City, Orange County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Codes: 92672, 92673, 92674
Pretty,
prestige city, located on the
Pacific and on the San Diego County border. Southernmost city in Orange County.
Population 67,892. www.mccormacks.com
One of the
hot addresses for new homes. In 2000, the first homes in Talega, a large
development, went on sale. About a half-dozen developers are building in
Talega, which will include about 4,000 homes, townhouses and apartments, parks,
an “active adult” community and a golf course.
In 2006, the
city opened a third park in Talega and approved plans for a cluster of shops,
restaurants and food stores.
Click for regional or detailed map
And a
business park; local jobs mean a short commute and fewer cars on the freeways.
About 3,500 acres of the site will be left in open space. In 2001, Talega
opened a club that includes two pools, a splash-and-play fountain, tennis and
volleyball courts, picnic benches and a skate pad — all for Talega
residents only; paid by their homeowners' dues. Opened in 2003, an elementary
school and a middle school. To reach Talega, take Avenida Pico off of
Interstate 5 and go east.
When
Richard Nixon was president, many news stories originated from the “San
Clemente White House.” He had a home at the south end of town, on the ocean.
The Nixon property was later sold and subdivided into 16 lots.
San
Clemente is an old-new city that in recent years went upscale but in many ways
remains a modest town. Many two- and three-bedroom homes, especially in the old
town, to the west of Interstate 5. www.mccormacks.com
Kids
attend schools in Capistrano school district. With some exceptions, scores land
in the 70th to 90th percentile. Physical improvements were made recently to San
Clemente High School. Latin and German taught at San Clemente High. The
district in 2000 passed a bond to renovate almost all its schools. Over the
past 14 years, the district has opened 29 schools and in 2007 will open high
school in San Juan Capistrano. This high school prompted the district to redraw
attendance boundaries at many schools. Big fight. See profile of San Juan Capistrano.
Overall
crime rate low. Two homicides in 2005 and 2004, zero in 2003, one in 2002,
three in 2001, zero in 2000 and 1999, three in 1998, one in 1997 and 1996 and
1995 and for preceding years, three, three, three, two, one, zero and zero. See Crime.
The state
in 2008 counted 27,131 housing units, of which 15,488 were single detached, 2,669
single attached, 8,572 multiples and 402 mobile homes. Of the total housing
units, 62 percent are single homes; 38 rentals.
Median age of residents is 38.
Those under 21 make up 27 percent of the population. Talega is bringing in
families and the elderly; the numbers indicate many empty nesters and singles.
A nice
town with a golden reputation that masks the fact that for many years it merely
followed, in a slightly upscale way, the prevailing housing trends of the south
county.
When the
market called for middle-class housing (three-bedroom, two-bath, one-story)
that’s what San Clemente built. When the market created conditions for the town
to move upscale, up it went. Some of the shore and many of the hill homes are
in the knockout class. But many of the newer homes are demurely upscale with
nice views. www.mccormacks.com
The town
started 1950 with about 800 homes. In the 1950s, it built about 2,000
residential units, in the 1960s about 3,500, and in the 1970s about 4,600
homes, apartments and condos. The 1980s saw the construction of 5,800 units and
the 1990s about 3,000 units. Between 2000 and 2006, San Clemente erected 5,988,
the majority in Talega. And of these 5,988 units, about 70 percent were single
homes.
San
Clemente rises about 30 to 40 feet from the beach then moves east on flat land
until it reaches the other side of the freeway, then rises abruptly into hills
that are divided by steep ravines. Old San Clemente is west of Interstate 5,
new San Clemente is east of the freeway.
The former
is a pleasant mix of the older homes, big and small, many custom, many oriented
toward the beach, and hotels and apartments and condos. Palm trees. Shrubs and
plants plentiful. Pleasant “I’ve-been-around-for-a-while-look,” which
Californians value because so much else is new. In summer, San Clemente attracts thousands of visitors, many
of them arriving by train.
Ocean
views are limited here, the land being almost flat. Where the arroyos divide
the terrain, homes scratch out pads for ocean views. Avenida del Mar, the old
town's “Main Street” has a pretty stretch of coffee houses, delis, restaurants
and shops and at its end, city hall and lovely library built in the mission
style.
Homes on the ocean command premium
prices. As you move south, the homes generally increase in quality. Near San
Gorgonio Park, still in the older section, a golf course undulates over gentle
hills. On the narrow streets around the course, homes have been squeezed in to
command views of the Pacific — a sensitive point. The city in 2007 may
hold a referendum over height restrictions on additions in a coastal
neighborhood. www.mccormacks.com
On far
north side of town, you'll find a single-home tract. Two-car garages,
three-bedroom units, some with rear balconies to catch sight of the ocean. This
rear orientation is common in San Clemente. Many hill homes sacrifice or reduce
the front yard to get more space for the rear — and the views.
