AN, my frame of reference for my comments on PQ are from nearly 30 years ago. I myself have not been off the Carmel Mtn. exit since 1982.
My frame of reference for jobs is dtn. SD and, to a lesser extent, Mission Valley and Kearny Mesa. In my biz, dtn. SD has the most jobs. My coworkers in dtn. SD in the early ’80’s who grew up in SD were raising families then. What they REALLY wanted was to buy a place in Talmadge Park, College, Mission Hills or wherever their families and old stomping ground was, but most of the existing affordable properties were not much more than 1500 SF. The interest rate was high then and newer development in what were then bedrooms (MM & PQ) were offering more SF and interest-rate buy-downs. Some DID end up buying in PQ but it was a hardship for them to get dtn. every morning on time. There were less fwy. exits back then. The Poway Rd. exit was jammed with cars and it was at least 8 miles of nothing to get from I-15 to Poway.
AN, Mira Mesa, PQ, RB and later CV were ANNEXATIONS to SD. Thus, they were not contiguous and there were no roads going into SD, thus completely and utterly freeway dependent (one way in and out). NAS MIRAMAR was in the way. Black Mtn. and Mercy Rds. did not come through until much later. I have two (thin) Thomas Guides from the ’70’s that tell the story. Thus, these communities were “bedroom” communities. Now, Ramona and Valley Center would probably be called “bedrooms” of SD and PQ is merely a ‘burb.
The Mello-Roos Development Bonds were introduced about 1987. This put the annexed areas “on the map” so to speak. With the MR $$, police and fire substations, libraries and schools were built, causing these annexed communities to be self-contained. Before this, these communities contracted with law enforcement and fire agencies who had to travel to serve them.
I know there are many high-tech jobs in SV and the Golden Triangle now, so these annexed communities are more attractive to persons working in that field.
I helped a friend remove crunchy “accoustical ceiling” and paint, hang blinds and clean up landscaping in his two investment properties in MM back in 1983. They were near Camino Ruiz on “zodiac” streets. Neither of the properties had walls where I thought there should be one (’70’s “open floor plan” – LOL). Both were one story but the rooms just ran into one another and the only way you could tell you were entering another room was by the change in floor covering, i.e. carpet to vinyl. The kitchens were spartan and cabinets very cheap, as were the interior and closet doors. There was very little attic with which to store items. The orig. developments of MM and PQ were built for Navy and blue collar personnel who worked in the trades or at Miramar. Miramar road is still lined today with trades businesses as a testimony to this.
As to Chula, 91910 is very diverse in its housing stock, but for the most part, the structures are VERY well-built and situated on generous lots. Yes, there are some Section 8 apts. but in very small complexes (4-12 units). 91911 has larger section 8 complexes, up to 120 units. 91911, 91913, 91914 and 91915 are ALL annexations to CV. These zips, for the most part, are more homogenous in their housing styles. 92154 (south of Chula) was also annexed into SD and provided with City services in 1977. “Otay Mesa” area is NOT contiguous to SD in that you have to pass thru CV to get to it.
What can be said for NC 91950 (5 mi. from dtn. SD) and all points to the US border (prev. mentioned) is that we ARE “metropolitan” in the sense that we, in South Bay, can reach downtown and Mission Valley at least 15 different ways without benefit of a freeway. So, if the 5 and 805 are clogged, we can jump right off to many alternatives. The same CANNOT be said of annexations to SD NORTH of Miramar. For that reason, people living in those communities, technicality or no, are still situated in a far-flung ‘burb or former “bedroom,” IMO, where the lifestyle is NOT in any way comparable of that of the core of SD. Whether you feel it is better or worse is, of course, in the eye of the beholder 🙂
