Marian S Bennett

El Granada

This midcoast community lies in the deepest part of the “half moon bay”.  Originally eyed by developer Henry Doelger to become a resort town, it ended up being a sleepy village that is now finding its own to become a desirable and close knit community.  Doelger did manage to build one subdivision called Princeton-by-the-Sea (or Clipper Ridge) but the rest of his dreams never took hold here on the Coastside.  These days El Granada offers a working harbor at Pillar Point Harbor, Harbor Village, Oceano Hotel, and somewhere off shore, the waves known as Mavericks, and the sometimes annual surf contest.

Click Here For All MLS El Granada Listings

Lower El Granada
This neighborhood sits at the hub of the “half moon” on the midcoast.  Highlights of this neighborhood are easy access to the beaches, especially Surfer’s Beach, Princeton Harbor, and “downtown” El Granada (the Hardware Store, Post Office and Police Station).  Originally a planned communtiy by developer Ray Doelger, it never took off once the railroad was abolished and access improved.  There is a mixture of older homes, cottages, contemporary and traditional styles and ranch style homes.  There are lovely views from many homes and there is a mixture of flat and sloped parcels.

El Granada Highlands
Driving through El Granada, as you look into the trees toward the east, you will see the hillside dotted with homes in the “highlands”.  Most homes are on sloped lots with 2 or 3 levels to maximize the views.  Many homes are large, custom-built, and unique.  With the hills come the views.  The easiest access to the Highlands is Avenue Alhambra to Isabella to Columbus to El Granada Blvd.

Princeton-By-the-Sea or “Clipper Ridge”
Subdivision neighborhood developed in the 1970’s on mostly level lots (a few sloped lots on the upper part of Coral Reef Rd) with a great central location, nearby hiking trails, and a neighborhood park including a basketball hoop and play structure.  Annual easter egg hunt every Spring.  Princeton-By-The-Sea Homeowner’s Association.

Princeton and Pillar Point Harbor
The homes in this area are mixed in with commercial and industrial spaces.  There are also warehouses, lofts, a fitness center, and a few wholesale businesses.  Single family homes are few and far between since the area was rezoned to “commercial”.  There are three different zoning areas.  There are many rentals in this area.

Click Here For All MLS El Granada Listings

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Make some Coastside memories on July 4th

This is a very local and locally-loved event.  I certainly appreciated our own small town fireworks display more when it wasn’t there…funny how that happens.  The year I read in the Review that the fireworks weren’t going to happen because there wasn’t enough money in the coffer, in 2006, some of us (me!) may have taken for granted that the lights would magically appear in the sky each year on July 4th!  Last year the show was awesome!

I don’t know when it started, but now the local chapter of the American Legion organizes fundraisers each year to raise money for our local fireworks displays.  Here’s the local celebrations and fundraiser activities that I know about:

Friday July 4th, 2008:

• Ol’ Fashion Fourth of July Parade, historic downtown Main Street, Half Moon Bay, 12 noon

(this is a photo I took from a few years ago of one of the floats!  Notice the blue sky, which we’re treated to on some..not all..4ths.)

• Town picnic, American Legion Post 474, 470 Capistrano Rd., Princeton, 1 p.m.
• Fireworks, Princeton Harbor at Sunset . . . definitely ON this year according to Bob Resch, Chairman, ALCF, and Owner, Princeton Welding.

Saturday, July 5th, 2008:

American Legion’s Commitment to Coastside Fireworks

http://www.americanlegioncoastsidefireworks.org/

Tips for enjoying the fireworks on San Mateo County coast’s Princeton Harbor:

Walk to viewing distance if possible.  Parking along Highway 1 near Surfer’s Beach/El Granada is usually prohibited.  Bring flashlight, blankets or folding chairs, binoculars if you want, a neighbor or two.  Bring or wear layers…the ocean is right in front of you.  Remember to keep the pets in a safe and secure place.

The harbor view homeowners (mainly in lower El Granada, (El Granada) Highlands and Miramar) need only set up chairs on the deck or porch for the best seats.  If you find you must have one of these homes in the short or long term, you can do an area search of these neighborhoods. 

Sometimes the sky is clear and sometimes we’re watching the light show through the fog.  You might ask, why would you sit there in the cold and watch fireworks covered in fog??  You’d have to be a local to understand that one!

A serene morning in Lower El Granada

A mid-day walk along one of the wide lower El Granada avenues.

I had to capture this lovely scene as I was recently driving around town on a recent Tuesday morning Broker Tour of new listings.  Glad I had my camera for this one.

