Lynne Pope Kw

The Best City within the City of Los Angeles is not downtown. It’s Century City. The obvious fact is that it is a truly planned and well-designed community. The land area was sold from 20th Century Fox studio and developed by Alcoa. Built to the most modern Earthquake standards it became the City built with a plan.
This is the urban lifestyle. The fact that anyone can go to the mountains or to the beach is great for all people living in LA. But walking to work and being one of the few fortunate people to live there is a savings of years of hours of driving. It makes sense to the people who live there with the skyline of a beautiful city. Think of this; compare trying to live near downtown LA. We have one of the most unique things of all, a great City providing a community of workplace with valuable properties surrounding it.
I have friends who live there. The dwellings are fantastic, valuable for resale and slow turnover. Neighbors do know each other, they have lived there for a long time.

North Hermosa Sand beach living and mostly single family residential area. Beach cottages and large new homes attract buyers who want to be above the Strand for privacy close walk to everything. Generations of families own homes within blocks of each other. Our family since 1960 and 3 generations. Neighbors walk with kids to school, and greet again, walking dogs or out running and surfing. Summers and sunsets are amazing as well as fall and the pounding surf. Parking is protected by 1 hour only signs or resident stickers. Bottle Inn, Martha’s' and the Green store at 22nd street are landmark stops for meeting up with friends. It’s a short stroll to the Pier. Very few multifamily dwellings are along this stretch of Hermosa verses 17th on down and South of Pier where it is more densely populated. Outdoor life is valued by athletic, artistic and entrepreneur owners. Property values are strong and stable here. It’s like a vacation to come home to every night and stay without getting in your car all weekend. Everything you could want to do is right here.

.Redondo Beach in two halves, North and South.
North Redondo (where part of my family lives) is stepped back from the ocean after Manhattan and Hermosa Beach. (where we live) The City is really aligning to try and boost out the Power Plant.

South Redondo Beach is blessed to align to the ocean. The streets North to South are called the jewel streets; they are alphabetical A- Agate, Beryl, Carnelian, Diamond, Emerald, Garnet then pause for Torrance Bl. to cross followed by Opal, Pearl, Sapphire, then Knob Hill Crosses. ( We were married right there in the Religious Science Church) The Avenues begin then North to South with A through I. Then there are the Sister streets also alphabetical. If you are heading to Lucia and crossing Helberta...you know you are close. I was told they are streets named after the daughters from the Dominguez family. Learn more from Redondo Beach Patch-See (http://redondobeach.patch.com/articles/historian-delves-into-local-roots#photo-12848674)

We lived on Avenue F for about 5 years. We know first-hand about the quality of Tulita, which is a fantastic School as well as Parras, Alta Vista, and Redondo High. There are other wonderful schools and summer camps, like Riviera Hall School, and Carden Dominion. South Redondo is a great family community with sports for all ages. You may have been to the Christmas Tree light area.

Redondo Public services department and Libraries stand out as a model for other communities. The quality of services and goodwill make you feel really valued as a person living there. I've talked to them as they work to handle a gopher taking out whole plants at a time, to bubble sprinkler heads to conserve water, to checking Fire Hydrants on local streets. This proactive, smart, community is working together to try and vote out the AES Power Plant and restore its right to a valuable and safe community at the beach.

Redondo is a big big place with so many communities. Apartment’s crowd together on Ave G but it's affordable and there is a Foreign Exchange School nearby on PCH. Everyone can walk to the Beach, to shop or dine H.T Grill, Hennesseys, Starbucks, (everything to eat or buy is avail in blocks from any country.) Discover the true heart of Redondo, a walking paradise, with its shops and places to stop in, Starbucks, Coffee Bean, Albertsons, Vons, Trader Joes, Chase, B of A. Blaine Nutrition, Cafe Arrigato. It’s well worth the trip and to visit and consider buying a home. There are many classes, Music and Dance, just name it for kids, and Redondo has it. Our RE/MAX Estate Properties office is on Elena just off Palos Verdes Drive North.

Combinations of homes from Historic, tree lined streets, to the Esplanade with buildings of condos towering along the Pacific. Specifically from street to street you will find the single family beach homes and a variety of sizes and shapes. I love California where people live and let live and walk the pets along the sidewalks.
North Redondo has an area of homes called the TRW Tract. Other streets have such a mixture of homes and dates built, that you would be amazed and the neighborhoods have a distinct personality. One might be all single family homes, the next might be duplexes built like Mansions. I promise you Redondo Beach dirt alone is worth the price. They say Buyers set the prices; it’s what they will pay. Values are up all over the South Bay. There is something for everyone here. First time buyers, tenants, moving up or moving downsize you can walk everywhere. People love it. Expensive… its relative. After all it is the Beach and as Zig Ziglar said, God's not making any more of it

Discovering Silverlake. The panoramic views and charm of this unique city place it as a top place to know about. The beauty of looking at the ocean and the lake is possible from some spots. Everyone is already talking about the restaurants and the hip community. Its True.

