Marina del Rey

The harbor was dredged from the Ballona wetlands and opened in 1965 as a county project, with the land around it leased to developers on long-term ground leases. The result is a community of apartment and condo buildings, hotels, restaurants and marinas around eight basins, with Fisherman’s Village, Burton Chace Park and the main channel to the ocean at its center.

The unincorporated county area covers the harbor and the buildings around it. The Marina Peninsula, the strip between the harbor and the beach with the Silver Strand and the Grand Canal, is part of the City of Los Angeles, and Venice lies just north across the canal.

Nearly every home in the county area is a condo or apartment, from 1960s and 1970s buildings on the basins to newer towers along Admiralty Way and Via Marina. Many units include boat slips or harbor views, and HOA dues can be high. Because the buildings sit on county ground leases, buyers should review the remaining lease term and its effect on financing and value.

On the Marina Peninsula, the Silver Strand and canal streets have beach houses, duplexes and small condo buildings on fee-simple land, at prices similar to Venice’s beach blocks.

Los Angeles Unified School District serves the community, with elementary, middle and high school assignments in Venice, Playa del Rey and Westchester. Boundaries follow streets, so check a specific address with the district.

The 90 Freeway ends at Lincoln Boulevard at the edge of the marina and connects to the 405, and Lincoln, Washington and Venice boulevards lead north to Santa Monica and east to Culver City. LAX is about ten minutes south. The beach bike path runs through the marina, and water taxis and the harbor itself are part of daily life for residents with boats.