City, Orange County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Codes: 92690, 92691, 92692
Bedroom
city built from scratch, starting in the mid-1960s. Upscale, educated, cleverly
designed. Low crime. High academic
rankings. Many activities and parks. Population 98,572. www.mccormacks.com
May not
appeal to those who like the funky and the eccentric but still a handsome and
inviting suburb. Hills and valleys, mesas, lakes, views, paths and open space.
Close to but no views of ocean. The Santa Ana Mountains rise to the east, an
impressive sight. Trees have had time to grow and fill out. Median strips planted
with birds-of-paradise.
City
officials expect the population to cross 100,000 and then level off. Average
age of residents is 38. Under age 21 make up 30 percent of town (census 2000).
Click for regional or detailed map
Served by
the Saddleback and Capistrano school districts. Almost all the academic
rankings, compared to other California schools, are in the 80th and 90th
percentiles, a compliment to kids, parents and teachers. In 1999, Capistrano
district passed a bond to renovate schools. Many of the schools have won state
and federal awards for academic excellence. See Schools.
Two homicides in 2005, one each in 2004,
2003 and 2002, three in 2001, zero in 2000, 1999 and 1998, two in 1997, one in
1996, zero in 1995 and for preceding years, one, three, zero, one, zero, three. See Crime.
The state
in 2008 counted 33,713 housing units, of which 24,474 were single-family
detached, 4,021 single attached, 5,129 multiples and 89 mobile homes. The 2000
census reported that 81 percent of all housing units were owner-occupied and 19
percent rentals. www.mccormacks.com
Mission
Viejo is “master-planned” —
a phenomenon familiar in Orange County but rare in many parts of California.
Before anything was built, the developers drew up a plan for the entire 11,000
acres and allocated land for parks, schools, golf courses (two), shopping
plazas, 13 mini plazas serving the neighborhoods, roads, trails, a business
park and so on.
The
promotional stuff on Mission Viejo suggests that the plan crowded out all other
considerations. It just doesn’t work that way. Mission Viejo and the other
master-planned communities were built as commercial ventures, within the
strengths and limitations of that pursuit. They are not 100-percent-planned.
Developers must respond to what the public wants in housing and when market demands
shift, they must follow (or risk losing money).
Granting
the influence of outside forces, however, Mission Viejo, compared to other
cities, is intelligently put together.
Many
downtowns in California were designed around railroad stations and lines (the
freeways of their eras). When the true freeways came, they often pulled traffic
and shopping away from the downtowns and human nature being what it is, the
city councils, influenced by the old power structure, tried to pull them back.
Often the new subdivisions fed into old streets that were never meant to carry
much traffic. The result: a mishmash.
Mission
Viejo escaped all this. And it was built at a time when professional planners
had some experience under their belts as to what worked in modern suburbs and
what didn’t. www.mccormacks.com
Lastly,
the developer, coming in under the aegis of the county government, had a
relatively free hand to plan the town. This freedom can be abused; the
developer can build shoddily. But it can also be abused on the local government
side where too many cooks bake the pie.
From
appearances and from the success of Mission Viejo, the developers did a good
job. It's a pleasing town, built over gentle mesas and valleys. The streets are
clean, the homes well-cared-for, the parks many and within a short distance of
each tract, the amenities, including a community college and a man-made lake,
plentiful. Trails wander throughout the town and because the streets are safe
(the low crime) evening strolls or jogs are popular.
Restaurants,
delis, shops, supermarkets and stores are clustered in neighborhood malls
located around the city. Trader Joe's. Regional mall (called Mission Viejo)
includes a Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and a Macys. Local sales generate tax
revenues that help fund parks and activities. Town also has Mission Viejo
Hospital, which includes a Children's Hospital.
Housing
choices range from one-bedroom apartments to mansions. In single homes, the
three bedroom dominates, then comes the four and the two, followed by the
five-plus. The earlier homes went in for wood shingles, the later for tile
roofs, some a striking blue. Some tracts are gated. Some are set aside for the
elderly.
Parkways,
with speeds of 60 mph-plus, divert traffic away from residential streets and
feed into access points to Interstate 5. Toll highway has been constructed on
the eastside, making commuting easier to northern and central Orange County and
to Riverside and San Bernardino. Commuter rail to other cities and Los Angeles
and San Diego. Station near Interstate 5. www.mccormacks.com
Office
buildings at Interstate 5 and Puerta Real and in other parts of city. For those
who have local jobs, a short commute.
Mission
Viejo built 3,600 units in the 1960s. In the 1970s, it constructed 13,600 units
and the 1980s, 9,200 units. In the 1990s, the city erected 6,952 units and
between 2000 and 2006, nearing build-out, 728 units.
