive housing stipend and are eligible for UCLA graduate housing.
Perks of living on the West Side of Los Angeles:
- food, food, food
- proximity to UCLA and the beach
Perks of living in the San Fernando Valley:
- cheaper rent
- half-way between Olive View and UCLA
- less crowded
Perks of living in the adjacent suburban cities:
- cheaper rent
- less crowded, more space
Commuting to Work
From almost anywhere, the commute to work at Olive View is against traffic—a real advantage in Los Angeles. Most staff drive 15-30 minutes to get to and from work.
