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San Diego -
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Renting an Apartment in Carlsbad
Carlsbad is a coastal resort-town in the North County section of San Diego
County, California. According to the state Department of Finance, the city had a
total population of 90,271 in 2003. Carlsbad was incorporated in 1952, in large
part to generate sufficient funding to connect with the water pipeline running
through San Diego County, but also to avoid being annexed by Oceanside. It is
the most expensive city in North County, San Diego.
The environment is of great concern to the city. Thus, the city has drafted
ordinances protecting sensitive wildlife habitat, one of the first such
ordinances within the state of California. The city has also promised to protect
a certain amount of land within city limits from development of any kind, along
with spending significant funds to restore habitats destroyed by newer
development projects.
Because of its location, relatively low population density and high performing
school districts, the city is seen to have a high quality of life. Thus, real
estate tends to be rather expensive compared to most cities. In the annual
Forbes Magazine ranking of "Most Expensive Zip Codes" in the U.S. the city of
Carlsbad placed as one of the top most expensive zip codes. In a recent article
published in San Diego's "Riviera" December issue, the magazine reported San
Diego County's priciest neighborhoods, stating that "Rancho Santa Fe is the most
expensive with the average prices just over $2 million. La Jolla's average is
$1.4 million...and Carlsbad is just over $1 million."
Neighborhoods in Carlsbad
Northwest quadrant
The northwestern quadrant is Carlsbad's oldest region. The quadrant is located
north of Palomar Airport Road and west of El Camino Real and is concentric with
the ZIP code 92008. Though there are some newer developments, the area features
many more established single family homes, and in some cases, apartments and
condominiums. The fact that many areas in this quadrant existed many years ago
is apparent by the fact that some streets (notably Highland Drive) lack
sidewalks and/or street lighting. In the case of Highland Drive, however, the
city has made the decision to omit improvements to preserve the street's
country-like feel.
Hosp Grove, a grove of trees relatively untouched by development and now
designated by the city for recreational use, is located in the northwest
quadrant, along with the Buena Vista and Agua Hedionda Lagoons. The Buena Vista
Lagoon is one of three the subject of controversy. The Concerned Citizens of
Carlsbad is currently floating a Petition to stop the city council from rezoning
the fields into new homes and a state of the art City Hall complex. San Diego
Union Tribune article
* The village, or downtown Carlsbad, is generally located along Carlsbad Village
Drive (formerly "Elm Avenue", the 1991 name-change prompting local
consternation, a "Locals Call it Elm" bumper-sticker campaign, and later license
plate holders reading "Locals Still Call it Elm".) east of Carlsbad Boulevard
(also Pacific Coast Highway or U.S. Route 101) and west of Interstate 5. It is
currently in a process of ongoing redevelopment, and features many antique
shops, clothing stores, and restaurants.Regular events in the village, which
include a farmers market held on Saturday mornings 9am-1pm and Wednesdays from
2-5pm (see External Link below), and a marathon, draw many people from
throughout the region to downtown Carlsbad. The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce
also host a bi-annual street fair, called the Carlsbad Village Street Faire, of
the first Sunday in May and November. The Village Street Faire is the largest
single day street faire in North America with almost 1,000 vendors and well over
120,000 people in attendance.
* The Barrio was the first Carlsbad neighborhood, built in the 1920's. It is
densely populated by Latinos and is the site of the city's Centro de Informaci�n,
a Spanish division of the Carlsbad City Library.
* Olde Carlsbad refers to the area south of the Buena Vista Lagoon, west of El
Camino Real and north of Cannon Road. These were the original boundaries of the
city of Carlsbad. The area features many historic buildings. It is perhaps the
most socioeconomically diverse section of the city, where homes range from
enormous mansions to modest, one story homes. Architectural styles in the area
vary widely as well. A number of elementary schools are located within the area,
as well as Carlsbad High School and the current site of Carlsbad Seaside
Academy, Magnolia Elementary School. Carlsbad's only historic museum, the Magee
House, is located in this area, and it is the home of the Carlsbad Historical
Society.