A lot of
the new, which means a lot of latest in housing design: walk-in closets,
gourmet kitchens, internal cable and phone wiring. Light, light, light —
the new emphasis, sunlight. Also a lot of the fairly new.
Mission
Viejo has been around for about 45 years; suburban yes, but with some variety
in housing styles and prices. For some of the oldest housing, look at the
neighborhood north of Jeronimo Road and Alicia Parkway.
In 1988,
Mission Viejo incorporated as a city and took over its own functions, including
planning, police protection and recreation. Unlike some of the master-planned
communities in area, Mission Viejo (the city) owns its parks and community
facilities. www.mccormacks.com
Over 140
playing fields and a swim center. Soccer, swimming and softball are popular.
Soccer center. Swim center trains Olympic competitors. When referees complained
and quit over abusive complaints from parents, the soccer league stopped
recording scores and standings for teams with players under 14 years old. At
the end of the season, all teams are allowed to complete in the playoffs.
Camps for
kids and other amusements, including a skateboard park. Activities for the
elderly. Boys and Girls Club. Summer camp for soccer players. Teen center. Paddle boats and sailboats on the
lake; no motor boats. Big-time bass fishing; 18 pounders.
Three golf
courses in town; several in the region.
Close to Irvine Spectrum Center, a favorite hangout for the kids, and to
the Pacific. About 40 parks, including regional park on east side. Two
recreation centers. Seniors' center. Tennis center. Classes, activities and
theater at community college. Florence Griffith Joyner, the Olympic gold medalist,
died unexpectedly in 1998 at her Mission Viejo home. Park is named in her
honor. Several town festivals, including one for chalk street painting.
Library
opened in 1997 and was expanded in 2002. Open Sundays. In 2001, Mission Viejo
built a city hall next to the library. Spanish-Mediterranean style. Courtyard
lined with two rows of palms.
Movie
complex, restaurants, shops, near Interstate 5. www.mccormacks.com
Chamber of
commerce (949) 635-5800.
• Many
arguments in Capistrano school district over redrawing attendance boundaries.
See profile on San Juan Capistrano.
• Winter
rains in 2005 caused slides and damaged seven homes.
• City and
school district are partners on gym for Newhart Middle School. In day, kids; in
evening, the community. Basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer.
•
Thousands of homes recently built to the east of Mission Viejo in a project
called Ladera Ranch. Big development going into south county. Rancho Mission
Viejo, 14,000 homes on 23,000 acres. Arguments over effects on environment.
• Toll
road is supposed to be extended down to San Juan Capistrano and Interstate 5.
Many opposed, arguing it will bring in more traffic. www.mccormacks.com
•
Saddleback school district adds three days to the President holidays — a
week off in February. Time made up later.
• To
relieve crowding at Newhart Middle School, Capistrano district is encouraging
transfers to Ladera Ranch Middle School.
• In 1999,
Adam Williams, age 18, fell off his motorcycle and suffered head injuries.
Taken to Mission Viejo Hospital, he was placed in intensive care and his mother
Nancy, to be there to help him, slept on floor near his bed. The youth made
what seems a complete recovery. The mom later donated eight recliners to the
hospital’s waiting room and $2.5 million to the hospital. In 2006, the
Williams family donated $5 million more to build a neuroscience facility.
• In 2006,
based on FBI statistics for cities over 75,000 population, Mission Viejo was
identified as the fourth safest in the U.S.
• Opened
in 2006, a small private schools for girls. Enrollment no more than 60. Silverleaf
Academy. Said the director, “Research shows that girls do better in a
single-gender education setting.” www.mccormacks.com
• Mission
Viejo library issues U.S. passports, only library in the south county providing
this service.
•
Bunnies. Up to a few years ago, the
residents of one neighborhood used pellet guns to deal with those runaway
romantics, bunnies. Then the cops said no guns. Bunnies multiplied. In 2007,
the city council said, OK, pellet guns but only by professionals and shoot at
night.
• Traffic monitoring
system coming on line in 2007. Uses fiber optics and cameras at major
intersections. City with a variety of tactics hopes to make driving faster for
commuters.
• Trabuco
Hills High School recently started a program to integrate technology even
deeper into school practices and instruction.
• In 2006,
Lake Forest tightened its trespassing laws, an effort to limit day laborers who
offer their services to the public. It worked. Many moved over the border into
Mission Viejo. In 2007, Mission Viejo also tightened its trespassing laws. We
see how this works out. www.mccormacks.com
City web
site: www.cityofmissionviejo.org
