Villas South, Redondo Beach, CA

Villas South fills the rolling blocks where North Redondo meets South Redondo, with Artesia Boulevard running through its upper edge. In Redondo Beach terms it sits between Golden Hills and El Nido, and the hills give some streets a longer look than you would expect this far from the sand. Housing in Villas South is a mix. Apartment buildings and two- and three-on-a-lot townhomes share blocks with single-family houses, and many of the townhomes are newer builds that replaced a single older house. The variety means neighbors in the same block can live in very different kinds of homes. Perry Park, at 2301 Grant Ave, is the neighborhood's busiest green space, with a teen center, a senior center, skate features and basketball and pickleball courts. Pullman Park and Sneary Parkette add smaller lawns, and the Redondo Beach North Branch Library sits at 2000 Artesia Blvd. Kirari West Bake Shop, at 707 N Pacific Coast Hwy, is a dedicated gluten-free bakery, and the same stretch of PCH has Huddy's, Pho PCH and Nuna's Mediterranean Kitchen. The Boy and The Bear, a short hop south on PCH in King Harbor, roasts its Colombian coffee a few times a week and has a big patio. Groceries are easy. Smart & Final Extra sits at 615 N Pacific Coast Hwy, and Albertsons is a short drive up Artesia. King Harbor and the pier are close enough for an evening walk from the western blocks, while the eastern side works better by car. Density is the tradeoff. Townhome rows bring more cars than the streets were laid out for, and finding a curb spot at night takes patience. The payoff is location, since few parts of the city sit this close to both the harbor restaurants and the North Redondo shopping strips.