Palos Verdes Source

                         Whale watching is a welcomed event in Palos Verdes and Saturday, March 6, 2010, is our official “Whale Of A Day” at Point Vicente Interpretive Center, 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West, Rancho Palos Verdes from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  In addition to whale watching from the bluff, there were be games, events and “inflatables”.  Admission to Whale Of A Day is free and parking/shuttle service will be available at the Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall on Hawthorne Blvd.

The Point Vicente Lighthouse will also be open for complimentary tours by the Coast Guard.

As of February 22, 2010, 361 whales have been spotted since the beginning of the whale watching season (December).  292 whales were traveling south and 69 were heading north, according to the Peninsula News.  Whale watching season runs through April.

Photo couresy of Tom Underhill Peninsula News 2008

Hiking in Palos Verdes takes you through varied terrain usually with spectacular ocean views. There are 4 different trails which can be accessed from Del Cerro Park.  All four trails are part of the Canyons Ecological Reserve and vary in length from 2 to 4 miles.

Rim Trail is 3.9 miles round trip, Ailor Cliff Trail is 3.2 miles round trip, Peacock Flat Trail is 2.1 miles round trip, and Del Cerro To Ladera Linda Trail is 2.9 miles one way.  All trails begin on the dirt Crenshaw.  Hikers are advised to bring water.  Some trails in the Portuguese Bend Reserve are closed following the August fire.  Please click here for a map of the open trails.

There were 14 homes on the December 9, 2009, Palos Verdes homes Broker’s Tour.  We currently have 215 active single family homes for sale in Palos Verdes ranging in price from $750,000 in Rancho Palos Verdes to $14,900.000 in Rolling Hills (the low in Eastview is $625,000).  There are 47 townhomes/condos for sale priced between $210,000 and $899,000.  My favorites are all in Rancho Palos Verdes and are:

Heidi Brown and Young OK Lee’s (Keller Williams Associates) 53 Paseo Del La Luz, Rancho Palos Verdes 90275 (above left) is a 5 bedroom, 6 bath, 8,000 square foot home for $4,800,000.  This Oceanfront  estate features panoramic ocean views, a gourmet kitchen w/butler’s pantry, large art studio and salt water pool/spa.  Rachale and Kathy Tyndall’s (Remax Palos Verdes Realty) 6716 Birchman Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes 90275 (above right), is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1,920 square foot home for $968,000.  This well-priced Los Verdes home has been recently remodeled, has ocean views and a peaceful lush garden with a pond.

Al D’Amico’s (Keller Williams Palos Verdes Realty) 16 Nuvola Court, Rancho Palos Verdes 90275 (above left) is a 3 bedroom, 4 bath, 3,956 square foot home for $1,950,000.  This Peninsula Point home has unobstructed ocean/coastline views and custom balustrades on the staircases leading to a magnificent landscaped backyard.  Pearl Kaperl’s (Remax Palos Verdes Realty) 32 Via Capri, Rancho Palos Verdes 90275( above right) is a 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 2,282 square foot townhome for $899,000.  This Villa Capri townhome has a beautiful upgraded kitchen, soaring cathedral ceilings and ocean views.

Photos courtesy of MRMLS

This year there are on-line coupons available for 56 businesses and restaurants in Rolling Hills and Rancho Palos Verdes (click here for the link) as part of the Peninsula Privileges program.  These are available to all not just owners of Palos Verdes real estate.

Participating merchants range from Terrenea Resort to Ice Chalet, Restoration Hardware, Equinox Fitness, Norris Center for the Performing Arts, Chicken Dijon, Mayer’s Bakery, Marmalade Cafe and many more.  This is a great opportunity to support our locale businesses and save money too!

 The Annenberg Foundation has an Environmental Impact Report in progress for its multimillion dollar project at Lower Point Vicente.  Plans have also been submitted to the city of Rancho Palos Verdes for approval and a formal application is anticipated soon.

“The proposal, based on a comprehensive study of the community done in concert with the development of the Coast Vision Plan, includes using architecture, art and exhibits to inform the public about Palos Verdes geology, history, marine ecology, terrestrial animals and habitats…” according to the Rancho Palos Verdes site (which can be accessed by clicking here).  The Center would focus on providing education, science, behavior and care of animals and animal adoption opportunities.  There will be an outdoor reconstructed Tongva Village, an archaeological dig, picnic areas, restroom facilities, and trails.

All this at “Zero cost to the city” according to the Annenberg power point presentation (which can be accessed by clicking here).  The Annenberg Foundation’s budget for this project is $38,000,000 to $42,000,00 and they will also to fund operations.  This will be a project to watch!