It brought back memories of when I was the parent of a preschooler – a few moons ago…  My daughter attended Marty’s Alameda Station in El Granada and even now, as a college student, has continued friendships from the buddies she made while at Marty’s.

 More about El Granada neighborhoods HERE.

Another post about an El Granada neighborhood:

Quiet neighborhoods reaps the benefits of P.O.S.T.

Coastside Preschool Directory 2008, by Coastside Mother’s Club

Business building opportunities in the New Princeton

As you may already know, Harbor Village consists of the Oceano Hotel, the extended stay villas, a shopping area, a restaurant, and conference/special event facilities.  I met with Christian Diggs yesterday to get an update on the shops’ opening and other juicy tidbits since the last time I checked in.

The Oceano Hotel is now open – although you already know that if you’ve been reading my blog.  They’re already up to 30% capacity of the 95 suites with only a few weekends open under their belt.  The head chef is Bruce Mullins (locals will know him as the owner of 2 Fools Cafe when it was on Main).  Bruce manages the entire kitchen, catering, continental breakfasts, conference menus.

The restaurant will be separate and we still don’t know who will run it; it may offer a casual menu and feel on the first level and perhaps a more genteel dining experience on the upper level.

The Spa is still being built and will serve Hotel guests and day visitors as well.   I took a walk through the construction zone, it’s a pretty large space – plenty of room for all kinds of pampering.  Christian tells me that the spa consultants currently at work will incorporate the nautical theme into the design. 

There are five meeting rooms, the Oceano Ballroom for up to 350 (see photo with chandeliers), the Montara for up to 110, the Mirada for up to 70, and the Princeton Boardroom for up to 14.  The ballroom dance floor just went in.  If they can get Pride & Joy for one of the kickoff events, I’m there!

Since my mind is always going…yes, a problem at times, I couldn’t help but think of the great opportunities for local business building here.  A few ideas… If their marketing plan included introducing locals to what is available right under our noses, I can see win-win opportunities here.  Don’t we have Google, Yahoo, Siemens, and many corporate heads living the counterbalance to a high stress and fast paced business life right here? 

• Invite your out-of-town networking group to an overnight or a “business” day on the Coast with business sharing ideas combined with some local fun.  Realtors, think referrals.  Offer a client appreciation event to include a spa package or a local outing such as kayaking or a charter boat for whale watching (or Mavericks watching).

• Invite your employer to host a Holiday gathering or team-building event on the Coast.
• Host a company think tank to hash out issues, or brainstorm new ideas away from your every day setting.
• Host a 4th of July party in one of the rooms for private front row seats to our local fireworks show.

The shopping area tenants will get their keys in early April.  A grand opening is planned for some time in mid to late May.  What I know as of today is there will Toque Blanche, Savvy Skirts, a jewelry store, an oyster & wine bar, an ice cream shop, a hair & nail shop (separate from the spa), a novelty shop, a wine tasting room provided by a Sonoma County wine label, a deli, a juice bar, and a food shop (so far either sushi or panini-style sandwich shop).  Christian tells me that several business proposals are currently being reviewed for the final 4 spaces that remain.  I asked him what he’d like to see that is not currently in the proposal stack – he mentioned a kite/toy store, and a children’s clothing store.

I have to admit I’m looking forward to having wine tasting within walking distance!

    

 

Another Growth Spurt for Princeton

During the 19 years that I’ve lived in El Granada, Pillar Point Harbor and the Princeton area has grown along with the rest of the coastside.  Coastal Lifestyles Health & Fitness Center moved in…The HMB Brewing Co. moved in…Mezza Luna moved in…Mavericks was “discovered”…  All these events have been adding height – and weight - to Princeton for many years.  It’s latest notch on the yardstick is the new Oceano Hotel and Harbor Village.  The Hotel is now open and Harbor Village is now scheduled to open April 1, 2008.

As I’m waiting for my friend near Cafe Classique yesterday morning, I decided to take a photo of the long-awaited development across the street. We grab a corner table on the sun-drenched patio to catch up with a warm cup of coffee and homemade cinnamon rolls (half each of course - and to die for!).  Totally worth it but Must-Walk-Off.  Neither of us had been through Harbor Village so we decided to stroll over there to see what’s up.  We stumbled upon Christian Diggs, the Harbor Village Leasing Consultant, who was so gracious to show us around in spite of his busy day.

