Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev

If you live in South Pasadena or take the Gold Line from the Mission station, you probably already know about Heirloom Bakery. I was introduced to it by a realtor friend of mine a few months ago and loved it since.

Heirloom bakery serve a mean cup of late and the most delicious carrot cupcake that I have had. They also cook up a fabulous breakfast and lunch.

My kids (yes - they're picky eaters) are always excited about heading to Heirloom for breakfast. I also like the fact that there's both in-door and out-door seating.

Heirloom is located at 807 Meridian Avenue, South Pasadena, California 91030. Their phone number is 626-441-0042 .

If you are like me, take a nice long walk along the Arroyo and then head over to Heirloom for breakfast. Maybe, we'll run into each other there one day!

Posted by Irina Netchaev, Real Estate Agent

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Last night I attended a San Marino Community meeting discussing a proposed San Marino City Dog Park in Lacy Park. Derek Barker, a student at San Marino High School felt so passionately about having a place to run his dogs that he decided to undertake this initiative as his Eagle Scout project.

San Marino Recreation Committee met held a public meeting at the Crowell Library to hear feedback from the community on this matter.

The proposed dog park will be located in San Marino's Lacy Park on the West side not too far from the tennis courts. 14,500 sq. ft. area that has been used in the past by San Marino Girl Scouts for their August camping/cooking week and the annual fish derby is under consideration.

The costs of building the San Marino Dog Park will run around $20,000 and include putting appropriate turf, access key card, fencing and sterilizers. The annual upkeep is expected to run several thousand dollars.

San Marino Dog Park will have to be self-policed. Owners will need to pick up their dogs' treasures and ensure that the area is kept clean.

Humane society estimated that San Marino has close to 3,000 dogs based on the size of the community. Currently less than 10% are licensed with the city. To be able to use the dog park, residents will need to ensure that their dogs are licensed which will ensure that they have the necessary vaccinations keeping these doggies happier and will add to the city's revenue stream.

Residents of San Marino that came to the meeting were torn on this issue. Speakers were given 3 minutes to state their opinion on the issue and then the San Marino Recreation Committee took the feedback under consideration in their discussions.

Proponents of San Marino Dog Park:

• Dogs are already allowed in San Marino. Now they will have their own secure area where they can run without a leash and socialize with other dogs.
• Dogs need a couple of hours of exercise a day. This keeps them healthy and not as aggressive or loud. Dogs tend not to bark in dog parks.
• A dog park would provide another opportunity for dog owners to socialize and get to know one another. A benefit to the San Marino's close knit community.
• There are really no areas in San Marino currently that will allow dogs to run freely.

Opponents of San Marino Dog Park:

• Putting a dog park in Lacy Park will take away from Lacy Park's original purpose of providing a "pastoral" tranquil and serene setting.
• Size of the dog park was a concern to some. The recommended size of a dog park is around 1 acre. This area will be half the recommended size.
• San Marino dog park will be too close to existing homes that back up to Lacy Park. San Marino homeowners are concerned about the potential noise and smell.
• Parking is an issue for some. Currently, Lacy Park's parking is very limited. San Marino residents expressed concern that the dog park will increase the number of visitors thus making it more difficult to park in the area.
• Liability - some residents were concerned about the potential city liability in case of accidents, dog bites, etc.

Unfortunately I had to leave early and did not attend the discussion held by the Rec Committee. Derek Barker reported that the vote was positive and the dog park is going to San Marino City Council for consideration.

For more information on the San Marino Dog Park, please visit - www.sanmarinodogpark.info. Derek Barker can be reached at sanmarinodogpark@me.com.

Whether you are a home owner or thinking of buying a home in the future, it is important to stay on top of the LOCAL real estate market trends in your area. Media, for the most part, provides a national real estate market overview and in many cases doesn't truly describe the conditions that can affect a decision to buy or sell a home in a city like Pasadena, for example. To make it easier for my readers, I try to provide a local real estate market perspective for each of the cities that I service in the San Gabriel Valley.

If you see a city that is not on the list below, please leave a comment below and I will add that to my monthly market overview. You can also request to receive real time real estate reporting compiled by Altos Research that I make available to my readers free of charge by clicking on the How's the Market button below.

Real estate market reports for August 2008 can be found at the links below:

Alhambra Real Estate Market Activity

Altadena Real Estate Market Activity

Arcadia Real Estate Market Activity

Monrovia Real Estate Market Activity

Monterey Hills Real Estate Market Activity

Pasadena Real Estate Market Activity

San Gabriel Real Estate Market Activity

San Marino Real Estate Market Activity

Sierra Madre Real Estate Market Activity

South Pasadena Real Estate Market Activity

South Lake Avenue in Pasadena stretches from Colorado Boulevard at its northernmost end and winds all the way through Shoppers Lane before culminating at California Boulevard. There's no longer a real lake near this 10 block shopping district packed with hundreds of shops, restaurants and offices. The lake dried up long ago.