Photo courtesy of Annenberg Foundation

Palos Verdes experienced 2 different fires within one week and owners of Palos Verdes real estate were lucky that there was no loss of life or homes. The most recent fire on Thursday (above) was caused by a single car accident on Crenshaw resulting in a fire which quickly spread uphill toward Chadwick School and homes in Academy Hill. There were 2 large scooper planes that filled themselves with ocean water and came back over the fire and dumped their water. They flew overhead on their way back to the ocean and they were so big that the ground vibrated from their passing. Click here for a link to full story in Peninsula News.

The fire last week (above) that begin in the Portuguese Bend area of Rancho Palos Verdes and spread into Rolling Hills was a much bigger fire that burned 230 acres through the night on Thursday, August 27th. Again we were very lucky as there was almost no wind. 4 helicopters and 1 helitanker scooped ocean water to extinguish the fire and 500 area firefighters also helped to extinguish the fire. Two homes on Cinchring and Quail Ridge in Rolling Hills were damaged. The Peninsula News had the full story including the reminder “Where homes were saved, they had (completed) proper (city- and county-mandated) brush clearance and they had fire-resistant vegetation…”

Photos courtesy of Tom Underhill, Peninsula News, and Blake Shoemaker

The Point Vicente neighborhood is located in Rancho Palos Verdes near the intersection of Palos Verdes Drive West and Hawthorne Boulevard. This is a small neighborhood of only a six streets and about a half a mile long. This is one of my favorite neighborhoods because nearly every home has ocean views. As you enter the homes, you are greeted by a full ocean view from the living room and dining room. There are also ocean views from the backyard. Point Vicente Elementary School is located in this neighborhood and a new Trader Joe’s is opening just down the street!

Currently, there are no active homes for sale in the Point Vicente neighborhood. The last two sales were $975,000 for a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 1,670 square foot home and $1,200,000 for a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2,364 square foot home.

The Seaview neighborhood is located in Rancho Palos Verdes off Palos Verdes Drive South and above Portuguese Bend Beach Club and Trump National Golf Course. Most homes have spectacular ocean views as they are stair-stepped up the hill.

This is an intimate neighborhood of about a dozen streets that cover approximately one-half square mile. A steep (100-step) staircase from Dauntless Drive leads to Ladera Linda Park. Seaview’s location near San Pedro and access to the 110 Freeway make it an ideal location for those who work in Long Beach and even downtown Los Angeles.

Currently, there are 2 single family homes for sale in Seaview. 4129 Admirable Drive is a 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 2,111 square foot home for $899,000. 32406 Conqueror Drive is a 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 2,209 square foot home for $924,000.

Fourth of July on the Palos Verdes Peninsula will be celebrated at two special public events. There will also be several local firework displays in the evening.

This year Palos Verdes Estates will be holding their48th Annual Independence Day Celebrationat Lunada Bay School, 520 Paseo Lunado. The festivities are free to the public and will begin at 9:45 a.m. with entries into the Apple Pie Contest followed by the Children’s Decorated Bike/Scooter Parade at 10:00 a.m. There will be music and family games for all ages. Everyone is welcome to bring picnics to enjoy on the lawn.

Rancho Palos Verdes will be hosting their 34th Annual Independence Day Celebration at Point Vicente Park/Civic Center at 30940 Hawthorne Boulevard from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There will be Rides & Games, Arts & Crafts Booths, Music, Pie Eating Contest & Hula Hoop Contest, Petting Zoo and Helicopter Rides. Admission is free, on-site parking is $4 per vehicle and free shuttle service is provided along Hawthorne Blvd.

Fireworks can be seen in the evening at the Redondo Beach Pier/Seaside Lagoon at 9:30 p.m., at Torrance’s Charles Wilson Park at 9:00 p.m. & the Barge off the Coast of Torrance Beach at 9:00 p.m., and at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro at 9:00 p.m. More information on fireworks displays can be accesses by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of City of Rancho Palos Verdes

Palos Verdes Peninsula has a total of 67,162 residents as of 2008. The city of Rancho Palos Verdes has the largest population at 42,964. The city of Palos Verdes Estates has 14,046 residents. Rolling Hills Estates has 8,185 residents. Rolling Hills has 1,967 residents.

The Palos Verdes Peninsula measures 26.3 square miles. Palos Verdes is the oldest city (incorporated in 1939) and located on 3,038 acres. Rancho Palos Verdes is the youngest city (incorporated in 1973) and the largest city located on 13.6 square miles. Rolling Hills Estates encompasses 4.18 square miles and was incorporated in 1957. Rolling Hills also incorporated in 1957 and covers 3 square miles. Additionally, there are about 500 homes in Academy Hills and Westfield which are two unincorporated areas governed by the County of Los Angeles and are located off Palos Verdes Drive North.

Palos Verdes is known for its outstanding public schools and there are over 12,000 students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade. On the California statewide level, the Palos Verdes Peninsula district is in the top 1 to 5% in achievement. There are also several excellent private schools on the Peninsula – Chadwick, Rolling Hills Country Day, Rolling Hills Preparatory, Peninsula Montessori and Peninsula Heritage.