Los Angeles: Park La Brea vs small nearby building for family with toddler on tight budget?

The shared washer is doable. We had a similar situation with 4 families in the building and it worked with ease.

In my experience, shared laundry facilities can work out well. My building had 11 units, and residents generally had routine wash days and times, making it easy to plan. If you prefer not to wait, there are a couple of good laundromats in the area. When viewing apartments, it's a good idea to check if you can hear your neighbors and if the air conditioning is effective. My building had issues with heat retention, making it uncomfortable at night.

It's worth noting that many amenities at Park La Brea come with an additional cost.