South Lake Avenue's rich shopping heritage was born in the late 1940s with a department store built to look and feel like a country club. Bullocks, now Macy's (currently under construction though December 2008) became the foundation of South Lake Avenue's reputation as a cosmopolitan shopping destination. More department stores followed, making the area one of Pasadena's finest shopping districts.

Today, antique English phone booths complete the district's European ambiance, where shoppers sample fresh lunch cuisine at the various open air eateries. Shopping boutiques, European-style patio cafes and upscale business lofts polish off the chic setting.

Stores on South Lake Avenue run the gamut. Mall-shopping big names like Macy's and Borders complement niche stores like Anthropologie and Rangoni Firenze Soes, where shoppers can find high-end Italian footwear. The food here is the same way: familiar favorites like Coffee & Lea Leaf, Starbucks and Pete's Coffee rub elbows with lesser-known but still delicious locales such as the original Corcodile Cafe and the Rose Tea Cottage, Pasadena's first English Tea House.

South Lake Avenue Pasadena real estate has been doing extremely well. The luxurious condo complexes like The Prado, Pasadena Collection and the newly built exclusive residences at The Granite Park have been in demand by investors, corporate housing and consumers looking for a car-free urban living.

If you are ready to start your Pasadena home search, this website offers FREE MLS access and Pasadena real estate market reports to help you with your research. Of course, please do not hesitate to call Irina at 626.627.7107 for personal assistance in finding the right home for you.

General description gathered from Pasadena Official Visitors Guide 2007/2008.

http://www.pasadenaviews.com/0043D5

2008 Monterey Hills Jazz Festival was a huge success! Learn the history behind Monterey Hills.

What a fun day in Monterey Hills today. It was the 14th annual Monterey Hills Jazz Festival.

Performances by Luis Conte, Lori Andrews JazHarp Quartet and Pasadena Jazz Institute Youth All Stars kept everyone enthralled. The festival featured several food and non-food vendors representing many different interests and cultures.

This 14th year of Monterey Hills Jazz Festival was anticipated by many Monterey Hills residents. Since it's inception, the Jazz Festival has been sponsored by Monterey Hills Federation with the support of the Los Angeles City Council's 14th District Councilmember Jose Huizar, the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council and the Community Redevelopment Agency. Many local merchants and artisans have participated each year as well.

It was a lot of fun being out and meeting Monterey Hills residents. I had an opportunity to speak with Jim Henderson and Ginger Cole. Both Jim and Ginger were on the Monterey Hills Jazz Festival Committee chaired by Debra A. Evans. I also spoke with Carlos Alvarado from CRA/LA who was telling me about an upcoming relandscaping project that will be most likely take place within the next 12 months or so. Committees will be forming within the next several months and will work hand in hand with CRA/LA to decide where and what kind of landscaping will be gracing Monterey Hills.

Monterey Hills is a community of condos and townhomes located in the city and county of Los Angeles. It is bordered by South Pasadena to the North, El Sereno to the South, and Highland Park to the West. It is conveniently located just off of Via Marisol exit of the 110 Freeway and is 15 minutes to Downtown Los Angeles or Old Town Pasadena.

A little history on Monterey Hills. The Monterey Hills Redevelopment Project was adopted by City Council on July 29, 1971. The CRA LA (Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles) project contained 211 acres of land. The principal thrust of the project outlined in the Redevelopment Plan included the development of a well planned residental community that provided a variety of housing opportunities for families and individuals from all income levels and the preservation of the physical integrity of the site.

At the time of Monterey Hills project adoption, 90% of the area was underdeveloped due to its sloping configuration and improperly platted terrain. The entire area had been subdivided in 1902 according to a coordinated grid system with lots and streets laid out at right angles to each other.

Because of the terrain, there was no possible way to develop any significant portion of the area as it was platted. The streets were substandard and in most cases unimproved. Land ownership was extremely complex, precluding private enterprises from assembling the stie and re-subdividing in a proper manner. Approximately 1/3 of the area was owned by the City of Los Angeles as a result of property tax defaults by former owners. Many structures were obsolte, public utilities were inadequate, there was a lack of usable open space, the value of land and properties was depreciated and private investments were seriously impaired.

Today, some 37 years later, Monterey Hills is a thriving community. "The Hill", as its known to its residents, currently has 21 condominiums with a total of 1,781 housing units that have been built to date.

ALSO READ: Monterey Hill Real Estate Market Report and Monterey Hills Condo Buying Tips

It is sought by first time buyers and investors alike. It offers beautiful condominiums and townhomes with excellent amenities at reasonable prices. Monterey Hills is always alive with residents walking its streets, using the Bud Weiner park and just enjoying the fresh air.

Living in Monterey Hills is like being on Top of the World! Check it out for yourself.

If you are interested in finding a Monterey Hills condo or townhome for sale, this site offers a free home search for your convenience.

http://www.pasadenacarealestatehomes.com/0043C5