Merge 56

[flyer]

[quote=UCGal][quote=flyer]My point concerning all of the development along 56, was that, regardless of how much or how little I could afford for housing, I would not want to live near a freeway for many reasons.

I would give up something else if I had to, rather than live near a
freeway–just my own personal preference–and the preference of others I know who have opted for other “tradeoffs,” versus buying a home near a freeway.

I was just sharing that with the OP, since he/she asked our various opinions on the Rhodes Crossing project–and that’s mine.

I’m sure the OP will weigh all factors before making a decision, so the fact that we all have different thoughts on this should be helpful to him/her.[/quote]

Those are your choices. I happen to live near freeway 52. I can easily hear the traffic when the windows or open. I’m not backing up to it – but on a hillside above it.

In my case the trade off is:
– decent schools.
– nice views (over the 52 towards Mt. Soledad)
– Large lot.
– very good freeway access. Can be on 805/5/52 in minutes.

Since freeway noise is not a dealbreaker for me – but price, space, view were all factors in my decision – I chose to live near a freeway.

I understand you would choose otherwise – but you and BG both implied that this would be a BAD choice, not just a different choice.

Think of all the people along the 5 corridor who have ocean views – and overlook I-5. I suspect many of them don’t mind the freeway noise – and love their views.[/quote]

I realize many issues like this that would be dealbreakers for me, are not for others. We have friends and family who live near I-5 in DM and LJ who not only have freeway noise and pollution, but also hear the trains loud and clear.

Some don’t mind it, others have ended up moving because these issues bothered them more than they originally thought they would, and still others have stayed for a variety of other reasons–as you mentioned.

My only intention in responding to this post was to bring my POV about living near a freeway up to the OP for consideration–not to offend anyone. With others contributing alternate views, he/she should easily be able to weigh all factors in his/her decision.

[flyer]

[quote=njtosd]Generally speaking, in San Diego, the motivation to live near a freeway or some other less than desirable element is the opportunity to be in a certain school district. I give people credit for being willing to put up with high prices and road noise for the chance (and not the certainty) that their children will be surrounded by interesting classmates that motivate them to do their best. For example, a kid who just graduated from Canyon Crest Academy in CV won the Intel (formerly Westinghouse), Google and Siemens science competitions (complete with $250,000 in prizes). That school is packed full of kids doing amazing things – and I think a lot of parents would sacrifice their own happiness or comfort to expose their kids to that kind of influence.[/quote]

Here’s an article from last year about the amazing young man from CCA you mentioned. We remember hearing about this great achievement from friends who have kids who attend this school.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/dec/10/eric-chen-siemens-flu-project-canyon-crest-academy/?#article-copy

[Coronita]

[quote=flyer][quote=njtosd]Generally speaking, in San Diego, the motivation to live near a freeway or some other less than desirable element is the opportunity to be in a certain school district. I give people credit for being willing to put up with high prices and road noise for the chance (and not the certainty) that their children will be surrounded by interesting classmates that motivate them to do their best. For example, a kid who just graduated from Canyon Crest Academy in CV won the Intel (formerly Westinghouse), Google and Siemens science competitions (complete with $250,000 in prizes). That school is packed full of kids doing amazing things – and I think a lot of parents would sacrifice their own happiness or comfort to expose their kids to that kind of influence.[/quote]

Here’s an article from last year about the amazing young man from CCA you mentioned. We remember hearing about this great achievement from friends who have kids who attend this school.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/dec/10/eric-chen-siemens-flu-project-canyon-crest-academy/?#article-copy%5B/quote%5D

CCA is by lottery…

[flyer]

[quote=flu][quote=flyer][quote=njtosd]Generally speaking, in San Diego, the motivation to live near a freeway or some other less than desirable element is the opportunity to be in a certain school district. I give people credit for being willing to put up with high prices and road noise for the chance (and not the certainty) that their children will be surrounded by interesting classmates that motivate them to do their best. For example, a kid who just graduated from Canyon Crest Academy in CV won the Intel (formerly Westinghouse), Google and Siemens science competitions (complete with $250,000 in prizes). That school is packed full of kids doing amazing things – and I think a lot of parents would sacrifice their own happiness or comfort to expose their kids to that kind of influence.[/quote]

Here’s an article from last year about the amazing young man from CCA you mentioned. We remember hearing about this great achievement from friends who have kids who attend this school.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/dec/10/eric-chen-siemens-flu-project-canyon-crest-academy/?#article-copy%5B/quote%5D

CCA is by lottery…[/quote]

That’s what we’ve heard. Still great for the kids who get in.