The Music scene and the arts intertwine as the streets. Its a lifestyle. I have visited the street music festival, the record shop Origami for vinyl records, awesome restaurants and some art shows that they have going on all the time. Modern Architecture with many Richard Neutra homes are in Silverlake. Walt Disney found this area and it fit him like a glove, after all he is the most visionary, creative guy and so Unique!

The people who live there really are so glad to be there. Its green, with privacy and urban all together.
Everything is so close. When we go there or eat out there it feels special, like an event.

Discovering Rossmoor. What a community, if you want your children educated in the top schools and safe to ride around on their bikes. As a Realtor in Hermosa Beach I discovered this amazing community though a friend. Learning about it has become my #1 Stop for families moving to the area that would rather buy here than lease a place in Hermosa for the same price. The South Bay is expensive. This area as well as the South Bay has held onto its value very well. I think it is about: how close the water is and the schools. That equals a great investment. I know they have several generations of families that once there would never leave. If you are shopping for a great community for your family…discover Rossmoore. I am a huge fan of every street, the close by shops and growth. It is like discovering gold. It is a small town that is close to everything. There is something for every age to do and go to. Disneyland is close, Freeways even closer, and California lifestyle right at home.

Hermosa Beach- Becoming the most famous small town in the world. Sports has brought athletes to the community. Now, they are moving here from every sport! The weather allows families to enjoy year round outdoor activity. The older homes are being replaced by the latest greatest ones and Plantation style is winning the prize. Hot Volleyball, cool water, a town for athletic people, young or not so young- everyone is out walking, riding or running by this is the place to BE. Be yourself, be fun, be free! Home prices have continued to rise but the community has town-homes that compare in price to plantations in other states. Its still possible to find a community to find something affordable but each year its farther from the water.

North Hermosa Beach Sand Section is a Family Treasure
Living with school age children in North Hermosa Sand section is a dream lifestyle. Our little Pocket of community would not live anywhere else, once they find it. Our family bought in 1960 and more family in 1985 and more in 2004. Three generations of our family are living in homes within a block from the water now. Many of our neighbors are like that too, generations of family, a mixture of family living in the family home, or purchased when something comes up near where they grew up. We lived 8 houses away from grandmother. It's like living as close to the Hawaii lifestyle but with a great city nearby. Weekends people don't want to leave, we are where people want to vacation.

Hermosa Valley and View schools have teachers and staff that amaze me. The parent and student portal keeps us aware of grades and homework. Our high school choice is Mira Costa or Redondo Union High. Parks and Recreation community center is bustling with activity for every age, with sports, theater groups, and art classes. History is preserved right there in the Historical Society very well and worth a visit. Hermosa Valley Park has something for every age, or party, trees for climbing, picnic and grill stations, hills to run around in, Basketball area, soccer or field sports.

When we turn right on Artesia off Pacific Coast Highway it is a thrill to see the magnificent Ocean. Our community loves the sunsets. We get excited when whales spout like shooting fire hydrants, or dolphin groups leap lazily along. Our kids go to the Green Store for a treat or Marthas for breakfast of lunch. They play on the swings or getting older get to walk or bike or razor or skateboard to the Pier. They play tennis, have the skateboard park or are in local plays in our Community Center on Pier. Summers are the best with surf lessons and ocean safety. We see our neighbors in beach chairs lined up along the water, surfing or out on Paddleboards. In winter it gets quieter and residents enjoy the seasonal change of open beaches and smell of fireplaces as we walk.

Our streets have one hour parking permits March 15th through summer if really close to the water. Walking along the strand is absolutely what we do. Circling the blocks with our dogs, talking to neighbors, and watching sunsets is a ritual. Walk out on our Pier, shop local and discover what we have.

Hermosa has a mixture of beach homes and mansions. We sadly miss every beach house torn down. Land is expensive in all the beach cities in varying degrees. There is some sticker shock to people who first want to move here. The South Bay homes held their value very well along the bumpy Real Estate market down and up turns. Right now there is very little inventory. People who have bought and sold with me have said they want to live north of 10th or Pier and West of Valley Drive. One review about Hermosa says it has apartments. Every city has some and that is misleading to Hermosa as a whole. In our 1.5 square miles most of the apartments are along the South border of the Sand section. That is where young professionals new to the area can find a first place to lease and have their dog or cat. Then they learn the area and many move up to a purchase. Young people love moving here for the water, volleyball, bike and lifestyle.

Stuff Happens; like neighbor communities homeowners are drawing a line in the sand to defend the beaches from Oil drilling and Power Plants. Defending that stance since 1958, Hermosa Beach voted No to oil drilling. When an Earthquake in Santa Monica and Culver City struck Hermosa Beach rolled along in the sand and only lost our power for a day. Our community got even closer. My husband took flashlights over and checked on the two neighbors that are widowed. Neighbors do know neighbors. We miss the Bijou Theatre, the Either or Bookstore and Taco Bills. Everyone loves the Pier curve and upgraded landscape. Its fun to enjoy the established and new restaurants. Times change things, and now there are enough entertainment spots. Some get it right and stay and some go away. We enjoy Hermosa Beach and treasure each sunny day!