Blackburn’s sober living homes and sober apartments are on the Westside of Los Angeles, not in Downtown or Central LA. This page is for men from Downtown, Hollywood, Koreatown, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, Westlake and East Hollywood who are thinking about a move west. Most of these neighborhoods sit roughly 11 to 15 miles from our Mar Vista area by road (approximate figures), and several have a direct rail or bus line to the Westside.
For the apartments, schedule an apartment tour.
The neighborhoods of Central LA
Central Los Angeles packs a lot of people into a small area between the Los Angeles River and the edge of the Westside. The county’s 2020 neighborhood figures show (LA County Countywide Statistical Area table):
- Hollywood: about 65,700 residents, roughly 12 miles from Mar Vista
- Westlake: about 56,500, roughly 12 miles
- Koreatown: about 47,500, roughly 11 miles
- Silver Lake: about 41,300, roughly 15 miles
- Downtown Los Angeles: about 40,400, roughly 14 miles
- East Hollywood: about 24,600; Los Feliz about 21,100; Echo Park about 13,300
All of them are part of the City of Los Angeles, which had about 3.88 million residents in the 2024 estimate (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts). Distances are approximate road miles from Mar Vista, so check a map for your own trip.
How people get from Central LA to the Westside
Central LA has more direct transit to the Westside than any other region. That is the biggest practical difference between this page and the rest of the county.
- From Downtown: the E Line. One train runs from Downtown west to Culver City, Palms, Westwood/Rancho Park, Expo/Sepulveda, Expo/Bundy and Downtown Santa Monica (Los Angeles Metro). No transfer.
- From Downtown: Metro 33. A 24 hour bus along Venice Boulevard from Downtown to Culver City, Mar Vista, Venice and Santa Monica. If you work late shifts, this one matters.
- From Koreatown and Westlake: Wilshire Boulevard. Metro 720 and 20 run along Wilshire to Santa Monica, and the D Line subway runs from Union Station west to Wilshire/La Cienega.
- From Hollywood and East Hollywood: the B Line. Ride it to Downtown and change to the E Line. Metro 212 also runs south from Hollywood/Highland along La Brea Avenue.
- From Silver Lake, Los Feliz and Hollywood: Metro 217. It runs along Los Feliz Boulevard, Hollywood Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue down to the La Cienega/Jefferson E Line station. Confirm your nearest stop on metro.net before you rely on it.
- Weekday peak only: Big Blue Bus Rapid 10. Union Station to Santa Monica on the 10 freeway.
We wrote a longer guide to getting around Central Los Angeles in early recovery without a car.
Why men from Central LA move west
The reason we hear most from Hollywood and Downtown is simple: everything they need to get away from is within a few blocks of where they live. Central LA is walkable, busy and open late, which is part of what people love about it and part of what makes early recovery hard there. Old connections are a short walk away at any hour.
The Westside is close enough that the move is not dramatic. A man from Koreatown can ride Wilshire to the Westside and still get back for a family dinner on Sunday. That closeness is the point. It puts a little distance between you and the old routine without cutting you off from your people, your job or your outpatient program.
Others are simply following work. Downtown and Hollywood jobs are reachable from the Westside by train or bus, so some men keep their job and change their address.
Sober living or the apartments?
Our sober living homes in Venice, Mar Vista, Cheviot Hills and Mid City give you the most support: testing 3 times a week, daily alcohol tests, medication management systems and weekly updates to the people helping you. Mid City is the closest of the four to Central LA, roughly 8 miles from Mar Vista, so it is often the first one men from this region ask about.
Our sober apartments in West Los Angeles are the independent option. You get a furnished place, month to month, with utilities and WiFi, and weekly random drug and alcohol testing in place of house structure. There is no curfew. Schedule an apartment tour, or call or text (888) 305-5422.
For families and providers in Central LA
If your family is in Silver Lake or Echo Park, visits are a short trip, and sober living tours can be done virtually first. Treatment teams in Central LA can keep seeing a client after he moves: the E Line and Metro 33 make outpatient appointments realistic without a car. Our sober living homes send weekly updates to families, providers and treatment teams. The free virtual family support group meets every other Tuesday, 6 to 7 PM Pacific, with a licensed therapist from Blackburn Clinical Services. See our families page or the treatment professionals page.
For county-funded treatment, call the Substance Abuse Service Helpline at 1-800-854-7771, option 2 (LA County Substance Abuse Prevention and Control).
Questions from Downtown and Central LA
Can I take one train from Downtown to the Westside?
Yes. The Metro E Line runs from Downtown straight to Culver City, Palms and Santa Monica with no transfer.
I live in Hollywood. What is the easiest way to get to Mar Vista?
Many people take the B Line into Downtown and switch to the E Line west. Metro 217 is another option, running down Fairfax Avenue to the La Cienega/Jefferson E Line station.
Can I keep my Downtown job while living in sober living on the Westside?
Often, yes. Residents can work full time, and the E Line and the 24 hour Metro 33 both connect Downtown to the Westside. We will talk through your shift times on the first call.
Is Mid City a good middle ground if my family is in Koreatown?
It can be. Mid City is the most central of our homes and the closest to Koreatown. Call us and we will tell you which home has room and fits your situation.
Nearby places and regions
Place pages: Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Koreatown and Silver Lake. Neighboring regions: Westside, Eastside and Northeast LA, South LA and San Fernando Valley. Back to all areas in Los Angeles County.
For the apartments, schedule an apartment tour.