I used to have to go to Van Nuys for work meetings few times a year and it took me a while to find Sherman Oaks to stay at, and then traffic is the opposite direction each way,
When I stayed in Van Nuys the clerk at the Holiday Inn told me that she wouldnt take a walk outside at night, but I used to anyway. It was a sight for sure.
The deeper you go in Van Nuys, the worse it is..Van Nuys/North Hills border..you don’t want to be there during the day..I have had to go there a few times since my dentist is in Mission Hills which isn’t a nice area either..basically the valley is known for their porn, in fact many people here make fun of the fact that the San Fernando Valley is the porn capital of the world