Discovery Bay

Unincorporated Town,

Contra Costa County

© McCormack's Guides

 

Zip Code: 94514

Water-oriented community on eastern border of Contra Costa, about three miles east of Brentwood. Nice homes, most middle class, some luxurious. www.mccormacks.com

One section with deep anchorages is called “Millionaires’ Row.” Discovery Bay started out in the 1970s as a retirement or second-home village that tapped into Delta recreation. Homes generally back up to the water or onto the golf course. Many homes have their own docks.

By and by, families and working adults bought in and the majority today use Discovery Bay as permanent home. Sales coincided with the office boom in Central Contra Costa, the San Ramon Valley and Pleasanton.

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The residential buck just went a helluva lot farther in Discovery Bay and the commute, for many, was not that long. But even when it was long — San Jose — people bought the homes.

Another factor: computers and the web. Many people, the local newspaper reports, are working more at home.

The 1990 census counted 5,351 residents, the 2000 census, 8,981, an increase of about 3,500. Discovery Bay is still building and by now has about 10,000 residents and if you include the developments near the original Discovery Bay the number rises to about 18,000. www.mccormacks.com

Discovery Bay is unincorporated. It does not have municipal boundaries.

Some residents want Discovery Bay to incorporate as city but so far the idea has not caught on. One problem: few stores, weak tax base.

Residents have formed a taxing district to raise money for local needs, such as maintaining shrubs and trees. A citizens council (service district) sounds out local opinions and works out issues with the county government.

Discovery Bay was built in neighborhoods with separate homeowner associations and fees to maintain the common grounds for each section.

Crime low. Patrolled by sheriff’s deputies. Residents agreed to tax themselves to get a few more deputies assigned to the community. www.mccormacks.com

Most children attend the schools of the Byron Union Elementary District. The younger kids attend Discovery Bay Elementary and Timber Point Elementary, then move up to Excelsior Middle in the small town of Byron. Scores, compared to other California schools, are generally above the 50th percentile and probably rising. Scores often reflect demographics. Discovery Bay and its environs are moving from low-to-middle rural to middle-plus suburban. 

The new neighborhood called Discovery Bay West is located within the Knightsen Elementary District — one school, Kinder to 8^th, scoring in the 60^th and 70^th percentile. Anticipating more students, this district opened a second school in 2008.

Most of the teenagers attend Liberty High School, downtown Brentwood, about three miles to east, in the Liberty District. This district, in recent years, has opened two schools and given parents some choice of where to send their kids. Before it was just Liberty. See Schools.

 The high school district has passed renovation bonds. Byron district failed on three bonds but the fourth, in 2006, was a winner. The money was used to overhaul the middle school and add a library.

Fishing, boating, water skiing, tennis, the outdoor life, three neighborhood parks, one located next to Timber Point Elementary. Athletic club. Golf course (private, 18 holes). Country club. Many residents own RVs and boats. Baseball and soccer for the kids. Mt. Diablo nearby. Community library at school. Short drive to skiing and gambling in the Sierra. Lot of farm country, tomatoes, asparagus, fruit trees. www.mccormacks.com

Real feel of being out in the Delta. Water, water, water. Flat land.

Small plazas — supermarket, Starbucks, steak house, sushi, sports bar, dentist, chiropractor, spa, more. For higher shopping, Brentwood and Antioch (Wal-Mart, Trader Joe's, Barnes and Noble, etc.)

The drawbacks: If you want movies and a good choice of restaurants you have to drive to Brentwood but this takes only five minutes or so. The shopping and dining choices have greatly improved in Brentwood-South Antioch. See Brentwood

Second, the commute: The East County has boomed with new housing that has overwhelmed the roads. Even after major improvements to the roads, complaints are many. Discovery Bay has many pluses but if traffic tees you off, you should drive the commute at peak hours and decide your nerves are up to the job. See Commute.

Buses to Antioch and Pittsburg, connection to BART. Vasco Road, improved a few years ago, makes the trip easier to Livermore and Interstate 580.

• After years of discussion, the services district appears ready to purchase land for a community center. www.mccormacks.com

Community services district: www.townofdiscoverybay.org

March 8, 2010