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Renting an Apartment in Ocean Beach
What You Should Know
Ocean Beach is a community within the City of San Diego, California, USA
known for its openmindedness and independence. Comprised of an eclectic mix of
surfers, punks, bikers, granolas, and families, few things aren't tolerated.
Some things guaranteed to upset the locals are excessive displays of wealth,
posers, money hungry real estate folks, arrogance, and disrespectful
transplants. Many consider Ocean Beach the last bastion for native San Diegans
adamant about protecting the character of the city. It is located south of
Mission Bay and Mission Beach and west of Downtown San Diego on the Pacific
Ocean at the western terminus of Interstate 8.
Ocean Beach houses two schools (Ocean Beach Elementary, and Sacred Heart
Academy), and multiple churches. It has one library, many antique stores, an
assortment of locally owned stores and bars. The main street of business is
Newport Avenue.
The Ocean Beach Pier, built in 1966, is the longest on the West Coast of the
United States, measuring 1971 feet.
History
Ocean Beach was given its name by developers Billy Carlson and Frank Higgins in
1887. They opened a real estate firm Carlson & Higgins and proceeded to develop
Ocean Beach. They developed the Cliff House Hotel and subdivided the area into
lots. The development did not do well because it was 2 1/2 hours from downtown
San Diego by carriage. They rented a locomotive, but by that time, in 1888, the
boom ended and the development put on hold. Higgins partner committed suicide.
The Cliff House burned from a fallen chandelier in 1898. Carlson sold the Ocean
Beach development to an Eastern financier and its development would wait another
20 years when permanent rail service arrived.
Earlier names for Ocean Beach include Mussel Beach, Mussel Beds, Medanos
(Spanish for 'dunes'), Palmer's Place/Ranch, and Palmiro's.
In 2001, Starbucks bought property within the community, creating a tremendous
uprour among the citizens, who considered the move a direct attack on several
mom and pop, individually owned, small scale coffee shops already in place.
Shortly after this event the historic, single-screen movie house The Strand was
converted into a Wings, an east coast chain store selling beach apparel. To this
day, patrons of either establishment are castigated by the long-time citizens of
the community. It is highly encouraged by locals to boycott Starbucks.