Northeast quadrant
The northeastern quadrant is located north of Palomar Airport Road and east of
El Camino Real. With the exception of one shopping center, the area is almost
exclusively residential. Because of the city's increasing population, the area
was recently assigned the ZIP code 92010 by the U.S. Postal Service. The
quadrant has many condominiums and single family homes. Some of the units are
quite established while others, particularly in Calavera Hills, are currently
under construction.
* Calavera Hills is one of many of Carlsbad's planned communities located around
the intersection of College Boulevard and Carlsbad Village Drive (the community
is bordered on the north by the Oceanside-Carlsbad city boundary). The western
portion (phase I) was constructed mostly in the 1980s and the eastern portion
(phase II) is currently under construction. Calavera Hills features two
elementary schools, one middle school, a very large community park, numerous
pocket parks, trails, an artificial lake, and single family, attached, and
apartment units. Calavera Hills is subdivided into neighborhoods, each of which
are maintained by a homeowners association. Some, especially condominium
developments, feature community pools. Calavera Hills Middle school is located
in the area. Much of the community, especially around Calavera Lake, is
designated open space. Numerous trails exist near Calavera Lake for public use.
Because of strong opposition to the partial draining of the lake, the city is
currently considering other alternatives for the removal of a concrete object
that protrudes from the lake's surface, which some consider to be an eyesore in
an otherwise picturesque area.
* Summerhouse is a residential area built in 2005 and bordered by College
Boulevard to the west and the to Calavera Natural Preserve to the east. Many
home feature views of the preserve, and cool ocean breezes in the summer create
desirable weather conditions.
* The Colony is an established residential neighborhood located just south of
Calavera Hills community park. Homes in The Colony are greatly desired due to
unique cottage style homes with shingle facades, large front and backyards and
quaint street names (named after Scottish towns).
* Tanglewood is a condominium complex located between Carlsbad Village Drive, El
Camino Real and Avenida de Lousia. Homes, landscaping, and a community pool are
maintained by a homeowners association. Although all units in the neighborhood
are townhomes, all residents benefit from separate garage units.
* Robertson Ranch is a proposed development bordered by Tamarack Avenue, College
Boulevard, and El Camino Real. Development is anticipated through 2010. It will
most likely be the site of three schools. Many Carlsbad residents are opposed to
this development which will most likely bring severe congestion to the area.
Preserve Calavera website
* Sunny Creek is a smaller single family development centered along College
Boulevard east of El Camino Real. A shopping center is proposed for the area,
construction of which has been delayed numerous times. When completed, it will
be the only shopping district in northeast Carlsbad outside of the Tri-City
area. Among the residents the oppose construction are the original residents of
Sunny Creek, who live in a somewhat rural area near Rancho Carlsbad.
* The Summit (north) is a townhouse development currently under construction,
located east of Marron Road and west of the unimproved Haymar Drive. One of its
main purpose is to alleviate pressure to develop land on or near the Buena Vista
Lagoon, which seen as highly undesirable to most residents.
* The Summit (south) is a residential area built on a series of small hills,
bordered by El Camino Real, Tamarack Avenue, and Carlsbad Village Drive. It is
made up of several developments, including Tamarack Point, Falcon Hills, and
Carlsbad Meadows, that were completed in the late 1990s.
Southeast quadrant
The southeastern quadrant is located east of El Camino Real and south of Palomar
Airport Road. It is Carlsbad's newest quadrant, containing many master planned
communities (MPC), most notably Bressi Ranch, the Villages of La Costa, which
includes the completed MPC of La Costa Valley, the nearly completed La Costa
Oaks, the half-completed La Costa Greens and La Costa Ridge. The ZIP code of the
southeast quadrant is 92009, and is one of San Diego's most expensive ZIP codes.
The area was recently named one of the 500 wealthiest ZIP codes in the United
States by Forbes Magazine.