With only 10% of college grads today actually finding a job in their chosen fields, I’m glad to see any glimmer of hope on the horizon.

[njtosd]

FLU – that’s why I said chance, not certainty. Plus, they let everyone in from the waiting list this year.

[njtosd]

[quote=flyer][quote=njtosd]Generally speaking, in San Diego, the motivation to live near a freeway or some other less than desirable element is the opportunity to be in a certain school district. I give people credit for being willing to put up with high prices and road noise for the chance (and not the certainty) that their children will be surrounded by interesting classmates that motivate them to do their best. For example, a kid who just graduated from Canyon Crest Academy in CV won the Intel (formerly Westinghouse), Google and Siemens science competitions (complete with $250,000 in prizes). That school is packed full of kids doing amazing things – and I think a lot of parents would sacrifice their own happiness or comfort to expose their kids to that kind of influence.[/quote]

Here’s an article from last year about the amazing young man from CCA you mentioned. We remember hearing about this great achievement from friends who have kids who attend this school.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/dec/10/eric-chen-siemens-flu-project-canyon-crest-academy/?#article-copy%5B/quote%5D

Here’s a newer one showing the $250,000 total:

http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/teen_mentored_by_uc_san_diego_professors_wins_250000_in_science_prizes

[flyer]

[quote=njtosd][quote=flyer][quote=njtosd]Generally speaking, in San Diego, the motivation to live near a freeway or some other less than desirable element is the opportunity to be in a certain school district. I give people credit for being willing to put up with high prices and road noise for the chance (and not the certainty) that their children will be surrounded by interesting classmates that motivate them to do their best. For example, a kid who just graduated from Canyon Crest Academy in CV won the Intel (formerly Westinghouse), Google and Siemens science competitions (complete with $250,000 in prizes). That school is packed full of kids doing amazing things – and I think a lot of parents would sacrifice their own happiness or comfort to expose their kids to that kind of influence.[/quote]

Here’s an article from last year about the amazing young man from CCA you mentioned. We remember hearing about this great achievement from friends who have kids who attend this school.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/dec/10/eric-chen-siemens-flu-project-canyon-crest-academy/?#article-copy%5B/quote%5D

Here’s a newer one showing the $250,000 total:

http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/teen_mentored_by_uc_san_diego_professors_wins_250000_in_science_prizes%5B/quote%5D

Fantastic! He’s definitely on track to doing great things.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=zk][quote=bearishgurl]flyer is right. Wise buyers who make “tradeoffs” because they can’t and won’t tolerate living near a freeway downgrade in size of home they will accept in order to be able to get accepted offers on homes which will never be affected by freeway noise and the additional traffic and air pollution it generates to the surrounding area (especially near its entrances and exits). These homes, more often than not, will NOT be new construction but will be in long-established areas. It has nothing to do with being “rich” as freeway construction occurs in areas of all socioeconomic levels. It has to do with being a smart buyer and buying right … at the right time (if possible) and certainly in as good of an area as the buyer can afford.[/quote]Wise buyers? Really? You guys say you understand the tradeoff thing, and then proceed to demonstrate that you don’t. Some people may only be able to afford that school district near a freeway, regardless of home size. Some people may have 6 kids and need the bigger house and can’t afford one not near a freeway. Some people might care more about a yard for their kids than noise and pollution, and can’t afford a big yard not near a freeway in that schoold district. Etcetera. Everybody has their own priorities, and for many, living near a freeway gets them something they otherwise wouldn’t have gotten. You not agreeing with their priorities does not make them unwise buyers. And, of course it has to do with “rich.” If you’re rich, you don’t have to make any of these tradeoffs.[/quote]

zk, almost every single one of your sentences (above) has the words “school district” in it. You must know that individual school performance varies widely in a single school district. In addition, “preferred school district” is highly subjective to a homebuyer. My youngest just graduated from a “top 3” Sweetwater school (it may currently be the top ONE but the top 3 are always in very close competition with one another) whose class of 2014 had 48 graduates who stood on the stage in June to receive their IB Diplomas. (I erred here when I previously stated there were 43 candidates):

http://piggington.com/ot_teacher_tenure_ruled_unconstitutional_ca#comment-244256

. . . I was reviewing the program at the time of making that post but all of them weren’t listed there.) Can you name any other local HS’s you are aware of which can top that? How about in micro-areas you are familiar with where the average home recently sold for ~$1M?? A typical ~2400 sf home costs ~$100K+ less in the attendance area of this SUHSD school than ~2400 sf homes in most of the PUSD, has an average lot size of 14K sf and only one side of two streets (abt 35 backyards) border SR-54 and one side of one street (abt 30 backyards) have (distant) fwy noise (from the toll SR-125 connector extension to the Otay border crossing). This is out of approx 5300 total single-family housing units. However, this area is but a microcosm of the entire county. There are many South, East and North County areas as well as SD central areas in which the vast majority of their single-family housing stock is not affected by freeway noise. I don’t buy the “tradeoff” argument. SD County homebuyers have always had many choices and do not have to buy a home exposed to incessant freeway noise.

