Neighborhood, City of San Diego
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Code: 92128
Middle-class
upscale. Started out as an address for the elderly but soon took in young
singles and families. Located just west of Poway (in its northern sector).
Named after Spanish land grant. Called by many “RB.” www.mccormacks.com
One of the
big job centers of the north central county; includes Sony and Hewlitt-Packard
facilities, biotech research centers, office parks and a regional post office.
More jobs in nearby communities of Carmel Mountain Ranch, 4-S Ranch, Scripps
Ranch and Poway.
School
rankings high, crime low. In 1995, opened a $1.4 million rec center-gym. In
1996, opened a large library that includes children’s and adult reading rooms
and multimedia center and community meeting rooms. In 2004, Rancho Bernardo
High School finally came through on a long-delayed swimming pool, which is open
to the public in the summer.
Three golf
courses (two public) in community and the chamber of commerce notes that 74
golf courses are within an hour’s drive.
Built over
hills and valleys. Northern section overlooks Lake Hodges (dry on east, water
on west). Pretty region. Country feeling. Much of the land to the east is in
open space.
Mix of
homes, duplexes, condos and apartments. Large housing complex for elderly on
the north side. Planned community. Covenants and restrictions and homeowner
association rules. www.mccormacks.com
Zero
homicides in 2005, one in 2004, zero from 2000-2003. Patrolled by San Diego
police. Seniors help out with visits to people who can't leave their homes,
with vacation patrols, and with antidrug programs at schools. Some subdivisions
have gates. See Crime.
Although
political power resides with San Diego City Council, local groups have say over
planning, recreation and other aspects of community life. Satellite city hall
(called service center) allows residents to pay traffic fines, water bills,
register to vote, and more.
Kids
attend Poway district schools. Scores in 80s and 90s, among highest in state.
Much attention to schools. School district offers parental programs to help
prepare kids for school. In 2002, voters approved a $193 bond to improve
schools. See Schools.
Population
about 39,815. Of the town's 17,733
residential units, 8,542 are single homes and 9,191 apartments or condos or
townhouses. Census data shows many college grads and many adults in
administrative or professional jobs. In other words, upscale demographics.
In
appearance, the community reflects these stats. The homes, built along tract
designs, and lawns are well-maintained, the streets clean, the utility lines
buried. Construction having started in the 1970s, many trees have matured into
leafy shaders. Some roofs have wood shingles but newer homes favor tile.
Garages run to two and three cars. www.mccormacks.com
Apartment
complexes often come with pools. Restaurants, stores, supermarkets in small
shopping centers.
Library,
racquet club, six community centers (four with youth activities), usual kids'
sports: soccer, baseball, football, softball, tennis, swimming, Scouts, etc.
Annual art, wine and food festival. Small museum. Seniors center. Lawn bowling.
In 2005, opened a dog park. Art association. Large community park (basketball,
softball, soccer).
Many
activities are aimed at kids and seniors. The kids make up 22 percent of all
residents, those over 65 years 23 percent. Average age of residents is 43
(SANDAG 2006).
Escondido,
neighbor to the north, has a performing arts center that attracts big-name
entertainers and a shopping center with a Nordstrom and Macys. Also in region,
Costco, Fry's Electronics, giant bookstores, and home improvement stores.
And a
state university and a community college, beneficial forces for education and
culture. www.mccormacks.com
Lousy
commute, about 30 miles, to downtown San Diego — can’t have it all. But
many local jobs. In 2004, Highway 56 was connected to Interstate 5. This helps
the commute. Interstate 15, which is being improved, has diamond lanes for car
pools and for people willing to pay extra for less congestion. Internal traffic
will drive some people bonkers; signals take forever to work through a cycle.
Rancho
Bernardo is a “planned” community, a misleading term because it suggests that
many towns and neighborhoods are not planned. Californians have been zoning
their towns and streets since the days of the Forty-Niners.
But often
the plans demanded little more than single homes in one section and businesses
in another. In the 1960s, “planned” or “master-planned” communities became
popular. They also decide house placement — single homes here, apartments
over there — but do it on a much grander scale and in more detail than
attempted previously.
Rancho
Bernardo covers 6,000 acres. Funding is built in for school sites. The parks
and playgrounds and pools went up when the homes were built (not when residents
tax themselves some years down the road). One section is set aside for light
industry, offices and businesses.
In some
parts of Rancho Bernardo, homeowner associations take care of front lawns.
Community centers anchor each “neighborhood.” www.mccormacks.com
More
development coming around Lake Hodges and to west. Also more schools and stores.
See profile on Carmel Valley and 4S Ranch. With development, arguments over
traffic may intensify. Many people are unhappy with Interstate 15 congestion
but the new Highway 56 will make a difference.
Helicopters
are based at the Marine Air Station at Miramar, to the south of RB. For
comments about noise, see profile on Mira Mesa.
Chamber of
commerce (858) 487-1767.
• For
almost 30 years, the Sony Trinitron was among the most popular televisions sold
in the U.S. Many were manufactured in a Sony plant at Rancho Bernardo. In 2006,
the plant was closed, a loss of 400 jobs. The culprit: flat-screen televisions
manufactured elsewhere. Sony remains a big name in RB, its headquarters for
North America electronics, about 2,000
employees.
• Scripps
is building a big clinic next to its old one. Facility, to open in 2008, will
employ 250, including 80 doctors. www.mccormacks.com
Community
web site: www.rbernardo.com