* La Costa Greens is a new residential development built on the hillsides east
of the La Costa Resort North Golf Course between the proposed Alga Norte Park
and Alga Road. Many homes in the La Costa Greens have spectacular views of the
ocean and the famous La Costa golf course. This upper-middle class neighborhood
is anchored by The Presidio Club, which touts of providing a spa-like experience
with a concierge on staff. The community amenities include a pool, spa, workout
gym, tot lot and two tennis courts. The houses being built here are between
3,000 to 5,000 square feet (500 sq m) large and the project is over halfway
built out as of April 2006. With the exception of 24 houses in La Costa Greens,
the community is served by the La Costa Meadows Elementary School, the newer San
Elijo Hills Middle School and the refurbished San Marcos High School.
* La Costa Oaks is the second in the Villages of La Costa and is located mostly
east of Rancho Santa Fe Road at the end of La Costa Avenue. It's an upscale MPC
with home sizes of about 3,000 to 5,000 square feet (500 sq m) that were built
from 2003 to 2006.
* La Costa Ridge is the final of the Villages of La Costa and is currently being
graded. The top of a local mountain was shaved flat to enable construction of
large ocean-view homes in this private gated community to be served by the La
Costa Meadows Elementary School, the newer San Elijo Hills Middle School and the
refurbished San Marcos High School.
* La Costa Valley is an MPC that was built between 1998 and 2001 near Carlsbad's
border with Encinitas. The first of the Villages of La Costa planned and built
by master developer Arbuckle Development. The builders included Kaufman and
Broad Homes (later to become KB Home), Shea Homes, Standard Pacific Homes,
Greystone Homes (later acquired by Lennar), K. Hovnanian and Centex Homes. The
Valley Club is the centerpiece to La Costa Valley that was sold with the slogan,
"Beverly Hills meets Mayberry", and is home to mostly upper-middle class
families. The Valley Club has social activities, a large swimming pool and two
tennis courts. The El Camino Creek Elementary School is located in La Costa
Valley. The middle school is the older Oakcrest located in central Encinitas and
older students are served by the newer La Costa Canyon High School.
* Rancho Carrillo is a community centered on a picturesque canyon surrounding
the historic Leo Carrillo Ranch Park. Over half of the canyon and hillsides are
dedicated as preserved open space and a yearround stream flows through the
canyon. Rancho Carrillo offers a balanced mix of about 1,500 residences from
condominiums and townhouses to large estates. Rancho Carrillo was designed in
the theme of 'Old California' to match the park and is densely landscaped and
laced with walking trails. There is an active social activities calendar with
clubs and events offered in all seasons. The development has the Carrillo
Elementary School in the neighborhood and is part of the San Marcos Unified
School District.
La Costa
La Costa refers to both a residential community of Carlsbad and the world-class
golf and tennis resort and spa that thrives at its center. The community is
located primarily south of Alga Road, east of El Camino Real, north of
Olivenhain Blvd. and west of the north-south portion of Rancho Santa Fe Blvd.
The La Costa Resort & Spa consists of two 18-hole golf courses, resort hotel and
condominium units, 19 tennis courts and related retail businesses. Dr. Deepak
Chopra operates the Chopra Center located at the resort. La Costa the community
is mostly residential, with shopping centers, upscale boutiques and fine dining
restaurants. Because of overlapping district lines, schools within the community
may be located in one of four school districts. La Costa Canyon High School
serves residents of Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe and other surrounding
communities, along with the southernmost portion of Carlsbad. The popular San
Elijo Middle School and San Marcos High School serve students on the north side
of the golf course. Real estate in La Costa is priced well above the average for
both California and San Diego County.
La Costa's development began in 1965, when Irv Roston and a partner of the
Desert Inn hotel in Las Vegas purchased 3,500 acres (14 sq km) of the scenic
area. A golf course was developed and homes began to be sold. The 90-room Rancho
La Costa Inn was built to accommodate the visitors. Then, the Spa was added and
ultimately, another 2,000 acres (8 sq km) were purchased as the Inn grew in
size. Sports Shinko, a Japanese company, bought the Resort in 1987. After years
of decline, it was purchased in 2001 by KSL Resorts, a California resort hotel
group.
Each February since 1999, La Costa Resort & Spa has hosted the Accenture Match
Play Championship, one of the World Golf Championships events. The 2006 edition
of the event was the last at La Costa. The Acura Classic is the largest
professional women's tennis tournament (WTA) in the world and is also held at La
Co