I go on … and on, listing examples located all over the county of MANY EXCELLENT school attendance areas which are free from nearly free from freeway noise. The truth is that the sun does not rise and set on the PUSD. The reality is that the PUSD is going to be forced into BK at some point in the (near?) future (or will it wait until 2033-34, when the ball drops??) solely due to its p!ss poor (and hopefully, past) leadership. This doesn’t bode well for future home values there, because Cal Taxation Code section 2270 et seq provides for an increase in property taxes which could ostensibly be used to keep a bankrupt school district running.

See: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=rtc&group=02001-03000&file=2270-2280.1

[quote=AN]Very well said zk. I agree 100%. I can understand it coming from flyer, since he can afford almost any house in San Diego, so it’s a little hard for him to understand. However, it’s hilarious coming from bearishgurl. She lives in an area that screams tradeoff.[/quote]

AN, ~35 years ago, I would have said that homebuyers were making the tradeoff from cooler weather to heat in order to buy new or newer construction in MM. Now it seems that they are trading off cooler weather to heat AND massive congestion over same-priced areas within SD, South and East County with a lot more breathing room (and parking space) in favor of living in MM (most of which is no longer “newer”) to live nearer to specific job centers. I WOULD refer to MM as M***** Mesa (as San Diegans have commonly referred to it for decades), but I’m trying to keep it classy here. FWIW, one CAN still buy an “old” house in MM (~40 yrs old). Break out your neck brace, ceiling scraper and goggles, folks, they DO exist up there … even with “glitter” mixed in the acoustical ceilings, lol ….

Given its propensity for heat combined with today’s massive congestion there, MM, to me, absolutely screams “tradeoff.”

And uh, zk, the “rich” don’t typically buy tract homes located in CA subdivisions for their personal residences. They buy custom homes (or heavily remodeled former “tract” homes) far, far away from any possible freeway noise.

I’m with flyer in that I would never purchase a property near a freeway, especially one which was subject to unrelenting freeway noise 24/7. If a property owner can’t have any peace living in his own property (or his/her tenants can’t have it and thus keep turning over), then what is the point of owning or renting the property? The size of the house doesn’t matter because the price to live there will always be too high. That price is the act of giving up daily peace and tranquility. Yes, it’s a personal preference but it is also a fact that properties with freeway noise have a built-in “economic obsolescence” that cannot be cured and this is a salability issue.

http://www.allbusiness.com/glossaries/economic-obsolescence/4964089-1.html

The affected property may have not had this issue when it was built but over the years/decades acquired it due to later nearby freeway, underpass, overpass or ramp construction. At one point when the freeway construction was nearly underway, an owner may have gotten compensated by the govm’t for that economic obsolescence but that does nothing for subsequent owners. Therefore, in my mind, there is no reason to purchase a property for residential purposes which has this problem (even for an investment).

[an]

[quote=bearishgurl]
Given its propensity for heat combined with today’s massive congestion there, MM, to me, absolutely screams “tradeoff.”[/quote]Lets see, 92121 is cooler today than western Chula Vista, while Eastern Mira Mesa is cooler than East Lake. Yeah, lets talk about heat. FYI, 92121 is cooler today than Downtown San Diego. Why don’t you ponder on that for a second. As for massive congestion, you seriously have no idea what you’re talking about. I can get home in 5-15 minutes everyday and in non traffic time, I can get to most of San Diego county in 15-20 minutes. How about you?

Unlike you, I don’t for one second think I’m not making a trade off to live here. I rather not have to deal with congestion and traffic everyday and have good schools. So that’s my trade off. I know it is a trade off. If I have $10M, I wouldn’t live here or Chula Vista for that matter. This is why you don’t see me saying someone else’s trade off decisions as wise or unwise.