Moving to
the other side of freeway ... larger homes, many tile-shingled, two- and
three-car garages, more of a suburban look, many positioned to command views of
the Pacific. We’re in the hills now. The higher the spot, the more likely it
will be occupied by something grand but lot sizes are small — the steep terrain. The bedazzling homes come in a variety of designs, Moorish,
colonial, etc. Streets “terrace” up the hills to keep views open. Some of the
newer neighborhoods, like Talaga, were built according to master plan;
homeowner associations keep up appearances.
Rancho San
Clemente mixes a business-technology park with upscale homes that circle one of
the hills. Apartments and condos also can be found in the hills. Some homes
have eastern views: the countryside, not the ocean. Some neighborhoods are
gated.
Up-to-date
map needed. The steep ravines impede internal traffic and force motorists to
descend almost to the freeway before they can pick up a lateral road. Most of
the new housing is going up north and east of Interstate 5.
Moving
further in, the new Talega development enters, built over mesas and gentle
hills. With this section has come a Wal-Mart. At the extreme end of Avenida
Pico is a Northrup-Grumman plant. www.mccormacks.com
Three golf
courses, state beach, about 15 parks and more coming, municipal pier, fishing,
surfing, swimming community activities at Ole Hansen swim club, lawn bowling,
community playhouse, Boys and Girls Club, library, restaurants, usual sports or
activities for the old, the young and the middle aged. YMCA runs many
after-school programs. Hiking and horse trails. Seniors center. Movie complex. Skate
park. Annual festivals celebrate the ocean, the town and artists. Just over the
county line, in San Diego, is a large park with popular beaches. In 2006, after
years of planning and work, the city opened the first part of trail that runs
near the railroad track and close to the ocean — popular because of its
vistas. Second part coming, the arrival depending on funding.
One
downside of the trail: it crosses the tracks, which required the installation
of two gates. When train engineers see gates, they sound their horns. People
now are complaining about the noise. City council is studying ways to kill the
horns.
In 1927,
one of the town’s fathers built a large Spanish villa (seven bedrooms) that was
later sold and resold until it was purchased by the city in 1989. Restored,
Casa Romantica now serves as a community center, hosting art and music events, exhibits,
guest speakers, weddings and other activities. Recent addition: an amphitheater
with views of the Pacific.
Metrolink
(commuter rail) runs to downtown Los Angeles and to San Diego with stops along
way. Many residents work in San Diego County. One of these years, Highway 241,
a toll road, will be extended to San Clemente (many oppose this extension).
This road leads to Irvine and the job centers around John Wayne Airport.
Another toll highway runs from San Juan Capistrano to Newport Beach. Because of the toll roads that take
vehicles off of Interstate 5, San Clemente residents often enjoy a speedy
commute.
Chamber of
commerce (949) 492-1131.
• Three
dog parks: Mira Costa, Verde and Calafia. Still, dogs must be kept on leash and
owners must scoop the poop. City provides bags. www.mccormacks.com
• Under
construction in 2007: Marblehead, 313 homes, on a 248-acre bluff overlooking
the Pacific on the north side of town. Project to include sports park, hotel,
restaurants and shops. Model homes scheduled to open in 2007.
• City is
working up plans to extend Avenida La Pata up to Ortega Highway, near
Capistrano. Residents are complaining about street traffic on the north side;
an extended road would help but people disagree about routing, except to say,
not near my home.
• In
planning, a 45-acre park at Avenida Vista Hermosa and Avenida la Pata —
playing fields, gym, swim center, community center, tennis and basketball,
picnic benches. Funding for this park might be secured if the city council
allows the owner of 27-hole golf course to convert 8 holes into housing.
Arguments.
• Kicking
butts. San Clemente was first in county to ban smoking at beaches and to
restrict use of foam containers.
• For
those who must have a Trader Joe's, San Clemente has one. www.mccormacks.com
• Views
from some bluffs are delightful. But every so often, Mother Nature pulls down a
hillside and damages homes or wipes out their back yards. Happened to two homes
in 2006. City has grown somewhat adept in handling these matters. In 2006, it
rezoned land from open space to housing and used the profits to repair slide
damage.
• Just
south of San Clemente, on the ocean, the San Onefre nuclear power plant.
• In San
Onefre area, the border patrol stops northbound traffic on Interstate 5 to
search for drugs and illegal immigrants. For traffic in this direction, a pain.
• City is
paying to import sand but much of it gets washed away. Parts of beach are
showing stones.
City web
site: www.san-clemente.org
