Featured image credit: Jengod
Quietly standing between the Pacific Ocean and the remainder of Los Angeles, Playa del Rey is distinguished by its enviable beach access, residential tranquility, and close-knit community feel. Oh, and the near-constant sound of airplanes taking off and landing at the neighboring Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). So, is living beneath one of Southern California’s busiest flight paths all that you’d imagine it would be?
Noise? What Noise?
Playa del Rey is just a five to 10-minute drive from LAX, depending on traffic. Therefore, residents of the seaside community have learned to live with the near-constant sound of arrivals and departures bellowing overhead. Some times of day are busier than others, and inclement weather can grant a certain reprieve. Not that everyone needs it.
A lot of Playa del Rey residents have acclimated to the noise. Some even suggest that there’s not much noise to acclimate to. Modern aircraft emit whispers compared to the thundering machines of aviation’s past, and strides in home design technology, such as sound insulation and double-pane windows, have also contributed to a more serene experience, even beneath a busy flight path. Windows still need to be shut to facilitate this peace, but Playa del Rey residents have effectively managed to reduce sound to the likes of what you’d hear through the rest of Los Angeles. So, not exactly life on the prairie, but a noise level that, for the average city dweller, isn’t disruptive.
In some cases, residents even view the noise as a welcome part of the community’s character, as strange as that may seem. They feel that the sound of travel creates a “background rhythm.” And, on a visual level, it may not be much of a stretch to imagine how the image of aircraft against the ocean’s horizon has its own unique sense of beauty.
Not Everyone is Ready for the Air Traffic
The embrace of Playa del Rey’s noise isn’t unanimous. Sound-sensitive residents or those originally from quieter communities definitely do notice the LAX cacophony, especially at peak flight times or during certain weather conditions. However, much of what you hear also comes down to where you live in the Playa del Rey community. Obviously, the homes closer to the primary flight paths experience the most overhead traffic, while residents living on the bluffs or further inland are better insulated.
Not all communities exhibited the resilience of Playa del Rey. At one time, a neighborhood called Surfside stood just to the south. But when the increasing air traffic drove residents from the community, it was eventually vacated and levelled. Now, a protected environmental habitat remains in its place.
What Draws People to Buy Homes in Playa del Rey
So why do people still actively seek homes in the Playa del Rey neighborhood when LAX is a permanent fixture? Several reasons make the trade-off worth it for homebuyers, chief among them:
- Lifestyle: The beach access is hard to beat, the village center is highly walkable, and the community itself is more relaxed than nearby coastal communities like Marina del Rey or Venice.
- Views: Some buyers are actually drawn to the unique beauty of aircraft launching and returning over the sea.
- Adaptation: Even those initially averse to the noise pollution often acclimate, especially in homes that are particularly well-insulated.
How to Prepare for a Potential Move to Playa del Rey
Living near an international airport isn’t for everybody. Therefore, if you’re considering a move to Playa del Rey but aren’t sure you’ll be able to handle it, a few considerations can help clarify your best option.
- Testing Variants: Visit the area during different times of day, such as early morning or late evening, weekdays and weekends, to get a feeling for how air traffic sounds both indoors and outdoors.
- Bring the Noise: If you’re sensitive to noise, ensure that the homes you’re considering have double-pane windows, soundproofing upgrades, and similar insulating features.
- Enjoy the Soundtrack: Discuss the noise with the area’s residents to hear, firsthand, how some have grown to actually enjoy the unique soundtrack.
Is Playa del Rey Right For You?
Ultimately, there’s no singular experience of living beneath a flight path in Playa del Rey. Some locals love it. Some see it as a tolerable trade for easy beach access and a welcoming community. And some people would absolutely hate it. No matter your perspective, all can agree that to find any downside of this one-of-a-kind neighborhood, you’ll still need to look up.
With a brand that says as much as JohnHart’s, Senior Copywriter Seth Styles never finds himself at a loss for words. Responsible for maintaining the voice of the company, he spends each day drafting marketing materials, blogs, bios, and agent resources that speak from the company’s collective mind and Hart… errr, heart.
Having spent over a decade in creative roles across a variety of industries, Seth brings with him vast experience in SEO practices, digital marketing, and all manner of professional writing with particular strength in blogging, content creation, and brand building. Gratitude, passion, and sincerity remain core tenets of his unwavering work ethic. The landscape of the industry changes daily, paralleling JohnHart’s efforts to {re}define real estate, but Seth works to maintain the company’s consistent message while offering both agents and clients a new echelon of service.
When not preserving the JohnHart essence in stirring copy, Seth puts his efforts into writing and illustrating an ongoing series entitled The Death of Romance. In addition, he adores spending quality time with his girlfriend and Romeo (his long-haired chihuahua mix), watching ‘70s and ‘80s horror movies, and reading (with a particular penchant for Victorian horror novels and authors Yukio Mishima and Bret Easton Ellis). He also occasionally records music as the vocalist and songwriter for his glam rock band, Peppermint Pumpkin.
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