Liberty Village

Big lots and accessibility to the freeway are two hot reasons the Liberty Village and Manhattan Heights section of Manhattan Beach are long time tried and true neighborhoods. The homes here have a nice set back from the street for roomier front yards and grassy lawns. Conveniently, sidewalks trim all the property lines for enjoying peaceful morning walks through beautifully manicured lawns throughout the quiet neighborhood. Being one of the oldest neighborhoods in Manhattan Beach, some homes are still single level with three bedrooms. These original homes usually have around 1,500 square feet of living space. However, large new homes are becoming more common in these areas, in the age where we often tear down and rebuild larger homes and keep only a smaller yard. The lot sizes vary from 5,000 to 7,500 square feet, therefore building a large scale home in this neighborhood has a lot of potentials. Considered the most affordable non-HOA neighborhood in the upscale Manhattan Beach market, homes still can often be found in the $1 million to $2 million range. This is due to several factors; smaller scale homes, the number of town-homes, and the distance to the beach. While the beach is only slightly over two miles away, one can still be on the sand in less than 10 minutes by car. On any given summer day, it is easy to find families with beach chairs strapped to their backs, happily determined to make the trek afoot. Don’t let the lack of ocean views deter you from buying in this neighborhood; there are many perks. One is its location to nearby Polliwog Park, where summer concerts, known as Concerts in the Park draw crowds of people to enjoy live music, picnics, and festive libations. Begg Pool, the public swimming facility is also in the park and is home to the Dolphins Swim Team for kids and teens. Baseball fields, a secure dog run, and a lovely Botanical Garden are all part of this fascinating park area among the rolling grass hills, rose gardens and gazebos. Meanwhile, just across Marine is the Manhattan Village shopping area with a mall and shops currently undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation. The open-air extension known as The Village Shops will be yet another coastal-chic hotspot for food, entertainment and of course shopping. Excellent schools are reason enough to move to Manhattan Beach, but Liberty Village and Manhattan Heights have a superior advantage. Most homes here are walking distance to a variety of schools. Home to the only public middle school in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District, makes this location an excellent choice for families with middle schoolers. Young children usually attend the public Meadows Elementary School, or the private Manhattan Academy just across Manhattan Beach Boulevard. Manhattan Beach Preschool and Chalk Pre-K are also in this neighborhood. Traveling for work is a snap from the Liberty Village/Heights section. About a five-minute drive to the Metro Green Line train park n’ ride, or 405 freeway and 110 freeway are minutes away for an easier work commute. Likewise, upscale fitness facilities like Equinox and Rockit Body Pilates are just a quick zip down the street. Homeowners in the Manhattan Heights/Liberty Village area enjoy the close proximity to daily conveniences like Trader Joe’s and Target, as well as the neighborhood’s popular high-end grocery store, Grow, where specialty meats and produce are aplenty.