[quote=bearishgurl]I WOULD refer to MM as M***** Mesa (as San Diegans have commonly referred to it for decades), but I’m trying to keep it classy here.[/quote]
FYI, you stop being classy when you’re calling other people’s decision as unwise without know why they make those decisions. Also, go ahead and say it, Manila Mesa. As I stated above, unlike you, I don’t mind that other people call Mira Mesa, Manila Mesa. But you seem to be offended when I called Chula Vista, Chulajuana. I don’t feel self conscious like you and pretend I’m not living in an area where others wouldn’t want to live, due to the trade offs I have to make for living here.

[flyer]

I’m sorry to see this has turned into such a negative discussion, but the OP did ask our opinions about living in a particular location. I gave various reasons why I would not live in a particular location (even though my intention was not to offend), and others have given reasons they would.

I think it’s pretty safe to say many of us will never agree on this topic, but at least we’ve given the OP much food for thought. I just hope all of this helps him or her make a good decision, based upon his or her particular needs.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=flyer]I’m sorry to see this has turned into such a negative discussion, but the OP did ask our opinions about living in a particular location. I gave various reasons why I would not live in a particular location (even though my intention was not to offend), and others have given reasons they would.

I think it’s pretty safe to say many of us will never agree on this topic, but at least we’ve given the OP much food for thought. I just hope all of this helps him or her make a good decision, based upon his or her particular needs.[/quote]

Actually, flyer, it was not my intention to turn this into a negative discussion. I’m aware that AN is naturally argumentative and I’ve heard the term “Chula Juana” for the last 40 years. Carry on. It doesn’t bother me a bit as I live amid million-dollar estates of up to 4 AC, right in the heart of Chula Juana. Let’s see if I have that last part spelled correctly … J-U-A-N-A, (rhyming with Tijuana), LOL ….

While select ignorant North City and North County residents put us down, our kids will keep winning nationwide academic decathlons and graduating dozens of IB Diploma candidates and a few Rhodes scholars every year and scoring among the top schools in the region on the STAR and CAHSEE testing. No one can take that away from them. AND, our school districts are not in danger of going bankrupt. Stick that in your hat, folks.

Sorry, but the SD North County schools aren’t the be-all and end-all. The PUSD is not the only game in SD County to buy into for families with school-age children. In fact, it is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. You must know that there IS life outside of North County and North City SD. I just wanted to put that out there.

And I just wanted to educate on the meaning of economic obsolescence and the fact of Revenue and Taxation Code section 2270 et seq on CA’s books. I don’t look at RE the way a lot of today’s buyers and sellers do. I look at it through the lens of owners’ rights and obligations and marketability as these doctrines apply to a particular property.

My posts had nothing to do with my “feelings” but everything to do with how the world works. It doesn’t matter if you are able to sleep like a rock with the SR-52 whirring by your home 24/7 and Miramar planes gunning overhead 16 hrs per day. Folks can take my posts for the info they provide or leave them at their peril. There is no cure for economic obsolescence.

[FlyerInHi]

I personally would live by the freeway in a modern condo/apartment building with double pane windows and central air. A good apartment by the freeway, shopping, restaurants can be very convenient.

A house by the freeway would be annoying. What’s the point of a backyard if you can’t use it? I would also avoid backing up to a busy road.

A house on the hill overlooking a freeway would be doable. I would design it like a large apartment in a high rise to take advantage of the view, with good sound insulated windows.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=FlyerInHi]I personally would live by the freeway in a modern condo/apartment building with double pane windows and central air. A good apartment by the freeway, shopping, restaurants can be very convenient.

A house by the freeway would be annoying. What’s the point of a backyard if you can’t use it? I would also avoid backing up to a busy road.

A house on the hill overlooking a freeway would be doable. I would design it like a large apartment in a high rise to take advantage of the view, with good sound insulated windows.[/quote]

Understand, FlyerInHi. But would you offer “market price” for such a house or condo … or would you discount your offer based upon the doctrine of “economic obsolescence?”

[Coronita]

I hear Santee is only 15 minutes to the ocean….

[Coronita]

I have a prediction folks.

You know the two big new apartment complexes being built in Carmel Valley right over Vista Sorrento Parkway?

I think they are going to be hurting for tenants…bigtime…

I’d give maybe 2 years before they decide to convert them to owner occupied attached homes….

http://www.apartmentguide.com/apartments/California/San-Diego/Ocean-Air/100020971/

$2400-2800/month for a 1bedroom.. Lol… Good luck with that one… That’s almost the same amount of my 15 year mortgage on a SFH in CarmelV.

[Author]

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