I live a mile and a half from the boulevard and have to say that it's getting nicer all the time. The new in-migration in the city is westsiders moving to the valley, where you get a lot more house for your three-quarters of a million dollars. As a consequence, a number of very good restaurants have opened and the shops are getting more upscale as well. Some very cool bars are turning up, too, although I generally prefer the English pub I can walk to. There are sections--Studio City and Sherman Oaks (my neck of the woods) that actually have an active sidewalk life nights and weekends.
Fortunately, I bought my house four years ago. I'd never be able to afford my neighborhood now.