This place is going to be stunning.  I’m well aware of the mixed feelings of many locals; however, after my visit yesterday I’m pleasantly surprised and believe it will be an asset to our community.  It’s like its own little resort village with luxury hotel, a spa that will be run by Aveda, banquet room, workout room with enormous skylights flooding the room with natural light, richly appointed conference rooms, comfortable residence suites offering a 2 bedroom and 2 bathroom home-away-from-home or loft apartment.  There will also be a restaurant, shops & boutiques including a golf shop, a deli, a kitchen shop, a surf-wear/resort-style boutique, and a few yet still in negotiations….  Also planned is a wedding garden, and future tennis courts.

So with the roar of high-gear construction going on in the background, Christian pointed out some of the fabulous details that made me wish I was part of the extended KN family!  There are too many to mention, but one that stood out in my mind was the zippered bed topper which is laundered after each guest.

This development has the luxury of the Ritz but with a more “casually elegant” feel.  I really hope that tapping into the well known local talent is part of the long term marketing plan.  Development is always a mixed blessing – especially in a community like the Coastside and in my own backyard (well, my front yard)… Sure, traffic will increase, but so will jobs and revenues…and, I suspect, home values.  Here are a few photos from my tour with Christian yesterday.  When I have more time, I’ll try to post a few more on a separate photos page.

Additional articles in recent months:

A Grand Opening, 30 years in waiting, Oakland Tribune, 8/29/07

Harbor Village prepares for October opening, HMB Review, 9/5/07

Inside Coastal Real Estate & Lifestyles’ “Coastside” page:  Fun Visitor Resources

Half Moon Bay Beach Condos

There are very few condo developments on the Coastside.  Condo developments are limited in part by restrictions due to our area’s vacancy rate.  Due to the limited number, their value has held or grown. 

 

They are Cypress Cove Townhouses and Amesport Landing in downtown Half Moon Bay, Ocean Corners Condos, near Ocean Colony in Half Moon Bay, and the Pilarcitos Park area, also in Half Moon Bay.  In the northern tip of town known as Miramar, oceanfront townhouses were built a stone’s throw from the Coastal Trail.  In El Granada (Princeton area) are the Beach House condos, a luxury condo/hotel with fractional ownership – when there are units available for resale.

When I was reviewing the annual median price results, which I did with June median sales prices, I started with single family homes and noticed that the results were trending with the greater San Mateo County statistics.  What surprised me was the condo/townhouse market (MLS term:  Common Interest Development) June median sales price of $760K, up 20% from 2006’s $555K, and up 12.5% from 2005’s $430K.  That’s quite a jump in two years for condominiums.  Also, while the Coastside’s single-family-home days-on-the-market has increased in the last year (taking longer to sell),  the Coastside condos “days-on-market”  has decreased 24% in the last year, averaging 25 days.

We all know that statistics don’t tell the whole story, as there are many variables involved; however, this trend in our local market I thought a worthy topic.  Here’s a little info about each of the Condominium/Townhouse developments:

 

Cypress Cove – located on the east side of Highway 1 near Stone Pine Center in downtown Half Moon Bay.  These are lovely townhouses with charming patios or balconies, high ceilings, beautiful landscaping and attached garages.  A major bonus is the close proximity to downtown – just a short walk to all that Main Street – and the businesses off Main – have to offer.  A couple of many fun spots close to these townhouses are It’s Italia for a fabulous pizza, pasta dish or salad (the Salmon Ceasar Salad is my favorite, but I think it’s on the lunch menu only), or HMB Coffee Co., for soup-of-the-day, coffee drinks served in glass mugs, indoor and outdoor seating, and a great local vibe.  The median 2 bedroom sale price in 2006 was $650K.

 

Amesport Landing – These condos, some single story and some two-story, are also located downtown, west of Main, yet still on the east side of Highway 1.  Built in the early 1990’s just one block away from the all the local buzz, this complex is tucked behind beautiful mature trees and landscaping.  Great escapes from this location include M Coffee and Cunha’s Country Store.  The median 2 bedroom sale price in 2006 was $600K.

 

Ocean Corners - Built in the early 1990’s, these charming beach condos are a short distance from downtown Half Moon Bay; a short distance to the oceanfront golf courses, the beach, coastal trails, and the Half Moon Bay Ritz.  While these are farther away from downtown than the others, it could easily be a short bike ride.  The median 2 bedroom sale price in 2006 was $540K.

 

 

Pilarcitos Park -  There are a few small condo complexes in this area on the west side of Highway 1 near the Kelly St. intersection.  These conveniently located condos offer easy access to Strawflower Shopping Center, Hatch Elementary School, Tres Amigos, well as the beaches.  The median 2 bedroom sale price in 2006 was $502K.

View Larger Map

 

There may be small 2-3 buildings in El Granada.  There are no condos that I am aware of in Moss Beach or Montara.  Many condos are in Pacifica, which I will save for another post